Graduate Programs
Additional Admission Requirements. In addition to the general
requirements for admission to the Graduate School, the following
requirements are specific to the Department of Biology:
Admission to Candidacy. General academic regulations will
apply to application for admission to candidacy. In addition to
these the applicant should have:
The Master of Arts degree program is designed for students who
choose to write a thesis based upon published scientific literature
rather than on laboratory or field research.
Degree Requirements. Students who choose to pursue the
Master of Arts degree must complete the requirements for the Master
of Science degree with the following exceptions: at least 32 hours
of coursework, including two hours of Seminar are required. A
maximum of four hours of credit for thesis research may be included
in the required 32 hours, and three courses of the 32 hours submitted
for the degree must include a formal laboratory.
MASTER OF SCIENCE DEGREE IN BIOLOGY
The Master of Science degree program is designed for students
who desire to pursue advanced studies in professional and graduate
schools or various vocational opportunities in biology and related
areas. The program provides the opportunity for broad training
in a variety of biological areas as well as specialization in
areas of particular interest to the student. The department is
organized into three interest groups reflecting the strengths
and research activities of the faculty: Microbiology/ Biotechnology,
Cellular/Biomedical, and Ecology/ Environmental. Students may
choose one of these as their area of specialization. Also, an
arrangement with Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte allows
students to conduct their graduate research at this facility under
the direction of one of the hospital staff.
Degree Requirements. The program leading to the Master
of Science degree in Biology requires the successful completion
of 30 semester hours of coursework approved by a supervisory committee.
At least 16 of these hours, including no more than eight hours
of thesis research, must be in courses open to graduate students
only. In addition to coursework, each degree candidate must pass
an oral candidacy examination. The candidate must also prepare,
present and defend a thesis based upon original research acceptable
to the Supervisory Committee and the Dean of the Graduate School.
Assistantships. Teaching and research assistantships are
available on a competitive basis for qualified students. A limited
number of out-of-state and in-state tuition grants are also competitively
awarded.
MASTER OF ARTS DEGREE IN BIOLOGY