REQUIREMENTS FOR DEGREE FOR ALL STUDENTS
Students will find detailed explanation of special departmental requirements in a document, “Special Policies and Procedures Regarding the Master’s Degree Program in the Department of Biological Sciences.” This document is available from the departmental office on the Biology website, and describes initial orientation for new students, administration of the comprehensive examination, departmental seminars, and the like.

The curriculum for each student will be developed by the student’s advisory committee in view of the student’s professional goals. If, in the opinion of a student’s committee, the student lacks adequate undergraduate preparation the student will be required to make up such deficiencies.
In addition to satisfying the general requirements of the Graduate School, the candidates for the Master of Science degree in Biology must satisfy the following requirements:
 
Thesis Program
1. Complete, with a minimum grade of “B”, thirty hours, of which at least twenty-four hours must be course work at the 400 or 500 level. No course at the 300 level or below may be taken for graduate credit. A maximum of six credit hours may be granted for Directed Studies (BLY 594). All courses must be accepted by the student’s graduate advisory committee. The student’s graduate committee may, at its option, after consultation with the student, require demonstration of additional proficiency in a foreign language, mathematics, computer skills, statistics, and/or require the student to take additional course work beyond the twenty-four hour minimum.

2. Complete a thesis representing original research. A maximum of six hours credit will be granted for the thesis. Enrollment in Biology 599 (Thesis) is not permitted until the student’s research prospectus has been approved by the advisory committee and the Directory of Graduate Studies, College of Arts and Sciences.

3. Enroll in Biology Seminar during at least two semesters of residency.

4. Complete successfully a comprehensive written examination in the student’s general area(s) of expertise as indicated by their research project and course work. The student’s graduate committee determines what defines the ‘area(s) of expertise’. This examination may be taken only after the student has completed 18 hours of graduate work excluding thesis credits. The student, with the endorsement of the major professor, should submit to the department a letter of intent to take the examination one month prior to its administration. The comprehensive examination is a requirement for graduation, not for admission to regular graduate standing. The examination should be taken at least one semester before graduation. Candidates failing the comprehensive examination may be examined over the parts of the test which they failed after a minimum  three-month delay. No portion of the comprehensive examination may be taken  more than twice.

5. Make an oral defense of the thesis during the last semester of residency.

6. A student that starts as a ‘thesis student’ will be allowed to change their status to non-thesis only with the majority consent of their committee.
 
Non-Thesis Program
Students planning to pursue the Ph.D. degree are encouraged to follow the thesis option. However, a non-thesis curriculum is available for those students who so elect. The student will be required to complete the same degree requirements as those for a student who chooses the thesis option, with the following exceptions.

1. A thesis will not be required. Consequently BLY 599 (Thesis) may not be taken, and the six semester hours normally associated with it must be earned through formal course work.

2. The student must complete BLY 594 (Directed Studies) under the direction of a major professor. The student must also have a faculty committee whose members will decide if the student’s report relating to the directed study is satisfactory. The committee normally will consist of the major professor and two others. The student is required to present an open seminar about the directed study during the last semester of residency.

3. A non-thesis student is allowed to change their status to ‘thesis’ only with the majority consent of their committee.