Biology MS

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► Graduate School Rules apply to this program.

Associate Chair for Graduate Studies: Timberley Roane
Office: North Classroom, 3411
Telephone: 303-556-6592
E-mail: timberley.roane@ucdenver.edu
Web site: clas.ucdenver.edu/biology/grad.html

Requirements for Admission

Applicants must hold a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university, awarded within the preceding nine years. Students whose biology degree was awarded 10 or more years prior to entrance to the UC Denver program will be expected to retake or show competence in the biology core courses. Successful applicants generally have earned an overall GPA of 3.0 or better. Most applicants have an undergraduate major in biology or a related field. Students entering the master’s program in biology must have completed the equivalent of a minor in biology . Although a deficit of one course is allowed, this must be completed within the first semester of entering the master’s program and will not apply toward the degree.

The general GRE is required of all applicants, with scores above the 50th percentile required on all parts. The onlline graduate application form is submitted online to UC Denver graduate admissions. The biology supplemental application form is also required and is submitted directly to the biology program (jacki.craig@ucdenver.edu).

Plan I (thesis option) applicants must indicate an area of concentration AND MUST HAVE THE PRIOR APPROVAL OF A FACULTY MEMBER IN BIOLOGY WHO WILL SUPERVISE THEIR THESIS WORK. Prospective thesis students must have a tentative advisor listed on the application form. Plan I applications cannot be considered without this information.

Plan II (course work only) applicants must indicate an area of concentration in addition to the name of a faculty member in biology who has tentatively agreed to serve as your advisor. Applications cannot be considered without this information.

Application deadlines are February 1 for domestic U.S. students and January 15 for international students. Online applications submitted electronically after the deadline dates WILL NOT be considered for that term. Applicants will be given the opportunity to have these applications considered for the next term.

Before submitting an application it is highly recommended that you meet with the associate chair for graduate studies, Dr. Timberley Roane, to make sure this program meets your needs and that you meet the program requirements.

Degree Requirements

All course work taken within the Department of Integrative Biology and applied toward the degree must be 5000 level or above. There is no core of required courses. A course plan is developed by the student and major advisor and is approved by the student’s graduate committee. In addition to regular meetings throughout the semester, all students must meet with their faculty advisor at the beginning of each academic year to determine course schedules and upcoming deadlines. A pre-registration agreement is signed by student and advisor, and then filed with the associate chair of graduate studies in biology to make sure you are satisfying your degree requirements, and that the courses you want to take will be applicable toward your degree.

With the advisor’s and/or graduate committee’s approval, a maximum of 6 semester hours of course work at the 4000 level taken outside the department may be applied toward the degree. At least 18 semester hours must be taken from faculty in the Department of Integrative Biology at UC Denver. Upon approval of the department, no more than 12 semester hours may be transferred into the program. Two types of degree plans are offered:

Plan I (with thesis)

Students must form a three-person advisory committee consisting of members of the graduate faculty, with at least two from the regular UC Denver faculty. Committee membership must be approved by your graduate advisor. The thesis option requires 30 semester hours, including a minimum of 4 and no more than 6 thesis hours. You may also count a maximum of 6 hours (total) of independent study and/or graduate level internship. Graduate internship or independent study projects must consist primarily of research. In addition, two semesters of the following are required:

BIOL 6655 - Seminar Summer 2010 Registration: BIOL 6655

Plan II (without thesis)

Requires 32 semester hours, including two semesters of:

BIOL 6655 - Seminar Summer 2010 Registration: BIOL 6655

Comprehensive Examination

All students in the MS in biology program are required to complete a series of biology comprehensive exams. The purpose of the exams is to demonstrate mastery of chosen biological concepts in general biology, cell biology, ecology, genetics, and anatomy/physiology. The comprehensive exams include three written exams and an oral exam.

Financial Assistance

Financial aid for graduate students may be available from university and/or state fellowships, research assistantships sponsored by individual faculty members and teaching assistantships. The biology department hires teaching assistants for laboratories and recitations in a number of courses. Teaching is a valuable addition to your graduate training. Hiring decisions are made by the instructors teaching labs and recitations. Please contact them (early) if you are interested.

Contact the Office of Financial Aid for information about fellowships, or the associate chair for graduate studies (303-556-6592) for information about research and teaching assistantships.

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