{"id":9012,"date":"2019-08-09T09:36:05","date_gmt":"2019-08-09T13:36:05","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.bu.edu\/biology\/?page_id=9012"},"modified":"2026-06-03T10:57:05","modified_gmt":"2026-06-03T14:57:05","slug":"ms","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/biology\/biology-graduate-program\/ms\/","title":{"rendered":"Master of Science (MS) in Biology"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/a>The Department of Biology offers three tracks that lead to the MS: a coursework track, a scholarly paper track, and a research thesis track.\u00a0The coursework track can be completed in one year and the scholarly paper track can be completed in a year and a summer. The research thesis track typically requires two years to complete. In all three tracks, students are assigned faculty advisors in their subfield of interest during the first semester in the program.<\/p>\n

Bulletin Information on the MS in Biology can be found here.<\/a><\/p>\n

Upon completion of the master\u2019s program, students should be prepared for further graduate training or for eventual employment in teaching and\/or research positions in academia, industry, government, or nonprofit agencies.\u00a0<\/span>The program accepts post-bachelor\u2019s applicants with degrees in related disciplines where the focus has been on biology or a relevant field. Students with prior graduate work may be able to transfer course credits. See the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences (GRS) Transfer of Credits policy<\/a> for more details.<\/p>\n

<\/strong>How to Apply<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0Frequently Asked Questions<\/a>\u00a0 Request More Information<\/a><\/p>\n

Learning Outcomes<\/h5>
\n

1.<\/strong> Demonstrate academic mastery<\/strong><\/span> in one of three areas of Biology: Ecology, Behavior & Evolution; Neurobiology; or Cellular & Molecular Biology.<\/p>\n

2.<\/strong> Attain expertise<\/strong><\/span> in a specific field of study within one of three broad subject areas represented in the department: Ecology, Behavior & Evolution; Neurobiology; or Cellular & Molecular Biology<\/p>\n

3.<\/strong> Attain skills and qualifications<\/strong><\/span>\u00a0needed for employment in an academic, government, or private sector position related to the life sciences.<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Coursework Track Requirements<\/h5>
<\/p>\n

Students must complete 32 credits of 500-level and above coursework with a minimum grade point average of 3.0. All credits must be lecture, laboratory, or seminar courses. These courses will be selected under the mentorship of the faculty member who is serving as the student\u2019s primary advisor. The full list of Biology courses can be found here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Cell & Molecular Biology<\/h5>\n
    \n
  1. CAS BI 552 Molecular Biology<\/a>\u00a0(4 credits)<\/li>\n
  2. CAS BB 621 Biochemistry I<\/a>\u00a0(4 credits)<\/li>\n
  3. One Cell Biology course (4 credits)<\/li>\n
  4. Electives and Research<\/a>\u00a0(20 credits, 500-level and above)<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
    Ecology, Behavior & Evolution<\/h5>\n

    MS in Ecology, Behavior & Evolution coursework is highly variable. Students, in consultation with advisors, develop a plan of coursework and research.<\/p>\n

    Neurobiology<\/h5>\n
      \n
    1. CAS BI 533: Progress in Neurobiology<\/a> or CAS\u00a0BI 534: Progress in Neurobiology<\/a>\u00a0(2 credits)<\/li>\n
    2. One Cell\/Molecular Neurobiology course (4 credits)<\/li>\n
    3. One Systems Neurobiology course (4 credits)<\/li>\n
    4. Electives and Research<\/a> (22 credits, 500-level and above)<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      <\/div>\n<\/div>\n

      Scholarly Paper Track Requirements<\/h5>
      <\/p>\n
      COURSE REQUIREMENTS<\/h5>\n

      Students must complete 32 credits of 500-level and above coursework with a minimum grade point average of 3.0.\u00a0Ordinarily, these courses will be selected under the mentorship of the faculty member who is serving as the student\u2019s primary scholarly literature-based paper reader (see below). At least 28 of these graduate level credits must come from formal course work (i.e., cannot include credits from a research course). Up to 4 credits can be Readings in Biology (BI 701<\/a>\/702<\/a>). The full list of Biology courses can be found here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

