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The combined B.S./M.S. program in biology provides an opportunity
for students of recognized academic ability and educational maturity
to fulfill integrated requirements of undergraduate and master's degree
programs from the beginning of the junior year. A carefully designed
program can permit a student to earn the B.S. and M.S. degrees within
nine semesters.
The combined program requires a minimum of 138 credits, of
which at least 30 must be graduate credits. In qualifying for the
B.S., students must meet all University and college requirements,
including the requirements of the undergraduate major described previously,
the minimum 60-credit liberal arts and sciences requirement, general
education requirements, and residency requirements. In qualifying
for the M.S., students must meet all University and college requirements
as outlined in the Graduate Bulletin, including completion of a minimum
of 30 graduate credits and any other conditions such as a research
seminar, thesis, comprehensive examination, professional experience,
and residency requirements. Up to 12 graduate credits may be applied
simultaneously to both the B.S. and M.S. programs.
While satisfying B.S. and M.S. requirements, students must complete
a coherent sequence of courses in one of the fields of departmental
concentration (i.e., neurobiology, ecology and animal behavior, molecular
biology, and cell-developmental biology) beginning with a 400 level
course and including a minimum of three graduate courses up to a total
of at least 9 credits. The sequence should include a two-semester
course involving a discussion of the current literature in the field
of biology selected by the student (i.e., one of the following: A
Bio 650, 651, 652, or 615).
Students are considered as undergraduates until completion of all
B.S. requirements. Upon meeting B.S. requirements, students are
automatically considered as graduate students. Although the Graduate
Record Examinations are not required for this program, students are
encouraged to take the examinations in their senior year with the expectation
that they will continue graduate studies.
Students may be admitted to the program at the beginning of the
junior year or after the completion of 56 credits. Normally an
application should be made at the completion of the sophomore year.
Those students who are accepted into the program in their Junior year
must complete at least three (3) semesters of research in the Bio
399-499 sequence. Seniors are not normally admitted into this program.
However, students may be accepted if they have completed at least
one semester of Bio 399 (for admittance at the beginning of first
semester senior year) or one semester each of Bio 399 and 499 (for
admittance at the beginning of second semester senior year). A minimum
grade point average of 3.20 is required and the application should
be supported by a minimum of three letters of recommendation from
faculty. The application should be submitted to the department chair.
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