Graduate Program, Department of Biology
- Biology Graduate Program
- Biology Graduate Programs In Texas
- Lsu Biology Grad Program
- Biology Graduate Programs In Washington State
The graduate program helps to build careers in biotechnologyand instill in students environmental awareness through scientific training and investigation of ecology, evolution, and marine biology; prepares graduate students for accessing and implementing healthcare education in the school and community; and prepares students for research. The Biochemistry & Cell Biology graduate program faculty members are committed to training and mentoring graduate students to reach their full potential as scientists. We seek to facilitate students’ progression towards fulfilling and exciting careers in academia, industry, or government, and to develop their skills as future leaders in.
The Department of Biology has diverse, numerous disciplines of research and training activities that span from genetic and molecular studies, through cell and physiological investigations, and finally up through evolutionary, ecological and environmental exploration and discoveries. The faculty makeup is just as diverse, with researchers investigating developmental and genetic programming events, population genetics and biostatistics, host-microbe interactions and microbial ecologies, immunological and nervous systems, molecular plant biology, ecology and bioremediation, and also invertebrate aquatic system and evolutionary biology.
Biology Graduate Program
Science continues to remain at the forefront of information, technology, and engineering; the Department of Biology continues this tradition by intertwining the rich multidisciplinary approaches to provide a well-rounded, but specialized research training to ensure successful, competitive careers in research enterprise.
The Department of Biology offers graduate programs leading to the Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy degrees in two major areas of concentration: 1) Cell and Molecular Biology (CMB) and 2) Ecological, Environmental and Systematic Biology (EESB). CMB offers specialization in immunology, cell biology, molecular biology, genetics, neurobiology, physiology, developmental biology, microbiology and bioinformatics, while EESB offers specialization in ecology, evolutionary biology, environmental biology, conservation biology, and organismal biology. Incoming graduate students may elect any area of their choice leading to either M.S. or Ph.D. degree; however, the Ph.D. program is the major focus of the departmental graduate program. The department also participates in the M.D./Ph.D. degree program jointly offered by the Graduate School and Howard University College of Medicine
Please use the website to explore the multi- and interdisciplinary program, where you will find detailed information about admissions and the interview process, program structure, course curriculum, and pathway to the PhD, funding, faculty research and infrastructure, and even our student directory and alumni center.
Appalachian's Master of Science in Biology program is designed to prepare students for competitive careers and continued training in the field of biology. The program provides students with a comprehensive knowledge of broad fields and disciplines in biology while allowing specialization in an area of the student's choice. The Graduate Program in Biology has been twice named the Outstanding Graduate Program at Appalachian, and a number of our graduate students have been awarded grants or scholarships for their proposed and ongoing research. The program has three concentrations:
- Cell and Molecular Biology (207B) – Students choosing this track conduct research aimed at understanding cellular and molecular processes that govern life at the molecular level and take coursework aimed that complement their research program.
- Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (207D) – Students choosing this track are involved in research programs that address key questions in physiological, population, community and ecosystem ecology with emphasis on evolutionary principles and take coursework that complement their research program.
- General Biology (207C) – Students choosing this track have the flexibility to customize their program to incorporate aspects of both of the above tracks. In addition, students who would like to focus their coursework and research on secondary science education can choose this track.
Students study under faculty experts who conduct active research in diverse fields including cell and molecular biology, genetics; conservation biology; ecology and evolutionary biology; microbiology, immunology, pathophysiology; physiology and organismal biology; and science education.
M.S. (Master of Science) Degree Requirements
Students pursuing an MS in Biology are required to complete 33 credit hours of course work and conduct research. Students must maintain a grade-point average of 3.0 or above. Four to eight of the 33 credit hours are for thesis research, while the remaining 25 - 29 hours are chosen in consultation with the student's thesis committee. The student must pass a comprehensive written exam in his or her area, write a thesis on research conducted under the direction of an advisor and thesis committee, present a seminar to the Department based on the thesis research, and pass an oral defense of the thesis.
Prerequisites:
The Biology Department has no required prerequisites for the MS Degree, though the following courses are strongly advised: Organic Chemistry and either an Ecology-type course (Ecology, Organismal course, etc.) if choosing the Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Concentration or a Cellular/subcellular-type course (Genetics, Microbiology, Cell Biology, etc.) if choosing the Cell and Molecular Biology Concentration. For the General Biology Concentration, either an Ecology or Cellular/subcellular course is desirable. Though prerequisites are not required for admission, the department policy is for a student's thesis committee to meet and decide on what is needed if they are deficient in some areas. If the prerequisites needed are undergraduate courses, they would not count as credit hours towards the MS degree.
