Biology - Graduate Programs
Objective
The program leading to the degree of Master of Science in biology is designed to provide graduate education that will prepare students for vocations in industry, government, and teaching, and to pursue further graduate education leading to the doctorate. The doctoral program is designed to train students to apply sophisticated quantitative techniques to solving basic and applied problems in biology. Students in this program will attain substantially greater quantitative skills than in traditional doctoral programs in the biological sciences, providing them with a competitive advantage in business, industry, government, and academia.
Admission Requirements
The following are minimal requirements for entrance into the graduate program in Biology. However, satisfying or exceeding these requirements does not guarantee admission to the program. Admission to the program is determined solely by the Biology Graduate Studies Committee and the Graduate School and is based on an evaluation of all pertinent aspects of an applicant's record.
MASTER OF SCIENCE
Admission status in the Master of Science program is determined as follows:
Unconditional Admission
Decisions are based on consideration of all the information listed below and are not based on any single criterion alone.
- A Bachelor's degree in Biology or a Bachelor's degree in some other discipline with at least 12 hours of advanced level coursework (junior or senior level courses) in Biology.
- A minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, as calculated by the Graduate School. Applicants overall GPA in the Sciences and within Biology are also considered.
- A satisfactory score on the Verbal and Quantitative sections of the Graduate Record Exam. Successful students tend to have a minimum combined total score of 1000 (old GRE scale), or 296 (new GRE scale) on the Verbal and Quantitative sections, with strong performance on the Quantitative section of the GRE exam.
- Favorable letters of recommendation from at least three individuals able to assess the applicant's potential for success in graduate school.
- Evidence of previous research experience may also be considered.
- International students whose native language is not English must provide a score on the Test of Spoken English (TSE) of at least 45, a minimum score of 23 on the Speaking portion of the TOEFL iBT exam or a minimum score of 7 on the Speaking portion of the IELTS exam.
Denial of Admission
A candidate may be denied admission if they have less than satisfactory performance on a majority of the admission criteria listed above.
Probationary Admission
If an applicant does not meet a majority of standards for unconditional admission outlined above, he or she may be considered for probationary admission after careful examination of their application materials. Probationary admission requires that the applicant receive a B or better in his/her first two long semesters of graduate coursework at UT Arlington.
Deferred and Provisional Admission
A deferred application decision may be granted when a file is incomplete or when a denied decision is not appropriate. An applicant unable to supply all required documentation prior to the admission deadline but who otherwise appears to meet admission requirements may be granted provisional admission.
Fellowships and Scholarships
Students that are unconditionally admitted will be eligible for available scholarship and/or fellowship support. Award of scholarships or fellowships will be based on consideration of the same criteria utilized in admission decisions. To be eligible, candidates must be new students coming to UT Arlington in the Fall semester, must have a GPA of 3.0 in their last 60 undergraduate credit hours plus any graduate credit hours as calculated by the Graduate School, and must be enrolled in a minimum of 6 hours of coursework in both long semesters to retain their fellowships.
Master's Degree Requirements
Supporting work outside the student's major area may be taken in botany, chemistry, earth & environmental sciences, mathematics, microbiology, physics, and zoology. Approved courses in city and regional planning, civil engineering, environmental science and engineering, philosophy, psychology, and sociology may also be taken in support of the student's program. Subject to written approval by the Graduate Advisor and within the limitations stated in the General Graduate School Regulations, a student may take up to nine hours of coursework from among courses listed under Biology at the 3000 or 4000 levels.
Master of Science
Non-thesis and thesis options are offered. The non-thesis option is designed to meet the needs of practicing teachers or those intending to enter the teaching profession. Students enrolled in the non-thesis option are required to complete 36 hours, including 24 hours of formal coursework in biology plus two hours of BIOL 5101 SPECIAL TOPICS IN BIOLOGY, BIOL 5391 INDIVIDUAL PROBLEMS IN BIOLOGY, and sufficient additional hours to complete course requirements. Students enrolled in the thesis option are required to complete 30 hours, including 18 hours of formal coursework (of which BIOL 5314 BIOMETRY is required), two hours of BIOL 5101 SPECIAL TOPICS IN BIOLOGY, BIOL 5698 THESIS, and sufficient additional hours to complete degree requirements.
