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Life Sciences:
Biology >
Program:
Biology
MS

Biology

Application Deadline

  • Fall: Jan 15

    • Contact Information

    4102 LSB, Provo, UT 84602-5181
    801-422-7137
    biogradmanager@byu.edu
    Website
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    Admission Requirements
    Required Tests
    Additional Requirements
    • Find an advisor: Prior to applying, applicants must identify and contact individual faculty member(s) whose research aligns with the applicant’s long-term goals. Applicants that have not previously consulted with a faculty member before applying to our program will not be considered. Click here for recommended steps to select and contact a potential advisor.
    • Baccalaureate degree or equivalent
    • Unofficial transcripts
    • Indicate in the application your desired research area and your desired advisor(s).
    • 3 letters of recommendation: These letters should be from mentors, research advisors, faculty, associates, etc., who have an understanding of the applicant’s abilities in relationship to the requirements of the graduate program. Preference will be given to letters that are written by those with a scientific background and/or those with advanced degrees with whom the applicant has worked closely.
    • Statement of intent: Write a carefully constructed statement of your background and academic preparation, field of interest and experience in it, faculty member(s) you’d like to work with and why, and academic and long-term career goals, including how graduate work fits into those goals. Also answer the following questions:
      1. What motivates you to apply to our program?
      2. Share an example that demonstrates your approach to dealing with difficult academic or personal problems with determination and maturity.
      3. Share 1 to 2 examples that capture your approach to working in collaborative teams and in mentor/mentored environments.
      4. Using an academic or personal example, describe how you exhibit independence, curiosity, and an ability to solve problems.
      5. We welcome and value the contributions of graduate students from diverse backgrounds and lived experiences. However, BYU's Aims, Mission, and Honor Code differ from other universities. Please describe your perceptions of how you will thrive in and contribute to this unique environment.
    Program Requirements
    The MS degree in biology is designed to give students an opportunity to develop research projects within a hypothesis-testing framework, with a conceptual focus on some aspect of ecological or evolutionary theory. Projects might include, but are not limited to, studies in population, community, or ecosystem ecology, population or conservation genetics, phylogeography, molecular evolution, bioinformatics, or phylogenetic systematics. Students in any of these areas will present and defend a thesis based on original work. Because all such research is expected to be suitable for publication in peer-reviewed journals, thesis manuscripts are expected to be prepared for immediate submission to an appropriate journal.

    Requirements for MS Degree Program in Biology:
    • Credit hours (30): Minimum 24 course work hours plus 6 thesis hours; 20 hours must be in the 500-level series and above (can include Bio 691R, Bio 699R, etc.).
    • Required courses: Bio 503 (Graduate Orientation, 1.0 credit) or equivalent; Bio 691R (Graduate Seminar, 1.0 credit, 2 semesters). Additional courses as determined by student's advisory committee and approved by department graduate coordinator.
    • Annual progress reviews by advisory committee and graduate committee.
    • Presentation of research prospectus to advisory committee.
    • Thesis: Standard university thesis or journal publication format.
    • Examinations: (A) Comprehensive oral examination, (B) oral defense of research, and (C) oral defense of thesis.
    Program Outcomes
    Area Specialization
    Students will describe the current state of the discipline in their area of specialization (e.g., key theories and research practices in ecology, evolutionary biology, bioinformatics) as well as use advanced biological concepts to interpret, analyze, and solve biological problems. (BYU AIMS 2, 4)

    Research Skills and Tools
    Students will conduct research using appropriate tools and techniques within their focused area of graduate study (e.g., ecology, evolutionary biology). (BYU AIMS 2, 4)

    Teaching Skills
    Students will be able to teach in the biological sciences by demonstrating an expert understanding of basic biological concepts, foundational theories, and key relationships from the molecular to ecosystem level. (BYU AIMS 4)
    Program Stats
    Characteristics of Students from Past Academic Year
    Total Students 23.0
    International 1.0
    Male 12.0
    Female 11.0
    LDS 20.0
    BYU Undergraduate 7.0
    Five Year Average of Graduated Students
    Average Years to Degree 1.89
    Graduated Per Year 18.6
    GMAT Quantitative Percentile 67.5
    Five Year Average of Admitted Students
    Applied Per Year 9.2
    Admitted Per Year 6.0
    Percent Admitted 65.22
    Average GPA 3.42
    Courses and Faculty

    Department Courses Department Faculty