MA/MS in Biology, General

Graduate students in this program write their own degree plan with a faculty advisor and investigate a topic of personal interest in depth. They join interdisciplinary study, hear talks by well-known scientists and can share their work at professional conferences. A thesis path and a professional paper path are both offered, each requiring a total of thirty semester credit hours, with differing credit for the thesis or paper and for related education coursework. Either path ends in an oral defense before a committee. Most accepted students are offered graduate assistantships for their first two years without a separate application. Assistants who carry the minimum course load count as full-time and pay in-state rates. Because the university cannot presently grant tuition waivers, students typically reduce costs through assistantships and scholarships.