Admission Requirements
DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY
Students interested in pursuing the Ph.D. in the Biology Department may apply for the B.S. - Ph.D. Track or the doctoral program directly depending on their background. The B.S. - Ph.D. Track is the point of entry into doctoral studies for students with a Bachelor's degree in Biology, but without 30 hours of graduate level coursework in Biology or a master's degree in Biology. Students who have already accomplished these goals may apply directly for the doctoral program as Ph.D. students. Degree requirements are the same for both groups (see below).
B.S. - PH.D. TRACK STUDENTS
Admission status in the B.S. - Ph.D. Track program is determined as follows:
Unconditional Admission
Decisions are based on consideration of all the information listed below and are not based on any single criterion alone.
- A Bachelor's degree in Biology or a Bachelor's degree in some other discipline with at least 12 hours of advanced level coursework (junior or senior level courses) in Biology.
- A minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, as calculated by the Graduate School. Applicants overall GPA in the Sciences and within Biology are also considered.
- A satisfactory score on the Verbal and Quantitative sections of the Graduate Record Exam. Successful students tend to have a minimum combined total score of 1100 (old GRE scale), 301 (new GRE scale) on the Verbal and Quantitative sections, with strong performance on the Quantitative section of the GRE exam.
- Favorable letters of recommendation from at least three individuals able to assess the applicant's potential for success in graduate school.
- Evidence of previous research experience may also be considered.
- International students whose native language is not English must provide a score on the Test of Spoken English (TSE) of at least 45, a minimum score of 23 on the Speaking portion of the TOEFL iBT exam or a minimum score of 7 on the Speaking portion of the IELTS exam.
Denial of Admission
A candidate may be denied admission if they have less than satisfactory performance on a majority of the admission criteria listed above.
Probationary Admission
If an applicant does not meet a majority of standards for unconditional admission outlined above, they may be considered for probationary admission after careful examination of their application materials. Probationary admission requires that the applicant receive a B or better in their first two long semesters of graduate coursework at UT Arlington.
Deferred and Provisional Admission
A deferred application decision may be granted when a file is incomplete or when a denied decision is not appropriate. An applicant unable to supply all required documentation prior to the admission deadline but who otherwise appears to meet admission requirements may be granted provisional admission.
Fellowships and Scholarships
Students that are unconditionally admitted will be eligible for available scholarship and/or fellowship support. Award of scholarships or fellowships will be based on consideration of the same criteria utilized in admission decisions. To be eligible, candidates must be new students coming to UT Arlington in the Fall semester, must have a GPA of 3.0 in their last 60 undergraduate credit hours plus any graduate credit hours as calculated by the Graduate School, and must be enrolled in a minimum of 6 hours of coursework in both long semesters to retain their fellowships.
PH.D. STUDENTS
Admission status in the doctoral program is determined as follows:
UNCONDITIONAL ADMISSION
Decisions are based on consideration of all the information listed below and are not based on any single criterion alone.
- A master's degree in Biology or at least 30 hours of graduate level coursework in Biology.
- A minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, as calculated by the Graduate School. If an Applicant has a Master's degree, the GPA from their Bachelor's degree, as calculated by the Graduate School, will also be considered. If they have 30 hours of graduate coursework but no degree, the GPA from that 30 hours, as calculated by the Graduate School, will also be considered.
- A satisfactory score on the Verbal and Quantitative sections of the Graduate Record Exam. Successful students tend to have a minimum combined total score of 1100 (old GRE scale), or 301 (new GRE scale) on the Verbal and Quantitative sections, with strong performance on the Quantitative section of the GRE exam.
- Favorable letters of recommendation from at least three individuals able to assess the applicant's potential for success in a doctoral program in quantitative biology.
- Evidence of previous research experience including publications resulting from previous graduate work may also be considered.
