Graduate Curriculum

MS in Biology Curriculum
Program Overview & Admission Requirements:
The Department of Biology in the College of Science, Engineering and Technology (CSET) offers
graduate studies leading toward the Master of Science (M.S.) in Biology, The M.S. in Biology
degrees is research/coursework-oriented and designed to satisfy academic requirements for those
students intending eventually to seek degree(s) beyond the master,s level. There are three
graduation options: Master of Science in Biology (Thesis Research Route); the Master of Science
in Biology (Research project Route), and the Master of Science in Biology (Coursework Route).
Programs Objectives
1. To provide academic and practical training of high quality at the master’s degree
level.
2. To contribute to the pool of biologists and environmental scientists qualified to
undertake doctoral degree programs, and to obtain employment in industry,
government and academic institutions, and
3. To offer a program that will enable biology and environmental science majors to
obtain the necessary classroom, laboratory and/or field experiences required for
entering areas in and related to environmental science directly upon graduation.
Admissions Requirements
In addition to the requirements set forth by the Division of Graduate Studies, all applicants
seeking admission to the M.S. in Biology and/or M.S. in Environmental Science programs
in the Department of Biology must meet the following minimum admission requirements:
1. Compliance with Immunization Requirements: https://www.jsums.edu/healthservices/immunization-requirements
2. An undergraduate (B.S.) degree in biology or related field. For M.S. in Environmental Science program applicants, at least 16 credit hours of biology courses are required.
3. A minimum undergraduate grade point average (GPA) of3.00 or higher as evidenced by an official transcript from all accredited colleges and universities attended,
4. Application for admission to JSU Graduate School
5. Three letters of recommendation (sent directly to the department), at least 2 from academic professors who can assess the applicant’s:

a) academic qualifications;

b) written and oral communication skills;

c) capacity for critical and analytical thinking;

d) overall potential for graduate studies; Letters of recommendation form (http://www.jsums.edu/graduateschool/)
6.  A Graduate Record Examination (GRE) composite (verbal plus quantitative) score of 800 is required. For applicants with score below 800, partial credit will be assigned