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.