- International students whose native language is not English must provide a score on the Test of Spoken English (TSE) of at least 45, a minimum score of 23 on the Speaking portion of the TOEFL iBT exam, or a minimum score of 7 on the Speaking portion of the IELTS exam.
Denial of Admission
A candidate may be denied admission if they have less than satisfactory performance on a majority of the admission criteria listed above.
Probationary Admission
The Department of Biology does not as a matter of course admit doctoral students on a probationary basis. Under exceptional circumstances, an applicant that does not meet the standards for unconditional admission outlined above, may be considered for probationary admission after careful examination of their application materials. Probationary admission requires that the applicant receive a B or better in their first two long semesters of graduate coursework at UT Arlington.
Deferred and Provisional Admission
A deferred application decision may be granted when a file is incomplete or when a denied decision is not appropriate. An applicant unable to supply all required documentation prior to the admission deadline but who otherwise appears to meet admission requirements may be granted provisional admission.
Fellowships and Scholarships
Students that have no provisional admission conditions to meet will be eligible for available scholarship and/or fellowship support. Award of scholarships or fellowships will be based on the same criteria utilized in admission decisions. To be eligible, candidates must be new students coming to UT Arlington in the Fall semester, must have a GPA of 3.0 in their last 60 undergraduate credit hours plus any graduate credit hours as calculated by the Graduate School, and must be enrolled in a minimum of 6 hours of coursework in both long semesters to retain their fellowships.
Doctor of Philosophy Degree Requirements
Supporting work outside the student's major area may be taken in botany, chemistry, earth & environmental sciences, mathematics, microbiology, physics, and zoology. Approved courses in city and regional planning, civil engineering, environmental science and engineering, philosophy, psychology, and sociology may also be taken in support of the student's program. Subject to written approval by the Graduate Advisor and within the limitations stated in the General Graduate School Regulations, a student may take up to nine hours of coursework from among courses listed under Biology at the 3000 or 4000 levels.
The degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Quantitative Biology requires distinguished attainment both in scholarship and in research. In addition to meeting the minimum requirements of a planned course of study, the ultimate basis for conferring the degree must be the demonstrated ability to do independent and creative work and the exhibition of a profound grasp of the subject matter within the field.
Mathematics: Students will be expected to have (or complete during their first year of residence) a strong quantitative background including a formal course in differential and integral calculus (i.e., Calculus I).
General Course Requirements: A total of 45 credit hours should normally be completed including 24 hours of required and elective courses, and 21 hours of research courses. All students in the program are required to take BIOL 5314 (Biometry), Professional Development (BIOL 5102) and two seminar courses (2 x BIOL 5101) as part of their required courses.
Other requirements: Each student will make three research presentations that are open to the entire department. These may include the proposal defense, a research progress report, and the dissertation defense.
Biology Tracks: Students should follow one of the Biology Tracks described below: Ecology and Evolution, Genome Biology, or Microbiology and Molecular Biology.
Track Specific Quantitative Requirements:
Ecology and Evolution: Students in this track are required to take BIOL 5361 ADVANCED BIOMETRY and BIOL 5362 EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN. They will also be expected to have (or complete during their first year of residence) an additional calculus course (i.e., Calculus II).
