Biology, M.S.

Admission Requirements

Applicants seeking admission to the graduate program in biology should contact prospective advisors and are required to submit the following to the Graduate School:

1. An application for graduate admission.
2. Official transcripts of all college work (undergraduate and graduate). A bachelor’s degree in biology or a related discipline from a regionally accredited college or university in this country or its equivalent in a foreign institution based on a four-year program is required for admission, as well as an average of “B” or better in the undergraduate major. Undergraduate grades, work, research experience and recommendations are used in concert to determine acceptability.
3. Three recommendations by individuals in professionally relevant fields.
4. Resume.
5. Research Interest Form and a Statement of Research Interests.
6. Application and supplemental documents must be submitted by the published deadline.
    

NOTE: The Graduate Record of Examination (GTE) General Test is not required for admission.

Degree Requirements (30 credit hours)

1. The program requires 30 credit hours of graduate study.
2. Six semester hours of credit may be transferred from another regionally accredited institution. Grades earned on transfer work must be equivalent to “B” or better.
3. A minimum of 24 semester hours of graduate study must be completed in residence.
4. No more than nine hours of graduate level courses offered by other science departments at UNCW may be applied toward the degree.
5. Undergraduate courses taken to make up deficiencies will not count toward the 30 hours required.
6. All deficiencies must be remedied prior to graduation.
7. The student must successfully complete an oral defense of the thesis.
8. Each student will present a thesis, based on original research, acceptable to the thesis advisory committee, prior to graduation.
9. Each student must complete an approved course of study within five years of the date of the first registration for graduate study.

Requirements for Master of Science Degrees

Master of Science in Biology

In addition to the core courses listed above, each student, in consultation with his/her thesis advisory committee, shall devise a program of study that meets the requirements below, complements the thesis research, and satisfies individual needs and interests. Select two of the following:

• BIO 519 - Advanced Topics in Cellular and Molecular Biology Credit Hours: 4 (4 credits required)

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• BIO 530 - Advanced Topics in Evolutionary Biology Credit Hours: 3 and
• BIOL 530 - Advanced Topics in Evolutionary Biology Lab Credit Hours: 1

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• BIO 534 - Advanced Topics in Ecology Credit Hours: 3 and
• BIOL 534 - Advanced Topics in Ecology Laboratory Credit Hours: 1

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• BIO 549 - Advanced Topics in Physiology Credit Hours: 4 (4 credits required)