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Biology, M.S.

ÀÏ˾»ú¸£ÀûÍø's Master of Science in Biology offers students the chance to gain experience in laboratory research, including experimental design, interpretation of data and scientific writing.Ìý

Program Highlights

  • SLU's Master of Science in Biology degree requires a formal research project and thesis and is excellent preparation for continued graduate studies at the doctoral level or for employment at environmental, industrial or research companies. It can also lay the groundwork f´Ç°ùÌýcareers in academic, private or government sectors.
  • Biology students at ÀÏ˾»ú¸£ÀûÍø have access to outstanding facilities on campus and at the University's Reis Biological Station. Collaborations with neighboring institutions such as Washington University in St. Louis, the University of Missouri–St. Louis, the Missouri Botanical Garden, the Saint Louis Zoo and the Danforth Plant Science Center further expand possibilities for biological research and learning.
  • Students interested in the M.S. program in biology may also consider SLU's M.A. in Biology program.

Curriculum Overview

The M.S. in Biology requires at least 30 post-baccalaureate credits, six credits of which will be thesis research.

Careers

Past students in SLU's biology master's program have gone on to medical school or further study in doctoral programs and careers as research scientists, teachers, college faculty and in various capacities in pharmaceutical companies and government agencies.

ÀÏ˾»ú¸£ÀûÍø Requirements

Applicants should possess adequate undergraduate preparation in biology or a related discipline with a minimum 3.0 GPA in science and math courses. Research experience can bolster applications when the 3.0 GPA minimum is not met.

Suggested courses include biology (a minimum of 18 upper-division credits); chemistry (a minimum of eight upper-division credits, including two semesters of organic chemistry or one semester of organic chemistry and another of biochemistry); physics (two semesters); mathematics (such as a course in calculus). A formal minor is not permitted.

For students interested in ecology, evolution or systematics, additional coursework in some of the following areas is also recommended: genetics, general ecology, evolution, introductory statistics, general botany and a taxonomically oriented course. For students interested in cell or molecular biology, additional coursework in some of the following areas is recommended: genetics, biochemistry, cell biology, physiology, molecular biology, microbiology or immunology.

Application Requirements

  • Application form and fee
  • Three letters of recommendation
  • Transcript(s)
  • ¸éé²õ³Ü³¾Ã©
  • Goal statement
  • Interview (desired)

Requirements for International StudentsÌý

All admission policies and requirements for domestic students apply to international students. International students must also meet the following additional requirements:

  • ¶Ù±ð³¾´Ç²Ô²õ³Ù°ù²¹³Ù±ðÌýEnglish Language Proficiency
  • Academic records, in English translation, of students who have undertaken postsecondary studies outside the United States must include:
    • Courses taken and/or lectures attended
    • Practical laboratory work
    • The maximum and minimum grades attainable
    • The grades earned or the results of all end-of-term examinations
    • Any honors or degrees received.
  • WES and ECE transcripts are accepted.
  • In order to be issued an I-20 for your F-1 visa application, students must submit financial documents. Proof of financial support that must include:
    • A letter of financial support from the person(s) or sponsoring agency funding the student's time at ÀÏ˾»ú¸£ÀûÍø
    • A letter from the sponsor's bank verifying that the funds are available and will be so for the duration of the student's study at the University

Assistantship Application Deadline

Students who want to be considered for an assistantship should submit their application by Dec. 15. Applications submitted after this deadline will be considered if assistantships are available.

Review Process

Faculty committee members examine each applicant's materials and make recommendations. Consideration is given to matching applicant interests with faculty research areas.

Applicants should outline their research goals in their professional goals statement. They should also identify and correspond with faculty members whose area of research matches their interests early in the application process.

