Master of Science, Biological Sciences

In order to fulfill our mission, the Department of Biological Sciences offers a wide
variety of programs for students pursuing a master of science degree in biology. Examples
include:

• Ecology and Environmental Biology

• Evolutionary Biology

• Genetics

• Cellular and Molecular Biology

• Microbiology

• Anatomy and Physiology

All graduate students in the Department of Biological Sciences are members of the
Biology Graduate Student Organization (BGSO). A list of our current graduate students and their research interests can be found
here .

 

THESIS PROGRAM

The thesis program is for students who are research oriented and wish to pursue a
Ph.D. or work in a research oriented field upon completion of a masters degree. The
program requires 2-3 years for completion.

Potential Students interested in the thesis program should correspond directly with
a member of the graduate faculty. We encourage you to correspond with faculty members
whose research program is related to your own research interests. Prior to being admitted
to the program, all potential students must identify a member of the graduate faculty
who has agreed to serve as their thesis advisor. Correspondence can often identify
opportunities for research, financial support as well as unique courses. Campus visits
are highly recommended.  Click here for a detailed program description.

 

Admission Deadlines 

Students interested in the thesis program must first apply to the Department of Biological
Sciences. Acceptance by the Graduate School is not the same as acceptance into the
thesis program. 

• Fall Application Deadline: February 1st
• Spring Application Deadline: December 1st

Late applications may be considered on a case by case basis. Please consult each of
the important documents below prior to applying to the program.

Admission Requirements

• Graduation with a BA degree from an accredited college or university
• Minimum GPA of 3.0 (4.0 scale) for all undergrad work
• Minimum of 30 semester hours of undergrad biology courses

Candidates for admission are chosen by the M.S. Biology Admissions Committee. You
will receive written notice of the decision by early March.

 

Degree Requirements

• 30 hrs of approved courses in Biological Sciences
  • 6 hrs of Thesis (GBIO 770)
  • two hours of Seminar (GBIO 691) with a B or better
  • min 12 hrs in 600+ courses (or 50% of the total course load)
  • not more than 10 hrs of transfer credit
  • not more than 2 hrs of Research Problems (GBIO 660)
  • All credits earned must be completed within 6 yrs
• A cumulative GPA of 3.0 in all graduate work pursued up to 6 hrs with a C or better
• Passing the written entrance exam in the first semester and the oral comprehensive
  exam in the second semester.
• Attendance at departmental seminars 
  • Those given by visiting speakers, thesis defenses, and other public seminars 
• An acceptable thesis demonstrating both independent research and competency in scholarly
  exposition.
• Oral defense of the thesis.
• Recommendation for the degree by the student’s thesis committee, Graduate Coordinator,
  Department Head, and Graduate Dean.
• Completion of necessary paperwork
  • Degree Plan
  • Application for Candidacy
  • Application for Graduation

View PDF

 

Thesis Program Resources

Requirements and Official Documents

Application Process(updated 09/22)

Major Steps & Target Dates

Financial Aid

Admission Categories

Written and Oral Exam Protocols

 

NON-THESIS PROGRAM

Students interested in enrolling in the non-thesis program must first apply to the
Department of Biological Sciences and must meet the admission requirements of the
department. Acceptance by the Graduate School is not the same as acceptance into the
non-thesis program. Full details on our non-thesis program can be found here.

 

Application Deadlines

• Fall Semester Applications: February 1st
• Spring Semester Applications: November 15th
• Final Cut-off Date: August 1st

Late applications may be considered on a case by case basis. Please consult each of
the important documents below prior to applying to the program.

Admission Requirements

• Graduation with a BA degree from an accredited college or university
• Minimum GPA of 3.0 (4.0 scale) for all undergrad work
• Minimum of 30 semester hours of undergrad biology courses

Candidates for admission are chosen by the M.S. Biology Admissions Committee. You
will receive written notice of the decision by early March.

 

Degree Requirements

• 36 hrs of approved courses in Biological Sciences
  • 4 hrs of Non-Thesis Research Problems (GBIO 661)
  • 2 hrs of Seminar (GBIO 691)
  • At least half of total course load in 600+ courses 
  • Credit from courses at the 500-level may be no more than 50% of total graduate credit
  • No more than 10 hours of transfer credit can be applied to the degree plan
  • Students may take up to eight hours of approved courses from other departments at
    Southeastern
  • All degree requirements must be completed within six years.
• Cumulative GPA of 3.0 in all graduate work
• No more than 6 hours with grades of C in the degree plan. 
• Must pass an oral or written comprehensive exam based on graduate coursework during
  the last semester and/or after 30 hours of completed coursework
• Students must write a research paper based on the original research conducted in conjunction
  withGBIO 661
  • The paper must be approved by the Graduate Faculty advisor and the Non-Thesis Advisory
    Committee.
• Students must present an oral presentation to the Department based on original research
  conducted in conjunctionGBIO 661
  • The presentation must be approved by the Graduate Faculty advisor and the Non-Thesis
    Advisory Committee
• Recommendation for degree must be approved by the Non-Thesis Advisory Committee, Graduate
  Coordinator, Department Head, and Graduate Dean.
• Completion of necessary paperwork
  • Degree Plan
  • Non-Thesis Research Agreement Form
  • Application for Candidacy
  • Application for Graduation

 

Financial Aid

The Department of Biological Sciences does not typically provide financial support
to non-thesis students except under extreme circumstances. 

Other forms of financial aid may be available to some students in the form of fellowships
or scholarships. For additional information, contact the Graduate Coordinator or the
Financial Aid Office. 

 

Non-thesis Program Resources

Requirements and Official Documents(updated 09/22)
Admission Categories
Non-thesis Agreement Form