      Cell & Molecular Biology<\/h5>\n
        \n
      1. CAS BI 552 Molecular Biology<\/a>\u00a0(4 credits)<\/li>\n
      2. CAS BB 621 Biochemistry I<\/a>\u00a0(4 credits)<\/li>\n
      3. One Cell Biology course (4 credits)<\/li>\n
      4. Electives and Research<\/a>\u00a0(20 credits, 500-level and above)<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
        Ecology, Behavior & Evolution<\/h5>\n

        MS in Ecology, Behavior & Evolution coursework is highly variable. Students, in consultation with advisors, develop a plan of coursework and research.<\/p>\n

        Neurobiology<\/h5>\n
          \n
        1. CAS BI 533: Progress in Neurobiology<\/a> or CAS\u00a0BI 534: Progress in Neurobiology<\/a>\u00a0(2 credits)<\/li>\n
        2. One Cell\/Molecular Neurobiology course (4 credits)<\/li>\n
        3. One Systems Neurobiology course (4 credits)<\/li>\n
        4. Electives and Research<\/a> (22 credits, 500-level and above)<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
          SCHOLARLY PAPER<\/h5>\n

          In addition to the course requirements listed above, the student must complete a scholarly literature-based paper, based on recent literature and with adequate bibliography.\u00a0The scholarly paper will generally be approximately 30\u201380 pages on a selected research topic in current biology and will usually include several chapters and extensive literature references. This paper will be written in consultation with a faculty member from the Biology Department who will serve as the primary reader. The scholarly paper is presented for approval by the student\u2019s faculty committee of two readers.\u00a0A final copy must be given to all committee members, the Department, and one copy should be kept by the student. This paper is not submitted to GRS.<\/p>\n

          <\/div>\n<\/div>\n

          Research Thesis Track Requirements<\/h5>
          <\/p>\n
          COURSE REQUIREMENTS<\/h5>\n

          Students must complete 32 credits of 500-level and above coursework with a minimum grade point average of 3.0. At least 20 of these credits must come from formal course work (i.e., cannot include credits from a research course). Up to 12 credits can be Readings in Biology (BI 701<\/a>\/702<\/a>) or Master\u2019s Research in Biology (BI 595<\/a>). Courses will be selected under the mentorship of the student\u2019s faculty advisor and\u00a0will vary depending on program discipline. Please refer to the Graduate Program Guide<\/a>\u00a0for more details. The full list of Biology courses can be found here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

          Cell & Molecular Biology<\/h5>\n
            \n
          1. CAS BI 552 Molecular Biology<\/a>\u00a0(4 credits)<\/li>\n
          2. CAS BB 621 Biochemistry I<\/a>\u00a0(4 credits)<\/li>\n
          3. One Cell Biology course (4 credits)<\/li>\n
          4. Electives and Research<\/a>\u00a0(20 credits, 500-level and above)<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
            Ecology, Behavior & Evolution<\/h5>\n

            MS in Ecology, Behavior & Evolution coursework is highly variable. Students, in consultation with advisors, develop a plan of coursework and research.<\/p>\n

            Neurobiology<\/h5>\n
              \n
            1. CAS BI 533: Progress in Neurobiology<\/a> or CAS\u00a0BI 534: Progress in Neurobiology<\/a>\u00a0(2 credits)<\/li>\n
            2. One Cell\/Molecular Neurobiology course (4 credits)<\/li>\n
            3. One Systems Neurobiology course (4 credits)<\/li>\n
            4. Electives and Research<\/a> (22 credits, 500-level and above)<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
              THESIS PROJECT<\/h5>\n

              In addition to the requirements listed above, the student must complete a program of research acceptable to their thesis committee that leads to the preparation of a thesis. This thesis must be approved by a committee of three faculty members that includes at least two faculty members from the Biology Department. The final reader-approved thesis must be submitted to the\u00a0Electronics Thesis and Dissertations (ETD) Administrator<\/a> for final approval by the graduate school before the date posted on the GRS submission calendar. More information about thesis formatting and submission can be found on the GRS website<\/a>.<\/p>\n

              <\/div>\n<\/div>\n

              Graduation Timeline<\/h5>
              <\/p>\n

              Forms and additional information about MS graduation can be found on the GRS website<\/a>.<\/p>\n

              [ALL Tracks]<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

              Semester prior to your intended graduation cycle<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n