Tuition

Tuition Cost Per Credit
Graduate Tuition $1,370

Additional charges may apply. Other resources are listed below:

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Information on Tuition and Fees

Miscellaneous Fees

Information on Summer Tuition

Scholarships, Assistantships and Financial Aid

For priority consideration for a graduate assistantship, apply by the program admission deadlines listed. Fellowships and assistantships provide a stipend and may include health insurance and a tuition scholarship for the duration of the award.Ìý

Explore Scholarships and Financial Aid Options

  1. Graduates will be able to critically analyze primary literature articles by evaluating the scientific contributions of peer-reviewed publications in biology.
  2. Graduates will be able to effectively communicate scientific ideas.
  3. Graduates will be able to demonstrate professional integrity.
  4. Graduates will be able to use appropriate instrumentation and analytical methods to collect data.
  5. Graduates will be able to draw statistically valid conclusions from quantitative data.

The Master of Science in Biology degree requires a minimum of 30 credits, including 24 credits of structured coursework and six credits of thesis research. Courses may be chosen from upper-level electives within SLU's Department of Biology or related departments; coursework may be tailored to the research interests in consultation with advisory committees of students.

The following requirements govern which courses may be counted toward a degree:Ìý

  • At leastÌý20Ìýcredits of structured courses (does not includeÌýµþ±õ°¿³¢Ìý5970 Research Topics (1-3 cr)Ìý´Ç°ùÌýµþ±õ°¿³¢Ìý5980 Graduate Reading Course (1-3 cr)Ìý³¦´Ç³Ü°ù²õ±ð²õ).
  • At leastÌý18 credits (exclusive of thesis) must be 5000- and 6000- level courses.
  • At leastÌý12Ìýcredits (exclusive of thesis) of the total program must be from the biology department.
  • No more than six credits ofÌýÌýµþ±õ°¿³¢Ìý5970 Research Topics (1-3 cr)Ìý²¹²Ô»å/´Ç°ùÌýµþ±õ°¿³¢Ìý5980 Graduate Reading Course (1-3 cr).
  • SixÌýcredits of thesis researchÌýµþ±õ°¿³¢Ìý5990 Thesis Research (0-6 cr).

Students must be enrolled in a course (even if it is for zero credits) every fall and spring semester to maintain standing in the program; students on 11-month assistantships must also enroll in the summer.

Required Courses
µþ±õ°¿³¢Ìý5800Research Colloquium (taken twice for 1 credit hour each time)1
µþ±õ°¿³¢Ìý5860Scientific Communication1
µþ±õ°¿³¢Ìý5990Thesis Research (6 credits distributed over multiple semesters)6
Seminars
µþ±õ°¿³¢Ìý5810Department Seminar (must be taken each semester enrolled)1
Take two semesters of the following:
µþ±õ°¿³¢Ìý5820Graduate Seminar in Cell and Molecular Regulation (two semesters total; may be taken for 1-2 credits)1-2
´Ç°ùÌýµþ±õ°¿³¢Ìý5840 Graduate Seminar in Ecology, Evolution and Systematics
Elective Courses16-18
Elective Courses (selected in consultation with the student’s mentoring committee)
Total Credits30

Elective Courses

Electives can be selected from any 4000-level or higher courses in biology or related areas (subject to limits on 4000-level, 5970, and 5980 credit hours). Among the courses that can be taken as electives are:

