Master of Science in Biology (Thesis)
About This Program
The Master of Science in Biology thesis option is intended to prepare students for careers in research, government agency, and industry. Students conduct research leading to a thesis in one of the five concentrations: Cell Biology, Genetics and Genomics, Ecology and Evolution, Bioinformatics, or Microbiology.
Competencies
- Upon completion, students will be able to synthesize and explain, in written and oral forms, complex concepts and theories in the field of biology as presented in primary literature.
- Upon completion, students will be able to analyze biological data and interpret the results for presentation in written and oral formats.
- Upon completion, students will be able to effectively communicate their research with others in their field of study through publication and presentation.
- Upon completion, students will be able to plan and implement the investigative procedures, formulate hypotheses, collect, analyze and interpret data, and draw conclusions from their research.
Admissions Criteria
HOW TO APPLY
Read the general instructions for applying to the graduate program and download the checklists available on the Office of Admissions webpage. Submit the application and your official transcripts through the UTA Office of Admissions.
Questions can be addressed to askbiology@uta.edu.
Admission Criteria
- A bachelor's degree in biology or a bachelor's degree in a related 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' GPA in the Sciences will also be considered.
- International students whose home country’s 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.
- OPTIONAL: GRE. Students may submit GRE scores, although they are not a requirement for admission.
Curriculum
| Foundations | ||
| BIOL 5314 | BIOMETRY | 3 |
| BIOL 5340 | BIOINFORMATICS | 3 |
| Specialization | ||
| Select five from the following: | 15 | |
| MICROBIOMES: HEALTH AND THE ENVIRONMENT | ||
| VIROLOGY | ||
| NEUROBIOLOGY | ||
| IMMUNOLOGY | ||
| EVOLUTION | ||
| BACTERIAL PATHOGENESIS | ||
| HUMAN GENETICS | ||
| ADVANCED PROBLEM SOLVING IN BIOLOGY | ||
| ESSENTIALS OF GENOMICS | ||
| MOLECULAR EVOLUTION | ||
| DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY IN HEALTH AND DISEASE | ||
| FUNDAMENTAL MEDICAL MYCOLOGY | ||
| LIMNOLOGY | ||
| TOXICOLOGY | ||
| MEDICAL MOLECULAR BIOLOGY | ||
| ADVANCED ORGANISMAL PHYSIOLOGY | ||
| Thesis | ||
| Select one from the following: | 3 | |
| THESIS RESEARCH IN CELL BIOLOGY | ||
| THESIS RESEARCH IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION | ||
| THESIS RESEARCH IN BIOINFORMATICS | ||
| THESIS RESEARCH IN MICROBIOLOGY | ||
| THESIS RESEARCH IN GENETICS AND GENOMICS | ||
| BIOL 5698 | THESIS | 6 |
| Total Hours | 30 | |
Subject to written approval by the Graduate Advisor and within the limitations stated in the General Graduate School Regulations, a MS student may take up to nine hours of coursework from courses listed under Biology at the 3000 or 4000 levels. Coursework may be taken in other areas to support the student's program subject to graduate advisor approval.