The Department of Biology offers three tracks that lead to the MS: a coursework track, a scholarly paper track, and a research thesis track. The coursework track can be completed in one year and the scholarly paper track can be completed in a year and summer. The research thesis track typically requires two years to complete. In all three tracks, students are assigned faculty advisors in their subfield of interest during the first semester in the program.
Upon completion of the master’s program, students should be prepared for further graduate training or for eventual employment in teaching and/or research positions in academia, industry, government, or nonprofit agencies. The program accepts post-bachelor’s applicants with degrees in related disciplines where the focus has been on biology or a relevant field. Students with prior graduate work may be able to transfer course credits.