µþ±õ°¿³¢Ìý4090Plant Ecology3
µþ±õ°¿³¢Ìý4100Natural History of Vertebrates4
µþ±õ°¿³¢Ìý4120Field Botany5
µþ±õ°¿³¢Ìý4130Field Mammalogy5
µþ±õ°¿³¢Ìý4140Field Ornithology5
µþ±õ°¿³¢Ìý4160Microbial Ecology and Molecular Evolution4
µþ±õ°¿³¢Ìý4200Aquatic Ecology4
µþ±õ°¿³¢Ìý4260Biology of Amphibians and Reptiles4
µþ±õ°¿³¢Ìý4280Biology of Fishes4
µþ±õ°¿³¢Ìý4320Cave Biology4
µþ±õ°¿³¢Ìý4330Spring Flora of the Ozarks4
µþ±õ°¿³¢Ìý4360Animal Behavior3
µþ±õ°¿³¢Ìý4370Animal Behavior Lab1
µþ±õ°¿³¢Ìý4410Comparative Animal Physiology3
µþ±õ°¿³¢Ìý4440Vertebrate Histology: Structure and Function of Tissues4
µþ±õ°¿³¢Ìý4480Conservation Biology3
µþ±õ°¿³¢Ìý4510Behavioral Endocrinology3
µþ±õ°¿³¢Ìý4540Human Systemic Physiology3
µþ±õ°¿³¢Ìý4640General Microbiology3
µþ±õ°¿³¢Ìý4650General Microbiology Laboratory2
µþ±õ°¿³¢Ìý4720Cancer Biology3
µþ±õ°¿³¢Ìý4910Internship in Conservation1-6
µþ±õ°¿³¢Ìý4912Internship in Plant Science1-3
µþ±õ°¿³¢Ìý5000Problems in Vertebrate Morphology2-5
µþ±õ°¿³¢Ìý5030Genomics3
µþ±õ°¿³¢Ìý5050Molecular Techniques Lab2
µþ±õ°¿³¢Ìý5070Advanced Biological Chemistry3
µþ±õ°¿³¢Ìý5080Advanced Cell Biology3
µþ±õ°¿³¢Ìý5090Biometry4
µþ±õ°¿³¢Ìý5190Geographic Information Systems in Biology3
µþ±õ°¿³¢Ìý5350Current Topics in Cell Biology2
µþ±õ°¿³¢Ìý5400Problems in Genetics1-4
µþ±õ°¿³¢Ìý5480Conservation Biology3
µþ±õ°¿³¢Ìý5550Advanced Ecology3
µþ±õ°¿³¢Ìý5560Advanced Evolution3
µþ±õ°¿³¢Ìý5610Principles of Develop Biology3
µþ±õ°¿³¢Ìý5630Concepts of Immunobiology3
µþ±õ°¿³¢Ìý5640Advanced Microbiology3
µþ±õ°¿³¢Ìý5670Advanced Population Biology3
µþ±õ°¿³¢Ìý5700Advanced Molecular Biology3
µþ±õ°¿³¢Ìý5780Molecular Phylogenetic Analysis3
µþ±õ°¿³¢Ìý5820Graduate Seminar in Cell and Molecular Regulation1-2
µþ±õ°¿³¢Ìý5840Graduate Seminar in Ecology, Evolution and Systematics2
µþ±õ°¿³¢Ìý6150Neural Basis of Behavior3

Continuation Standards

Students must maintain a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.00 in all graduate/professional courses.

Roadmaps are recommended semester-by-semester plans of study for programs and assume full-time enrollmentÌýunless otherwise noted. Ìý

Courses and milestones designated as critical (marked with !) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation. Transfer credit may change the roadmap.

This roadmap should not be used in the place of regular academic advising appointments. All students are encouraged to meet with their advisor/mentor each semester. Requirements, course availability and sequencing are subject to change.

General ScheduleÌý

Plan of Study Grid
Year One
FallCredits
4000/5000 level electives 1 5-6
µþ±õ°¿³¢Ìý5810 Department Seminar 0
µþ±õ°¿³¢Ìý5800 Research Colloquium 1
µþ±õ°¿³¢Ìý5990 Thesis Research 1
ÌýCredits7-8
Spring
4000/5000 level electives 1 3
µþ±õ°¿³¢Ìý5810 Department Seminar 0
µþ±õ°¿³¢Ìý5820
or µþ±õ°¿³¢Ìý5840
Graduate Seminar in Cell and Molecular Regulation
or Graduate Seminar in Ecology, Evolution and Systematics
2
µþ±õ°¿³¢Ìý5860 Scientific Communication 1
µþ±õ°¿³¢Ìý5990 Thesis Research 1
ÌýCredits7
Summer
µþ±õ°¿³¢Ìý5990 Thesis Research 2
ÌýCredits2
Year Two
Fall
4000/5000 level electives 1 6
µþ±õ°¿³¢Ìý5810 Department Seminar 0
µþ±õ°¿³¢Ìý5800 Research Colloquium 1
µþ±õ°¿³¢Ìý5990 Thesis Research 1
ÌýCredits8
Spring
Completion of written Thesis and Presentation of Thesis Research Ìý
4000/5000 level electives 1 3
µþ±õ°¿³¢Ìý5810 Department Seminar 0
µþ±õ°¿³¢Ìý5990 Thesis Research 1
µþ±õ°¿³¢Ìý5820
or µþ±õ°¿³¢Ìý5840
Graduate Seminar in Cell and Molecular Regulation
or Graduate Seminar in Ecology, Evolution and Systematics
2-1
ÌýCredits6-5
ÌýTotal Credits30
1

A maximum of six hours of 4000-level courses can be counted toward the M.S.; please see detailed requirements and sample schedules in program notes.

