Biological Sciences (M.S.)

Course Requirements

Course Title Credits
Core Requirements 1
BISC 7501Population & Community Biology4
BISC 7502Eukaryotic Molecular Biology4
BISC 7503Community and Ecosystem Ecology4
BISC 6734Cell Biology of Eukaryotes4
Non-Core Requirements
BISC 6525Biostatistics 23
BISC 7801Methods in Cell and Molecular Biology1
BISC 8999Independent Study (graded on a letter scale)2
BISC 8801Biological Colloquium I (taken twice)0
Concentration-Specific Requirements3 to 4
Cell & Molecular Biology Concentration
BISC 7804
Techniques in Molecular Biology
Ecology & Systematics Concentration
BISC 6535
Ecological Methods
One Additional Elective Credit 3
Electives/Research Tutorials9
BISC 6999
Research for M.S. in Biological Sciences (independent research, graded pass/fail) 4
BISC 8999
Independent Study (graded on a letter scale)
Graduate-Level Biological Sciences Electives 5
Comprehensive Exam
BISC 0936Master's Comprehensive Examination-Biology 60
Total Credits34-35
1

Please note:

  • For M.S. students, only one grade of "C" may count towards the Core requirements.
  • BISC 7501 Population & Community Biology is the prerequisite for BISC 7503 Community and Ecosystem Ecology.
  • BISC 7502 Eukaryotic Molecular Biology is the prerequisite for BISC 6734 Cell Biology of Eukaryotes.
2

A grade of "B" or higher is required in Biostatistics for the course to fulfill the GSAS Language Requirement.

3

See "Electives/Research Tutorials" for courses that can count towards this additional required credit.

4

If students who complete 6 credits of BISC 6999 Research for M.S. in Biological Sciences opt to write and defend a thesis, they must register for BISC 0900 M.S. Thesis Defense in the semester of their thesis defense. The writing and defense of an M.S. thesis is optional.

5

Any course with the subject code BISC, numbered 5000-8998 (not otherwise applied to other requirements) may fulfill this requirement.

6

Please note:

  • For students in the Ecology & Systematics concentration, BISC 7501 Population & Community Biology and BISC 7503 Community and Ecosystem Ecology are considered concentration-specific core course subject to testing in the comprehensive exam. For students in the Cell & Molecular concentration, these courses are considered breadth core courses, and are not subject to testing in the comprehensive exam. 
  • For students in the Cell & Molecular concentration, BISC 7502 Eukaryotic Molecular Biology and BISC 6734 Cell Biology of Eukaryotes are considered concentration-specific core course subject to testing in the comprehensive exam. For students in the Ecology & Systematics concentration, these courses are considered breadth core courses, and are not subject to testing in the comprehensive exam. 

Degree Requirements

  1. A minimum of 34 (Ecology & Systematics concentration) and 35 (Cell & Molecular concentration) course credits including at least 2 credits of research tutorial. For the M.S. degree with thesis, credits must include a minimum of 6 M.S. research credits, submission of a thesis document approved by the thesis committee, and an oral defense of the thesis is also required. All research tutorial credits and M.S. tutorial credits earned during years 1 and 2 count as course credits. It is not unusual for students to take more than 35 credits to complete their degree.

  2. Reading knowledge of a foreign language (a computer language or statistics may be substituted for a foreign language).

  3. Acceptable performance on the M.S. comprehensive examination (BISC 0936), which is achieved by a score of 70% or higher (grade of Pass).

  4. Maintenance of a 3.0 GPA.

CIP Code

26.0101 - Biology/Biological Sciences, General.


You can use the CIP code to learn more about career paths associated with this field of study and, for international students, possible post-graduation visa extensions. Learn more about CIP codes and other information resources.