Genome Biology: Students in this track are required to take one of the following courses in quantitative biology:
| BIOL 5340 | BIOINFORMATICS | 3 |
| BIOL 5420 | GENETICS METHODS LAB | 4 |
| BIOL 5336 | MOLECULAR EVOLUTION | 3 |
| BIOL 5364 | POPULATION GENETICS | 3 |
Microbiology and Molecular Biology: Students in this track are required to take one of the following courses in quantitative biology:
| BIOL 5340 | BIOINFORMATICS | 3 |
| BIOL 5333 | BIOLOGICAL MODELING | 3 |
| BIOL 5421 | METHODS IN MOLECULAR MICROBIOLOGY | 4 |
Track Specific Additional Courses:
Ecology and Evolution: Students in this track are required to take 6 credit hours from among the following courses (or as advised by their supervisory committee):
| BIOL 5344 | AMPHIBIAN BIOLOGY | 3 |
| BIOL 5320 | BIOGEOGRAPHY | 3 |
| BIOL 5333 | BIOLOGICAL MODELING | 3 |
| BIOL 5315 | COMMUNITY ECOLOGY | 3 |
| BIOL 5350 | CONSERVATION BIOLOGY | 3 |
| BIOL 5351 | ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY | 3 |
| BIOL 5311 | EVOLUTION | 3 |
| BIOL 5328 | LANDSCAPE ECOLOGY | 3 |
| BIOL 5354 | LIMNOLOGY | 3 |
| BIOL 5357 | MARINE BIOLOGY | 3 |
| BIOL 5325 | PLANT ECOLOGY | 3 |
| BIOL 5310 | SELECTED TOPICS IN BIOLOGY | 3 |
| BIOL 5367 | THEORETICAL SYSTEMATICS | 3 |
| BIOL 5326 | WETLANDS ECOLOGY | 3 |
Genome Biology: Students in this track are required to take 9 credit hours from among the following courses (or as advised by their supervisory committee):
| BIOL 5312 | ADVANCED GENETICS | 3 |
| BIOL 5331 | ADVANCED MOLECULAR BIOLOGY | 3 |
| BIOL 5335 | ESSENTIALS OF GENOMICS | 3 |
| BIOL 5311 | EVOLUTION | 3 |
| BIOL 5308 | GENOME ANALYSIS | 3 |
| BIOL 5319 | HUMAN GENETICS | 3 |
| BIOL 5334 | MOBILE DNA MECHANISMS & REGULATION | 3 |
Microbiology and Molecular Biology: Students in this track are required to take 9 credit hours from among the following courses including (or as advised by their supervisory committee):
| BIOL 5351 | ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY | 3 |
| BIOL 5309 | IMMUNOBIOLOGY | 3 |
| BIOL 5302 | MICROBIAL GENETICS | 3 |
| BIOL 5304 | VIROLOGY | 3 |
Additional Courses: Students in the program are required to take 6 hours of additional courses as advised by their supervisory committee.
Research hours:
| BIOL 6999 | DISSERTATION (final semester) | 9 |
| Select 21 hours of the following: 1 | 21 | |
| SPECIAL TOPICS IN BIOLOGY | ||
| INDIVIDUAL PROBLEMS IN BIOLOGY | ||
| THESIS | ||
| THESIS | ||
| THESIS | ||
| ADVANCED RESEARCH | ||
| ADVANCED RESEARCH | ||
| ADVANCED RESEARCH | ||
| ADVANCED RESEARCH | ||
| ADVANCED RESEARCH | ||
| ADVANCED RESEARCH | ||
| Total Hours | 30 | |
Please Note:
The grade of R (research in progress) is a permanent grade; completing course requirements in a later semester cannot change it. To receive credit for an R-graded course, the student must continue to enroll in the course until a passing grade is received. This is the case for dissertation hours.
An incomplete grade (the grade of I) cannot be given in a course that is graded R, nor can the grade of R be given in a course that is graded I. To receive credit for a course in which the student earned an I, the student must complete the course requirements. Enrolling again in the course in which an I was earned cannot change a grade of I. At the discretion of the instructor, a final grade can be assigned through a change of grade form.
Three-hour thesis courses and three- and six-hour dissertation courses are graded R/F/W only (except social work thesis courses.) The grade of P (required for degree completion for students enrolled in thesis or dissertation programs) can be earned only in three-, five-, six-, or nine-hour dissertation courses and nine-hour thesis courses and when the student has taken 9 or more hours of dissertation hours BIOL XX99. In the course listings below, R-graded courses are designated either "Graded P/F/R" or "Graded R." Occasionally, the valid grades for a course change. Students should consult the appropriate graduate advisor or instructor for valid grade information for particular courses. (See also the sections titled "R" Grade, Credit for Research, Internship, Thesis or Dissertation Courses and Incomplete Grade in this catalog.)
| 1 | these courses can be repeated for credit. |