MA in Biology
Two programs lead to the MA degree. One involves research and one does not (see below). In both programs, students are assigned to faculty advisors in the area of special interest at the time of acceptance.
Course Requirements
Students must complete eight full-semester courses (32 credits) with a minimum grade point average of 3.0. For the research degree, at least five courses must be lecture, laboratory, or seminar courses. For the non-research degree, at least seven courses must be lecture, laboratory, or seminar courses.
Research or Non-Research Master’s Programs
Students select one of the following options:
Research
The MA with research normally requires a minimum of two years of academic study including summer work. In addition to the requirements listed above, the student must complete a program of research acceptable to his or her thesis committee that leads to the preparation of a thesis; this thesis must be defended orally before the student’s thesis committee.
Non-Research
The MA without research can be completed in one year. In addition to the course requirements listed above, the student must prepare a major paper, based on recent literature and with adequate bibliography, that is accepted by the student’s faculty committee.
Courses
- CAS BI 502 Topics in the Mathematical Structure of Biological Systems
- CAS BI 503 Symbiosis
- CAS BI 504 Evolution
- CAS BI 505 Evolution and Development
- CAS BI 506 Phenotypic Plasticity
- CAS BI 508 Behavioral Ecology
- CAS BI 512 Mammalian Ecology (EBE)
- CAS BI 513 Genetics Laboratory
- CAS BI 515 Population Genetics (EBE)
- CAS BI 519 Theoretical Evolutionary Ecology
- CAS BI 520 Sensory Neurobiology (PER/Neuro)
- CAS BI 527/528 Biochemistry Laboratory I & II
- CAS BI 530 Forest Ecology
- CAS BI 531 Ichthyology: Behavior, Ecology, and Evolutionary Fishes
- CAS BI 532 Field Biology Belize Coral Reefs: Expeditionary Ichthyology (Belize)
- CAS BI 536 Molecular Ecology and Evolution
- CAS BI 545 Neurobiology of Motivated Behavior
- CAS BI 546 Marine Megafaunal Ecology: Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary and Surrounding Waters
- CAS BI 547 Marine Invertebrates: Natural History and Molecular Phylogeny
- CAS BI 549 Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution (EBE)
- CAS BI 551 Biology of Stem Cells
- CAS BI 552 Molecular Biology I
- CAS BI 553 Molecular Biology II
- CAS BI 554 Neuroendocrinology
- CAS BI 556 Membrane Biochemistry and Cell Signaling (CM)
- CAS BI 557 Biological Transport Mechanisms
- CAS BI 563 Chemosensory Biology
- CAS BI 572 Advanced Genetics
- CAS BI 578 Marine Geographic Information Science
- CAS BI 581, 582 Seminar: Biology
- CAS BI 583, 584 Seminar: Progress in Cell and Molecular Biology
- CAS BI 585, 586 Seminar: Progress in Physiology, Endocrinology, and Reproduction
- CAS BI 589, 590 Seminar: Progress in Marine Science
- CAS BI 594 Topics in Neurobiology
- CAS BI 599 Neurobiology of Synapses
The following 600-level courses require that graduate students complete an independent project.
- GRS BI 607 Animal Behavior
- GRS BI 610 Cellular Aspects of Development and Differentiation
- GRS BI 614 Ornithology
- GRS BI 615 Biology of Mammals
- GRS BI 617 Lakes and Rivers
- GRS BI 621 Biochemistry I
- GRS BI 622 Biochemistry II (CM)
- GRS BI 623 Marine Biogeochemistry
- GRS BI 625 General Endocrinology
- GRS BI 642 Physiology and Biochemistry of Reproduction
- GRS BI 643 Terrestrial Biogeochemistry
- GRS BI 644 Neuroethology (NEU)
- GRS BI 645 Cellular and Molecular Neurophysiology
- GRS BI 646 Biology of the Cell Cycle
- GRS BI 648 Biodiversity and Conservation Biology
- GRS BI 654 Cell Motility and Cytoskeleton (CM)
- GRS BI 655 Developmental Neurobiology
- GRS BI 668 Marine Microbial Ecology
- GRS BI 678 Experimental Marine Biology
- GRS BI 679 Physical Oceanography
- GRS BI 685 Biology of Single-Cell Eukaryotes
- GRS BI 686 Biological Design for Sustainable Developments
- GRS BI 699 Teaching College Biology I
- GRS BI 708 Biochemical and Molecular Aspects of Development
- GRS BI 735 Advanced Cell Biology
- GRS BI 753 Advanced Molecular Biology
- GRS BI 755 Cellular and Systems Neuroscience
- GRS BI 756 Systems and Behavioral Neuroscience
Directed Study or Research
The variable-credit research courses listed below involve reading, laboratory work, and conferences. Instructor’s consent required. Hours arranged.
- GRS BI 903, 904 Research in Cellular Morphology
- GRS BI 905, 906 Research in Endocrinology and Reproduction
- GRS BI 909, 910 Research in Invertebrate Zoology and Parasitology
- GRS BI 911, 912 Research in Behavior and Ecology
- GRS BI 913, 914 Research in Botany
- GRS BI 915, 916 Research in Microbiology
- GRS BI 919, 920 Research in Vertebrate Zoology
- GRS BI 921, 922 Research in Paleontology
- GRS BI 925, 926 Research in Cell and Molecular Biology
- GRS BI 927, 928 Research in Biochemistry
- GRS BI 929, 930 Research in Genetics
- GRS BI 931, 932 Research in Systems Physiology
- GRS BI 933, 934 Research in Developmental Biology
- GRS BI 937, 938 Research in Marine Biology
- GRS BI 939, 940 Research in Neurobiology
- GRS BI 941, 942 Research in Evolution
- GRS BI 943, 944 Research in Pharmacology
- GRS BI 945, 946 Research in Forest Ecology
Metropolitan College Courses
The following courses are offered in Metropolitan College under the auspices of the Department of Biology and are approved for graduate credit in the MA and PhD programs.
- MET BI 552 Molecular Biology I
- MET BI 607 Animal Behavior
- MET BI 625 General Endocrinology
Related Courses
A number of related courses in other departments, including non-Arts & Sciences courses (see “Cross-Registration” under the Policies section of this bulletin), may be selected for graduate credit as part of MA and PhD programs in biology in consultation with major professors. Additional courses may be approved for such credit in special cases.
The following related courses may be taken for graduate credit (see also the MMEDIC Program in the College of Arts & Sciences bulletin).
- CAS CN 510 Principles and Methods of Cognitive and Neural Modeling I
- CAS CN 530 Neural and Computational Models of Vision
- ENG BE 550 Bioelectromechanics
- GRS CH 621 Biochemistry I
- GRS CH 622 Biochemistry II
- GRS CH 722 Protein Chemistry
- GRS CH 724 Special Topics in Biochemistry
- GRS PS 832 Physiological Psychology
- GRS PY 681 Electronics for Scientists
