Biology (MS)

• Departmental Paper Option
• Directed Study:   Spring Start  /  Fall Start
• Thesis:   Spring Start  /  Fall Start

*Please see the CU degree requirements effective Fall 2023. All enrolled students can also review their degree program requirements and track progress to degree completion in Degree Works.

53.546 — Biostatistics OR 80.525 — Research Methods
50.593 — Master of Science Thesis (required for students in the thesis option)
50.591 — Directed Study in Biology (required for students in the non-thesis option)

Elective Courses
A minimum of 30 semester hours of graduate-level courses is required for graduation.

All other courses are considered elective courses, but require the approval of the student's adviser and advisory committee.

50.411 — Radiation Biology
50.455 — Environmental Microbiology
50.457 — Entomology
50.472 — Animal Cell Physiology
50.474 — Vertebrate Systems Physiology
50.477 — Plant Physiology
50.478 — Microbial Physiology
50.479 — Integrated Physiology Laboratory
50.530 — Evolution
50.531 — Developmental Biology
50.532 — Microbial and Molecular Genetics
50.535 — Bioinformatics and Genomic Analysis
50.550 — Mycology
50.551 — Conservation Biology
50.552 — Limnology
50.559 — Ornithology
50.560 — Population Biology
50.561 — Animal Behavior
50.570 — Medical Parasitology
50.571 — Endocrinology
50.575 — Cell Physiology
50.576 — Neurophysiology
50.580 — Comparative Animal Physiology
50.589 — Current Topics in Biology
50.591 — Directed Study in Biology
50.593 — Master of Science Thesis

Marine science courses offered at Wallops Island, Va.
55.431 — Ecology of Marine Plankton
55.432 — Marine Evolutionary Ecology
55.464 — Biological Oceanography
55.490 — Marine Aquaculture
55.491 — Coral Reef Ecology
55.492 — Marine Mammals
55.500 — Problems in Marine Science
55.540 — Environmental Science Education
55.541 — Biology of Mollusca
55.570 — Research Cruise-Biology
55.593 — Behavioral Ecology
 

• Thesis Option — This option is recommended for students planning to continue their graduate studies or professional training. Students must complete a total of 30 credit hours of graduate course work, with at least 18 semester hours at the 500 level. A thesis is required for this option. Normally a student in this option will take 6 hours of thesis, and 24 hours of formal classroom course work. The thesis must be defended orally. Students in the Thesis Option do not carry out a Directed Study, as that experience is intended for the Nonthesis Option.
• Nonthesis Option — Students must complete a total of 30 credit hours of graduate course work, with at least 18 hours at the 500 level. Students choosing this option will not carry out a thesis. There are two suboptions within the nonthesis option.
• Directed Study Suboption — Students must complete at least 27 credit hours of graduate course work, and 3 credit hours of Directed Study in Biology. A directed study is a hands-on research experience smaller in scope than a thesis. Typically the directed study is completed within one semester. A written report is prepared, and presented orally to the Department.
• Departmental Paper Suboption — Students must complete at least 30 credit hours of graduate course work. They must complete a literature-based paper on a topic selected by the student and the academic advisor or mentor for the paper. The BAHS Departmental Paper carries no credit hour equivalent. The paper must be presented orally to the BAHS Department.

• Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts in biology or its equivalent.
• Two letters of recommendation from previous science faculty.
• At least one letter should be from a faculty member who instructed the applicant in an upper-level biology course.
• Applicants with research experience should submit at least one letter from a research adviser.
• Others may submit a letter from any professor with the ability to evaluate the applicant's laboratory research potential.
• Undergraduate deficiencies must be addressed prior to admission to the program or during the first semester in consultation with the program coordinator.
• Deficiencies may be addressed by undergraduate course work without credit earned toward the degree, by graduate course work when suitable, or by outside readings. The method of satisfying deficiencies is decided by the student and graduate program coordinator in consultation with the departmental graduate committee.
• A minimum of two weeks is required for review of a completed application by the department's graduate committee.

• Q: Do I need a degree in biology to be admitted? 
  A: No - Applicants should have an undergraduate degree in the sciences. Common undergraduate majors include - biology, chemistry, environmental science, and health science. Students may be asked to address important areas of study which were not addressed as an undergraduate, but this is resolved as part of the program planning, which is a normal part of the unique plan every student develops with their Advisory Committee. 
• Q: How is the program delivered? 
  A: Many formal classes meet once or twice a week for 15 weeks in the spring, all, and summer semesters. However, the core of the Program revolves around the student’s independent Thesis Research, which is a continuous effort throughout the student’s tenure in the graduate program. Formal class meetings are on the Bloomsburg, Lock Haven, and Mansfield campuses and may be delivered in person, online, or in a blended format. 
• Q: What are the career options for students graduating with this degree? 
  A: Alumni have moved into full-time positions in a number of roles, but largely determined by their area of interests. Recent alumni are working in roles like - Aquatic Invasive Species Specialist at the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, Research Technician in the Florida Everglades, Research Technician at Geisinger Medical Center. Some students will also continue their educational career. Recent alumni are enrolled in Medical Genetics PhD - Rutgers University; Paleontology PhD - Lehigh University; West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine.
• Q: When can I start? 
  A: Applications are accepted for the Spring, Summer, and Fall semesters.
• Q: Do I need to take the GRE in order to apply? 
  A. No - the GRE is not required for admission.