Biology Graduate Programs In Texas
Application Essentials
Test Scores:
Applicants to the Biology MS degree may qualify for a GRE test waiver. To be considered for a waiver, applicants must hold a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher. In lieu of the GRE, applicants should arrange an interview (in person or virtual) with either the Biology Graduate Program Director and/or a potential faculty adviser. Test scores may be required for Graduate School scholarship consideration.
Required number of references to specify in the online form: 3
At least one reference must come from the degree-granting institution.
Supplemental Information: Resume and Letter of Intent, which should follow the guidelines found here.
Important: in order to be admitted to the Biology MS program, an applicant must be accepted by a faculty member who agrees to be the applicant's research mentor/adviser. Biology faculty research interest may be found here.
Deadlines for Application: deadlines for fall, summer and spring semesters are found below. Though applications are accepted up until a deadline, they are reviewed in the order in which they are completed. Therefore, early applications are encouraged. The priority screening date is an important consideration. For Fall semester applicants, this date is March 15. For Spring semester applicants, the priority screening date is October 1. Applications that are not completed by these dates risk denial of admission due to lack of available positions in the program.
A small number of out-of-state tuition scholarships are available to applicants with a GPA of 3.4 or higher from a degree-granting institution. Consideration for these scholarships for Fall semester begins on the priority screening date of March 15, with decisions made by early April. It is therefore important for students wishing to be considered for these competitive scholarships to apply by the priority screening date. Out-of-state applicants for Spring semester are considered on a space available basis and are encouraged to complete their applications by October 1. Please note that since the out-of-state tuition scholarships are awarded for an academic year, availability is much more limited for spring applicants.
Semester Application Deadlines:
- Spring: November 1
- Summer Session 1: April 1
- Summer Session 2: April 1
- Fall: July 1
Basic Conditions for Consideration of Admission: Meeting or exceeding the conditions below does NOT guarantee admission. All applications will be evaluated based upon the number of available positions in the program, the quality of the complete application package, and evidence of acceptance by a faculty adviser.
With special permission from the Graduate School, Biology may admit a limited number of students with exceptional circumstances who do not meet the graduate school minimums. In such cases receiving financial support in the form of a teaching assistantship may be affected (see below).
Graduate School Criteria: 3.0 GPA in the last earned degree and official scores from the appropriate admission test(s), OR 2.5 GPA in the last earned degree and official scores at the 25th percentile level from the appropriate admission test(s).
Accelerated Admission Program in Biology
If you are considering a Master's of Science Degree in Biology and (1) have earned 90 credit hours or more as an undergraduate student at ASU, and (2) have a GPA of 3.2 or higher, you may qualify for the Accelerated Admission Program. You can earn graduate credit towards your MS degree as an undergraduate and likely reduce your time to receive a graduate degree.
For more information click here and contact the Biology Graduate Program Director:
Dr. Ray Williams
217 Rankin Science North
willmsrs@appstate.edu
Assistantships
Teaching assistantships (TA) not only helps students fund their education but also provide training to teach at the college level. The Biology Department works diligently to provide this support. For the most favorable TA consideration, an applicant is advised to apply as early as possible before the semester on their application. Students accepted into the program by regular admission, and who apply by the priority application deadline (March 15 for Fall semester), have a very high probability of receiving a TA. Applications after this date are still considered dependent on availability. The priority application deadline for TA consideration in spring semester is October 1. Every attempt is made to provide applicants for Spring semester admission a TA, but no assurances can be made that an assistantship will be available.
Estimated Cost of Graduate School
Lsu Biology Grad Program
The Department of Biology recognizes the importance of the decision to attend graduate school. To provide information useful in making this decision, a document on costs associated with the Biology MS program has been developed and may be found here.
For more information, contact:
Dr. Ray Williams
Professor of Biology and Graduate Program Director
Department of Biology
572 Rivers Street
Appalachian State University
Boone, NC 28608-2027
Biology Graduate Programs In Washington State
Email: willmsrs@appstate.edu
Telephone: 828-262-6511
Fax: 828-262-2127