Dec 03, 2024  
2024-2025 Catalog 
  
2024-2025 Catalog

Biology (MS)


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Director: Heather Dawson

Program Faculty:  Professors Randall Duncan, Joseph F. Sucic; Associate Professors Heather Dawson, Jerry D. Sanders, Kevin Tang; Assistant Professors You-Shin Chen, Karmen Hollis-Etter, Rebecca Tonietto, Jill Witt; Lecturers Anita Baxter-Blough, Kenneth Cabine, Russell Cossaboom, Dwayne Etter, Dania Habeck, Danielle Harbin, Cynthia Holzer, Kerry Lazenby, Elizabeth A. Malinowski, Earl Mayhew, Jennifer Miller, Jon Morey, Jill Slater, Melvin Smith, Dennis P. Viele, Jr., Margaret Ware, Nicole Yambrick, Teresa Yoder-Nowak  

Mission

The mission of the Biology Master of Science program is to update, as well as increase, breadth and depth of training in students who have completed undergraduate degrees in biology or related life science. The Program emphasizes varied methods and techniques that have proven useful in both teaching and research settings. Program core requirements survey cellular/molecular, organismal and ecology/evolutionary biology, and levels of biological organization; other coursework expands breadth and depth of student understanding of living systems.

Assessment

The Program participates in the University-wide effort to assess its academic programs. Information on assessment plans, including goals, methods and outcomes is available at http://www.umflint.edu/assessment.

Admission Information

The Graduate Programs Office serves as the primary source of information for all prospective graduate students, providing detailed guidance and resources to facilitate the application process.  Up-to-date and comprehensive details regarding admissions procedures, requirements and deadlines can be found on the program page on the Graduate Programs website.

Transfer or Lifelong Learning Credit

All students, with approval of the graduate committee, may transfer in or take as a Lifelong Learner up to two graduate-level courses (8 credits maximum) in biological sciences. No more than two courses (8 credits maximum) of cognate, transfer or Lifelong Learning credits may be applied toward completion of this degree.  See Transfer of Credit  in the Graduate Study  section for additional information on University of Michigan-Flint policies regarding the transfer of graduate credit.

Time Limit for Degree Completion

All requirements must be completed within six calendar years of initial enrollment in the program.

Academic Rules and Regulations

See the College of Innovation and Technology (CIT) ,  College of Innovation and Technology Graduate Programs , and Graduate Study  sections for rules and regulations pertaining to all CIT graduate programs.

Prerequisites


  • Cell Biology, Ecology, Genetics
  • Organic Chemistry
  • Pre-Calculus Mathematics
  • General Physics
  • Statistics (preferably, Biostatistics) recommended

Requirements


Option of Choice


One of the following options:

Thesis Option


  • (1)
  • An original research project report (thesis) designed and completed in cooperation with the student’s advisor, including an oral defense of the thesis. Thesis design must be approved by the student’s individual thesis committee.

  • (1-5) , elected to a total of 8 credits
  • Additional graduate-level courses in biology  to complete a minimum total of 30 credit hours.  With permission of the Biology Graduate Committee, up to two graduate-level courses (8 credits maximum) in non-biological science may be applied toward the degree.

Non-Thesis Option


  • (1)
  • Additional graduate-level courses in biology  to complete a minimum total of 32 credits, which may include up to two credits in BIO 597 - Non-Thesis Research .  With permission of the Biology Graduate Committee, up to two graduate-level courses (8 credits maximum) in non-biological science may be applied toward the degree.

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