Sample Schedule Cell/Molecular Biology Focus

Plan of Study Grid
Year One
FallCredits
µþ±õ°¿³¢Ìý5050 Molecular Techniques Lab 2
µþ±õ°¿³¢Ìý5700 Advanced Molecular Biology 3
µþ±õ°¿³¢Ìý5800 Research Colloquium 1
µþ±õ°¿³¢Ìý5990 Thesis Research 1
µþ±õ°¿³¢Ìý5810 Department Seminar 0
ÌýCredits7
Spring
µþ±õ°¿³¢Ìý5070 Advanced Biological Chemistry 3
µþ±õ°¿³¢Ìý5820 Graduate Seminar in Cell and Molecular Regulation 1
µþ±õ°¿³¢Ìý5860 Scientific Communication 1
µþ±õ°¿³¢Ìý5990 Thesis Research 1
µþ±õ°¿³¢Ìý5810 Department Seminar 0
ÌýCredits6
Summer
µþ±õ°¿³¢Ìý5990 Thesis Research 2
µþ±õ°¿³¢Ìý5980 Graduate Independent Study in Biology 1
ÌýCredits3
Year Two
Fall
µþ±õ°¿³¢Ìý5030 Genomics 3
µþ±õ°¿³¢Ìý5640 Advanced Microbiology 3
µþ±õ°¿³¢Ìý5800 Research Colloquium 1
µþ±õ°¿³¢Ìý5990 Thesis Research 1
µþ±õ°¿³¢Ìý5810 Department Seminar 0
ÌýCredits8
Spring
µþ±õ°¿³¢Ìý5630 Concepts of Immunobiology 3
µþ±õ°¿³¢Ìý5820 Graduate Seminar in Cell and Molecular Regulation 2
µþ±õ°¿³¢Ìý5990 Thesis Research 1
µþ±õ°¿³¢Ìý5810 Department Seminar 0
ÌýCredits6
ÌýTotal Credits30

Sample Schedule for Ecology/Evolutionary Biology Focus

Plan of Study Grid
Year One
FallCredits
µþ±õ°¿³¢Ìý5550 Advanced Ecology 3
µþ±õ°¿³¢Ìý5030 Genomics 3
µþ±õ°¿³¢Ìý5800 Research Colloquium 1
µþ±õ°¿³¢Ìý5990 Thesis Research 1
µþ±õ°¿³¢Ìý5810 Department Seminar 0
ÌýCredits8
Spring
BIOLÌý5110 Advanced Sex, Evolution and Behavior 3
µþ±õ°¿³¢Ìý5840 Graduate Seminar in Ecology, Evolution and Systematics 2
µþ±õ°¿³¢Ìý5860 Scientific Communication 1
µþ±õ°¿³¢Ìý5990 Thesis Research 1
µþ±õ°¿³¢Ìý5810 Department Seminar 0
ÌýCredits7
Summer
µþ±õ°¿³¢Ìý5990 Thesis Research 2
ÌýCredits2
Year Two
Fall
µþ±õ°¿³¢Ìý5480 Conservation Biology 3
µþ±õ°¿³¢Ìý5560 Advanced Evolution 3
µþ±õ°¿³¢Ìý5800 Research Colloquium 1
µþ±õ°¿³¢Ìý5990 Thesis Research 1
µþ±õ°¿³¢Ìý5810 Department Seminar 0
ÌýCredits8
Spring
µþ±õ°¿³¢Ìý5840 Graduate Seminar in Ecology, Evolution and Systematics 2
BIOL 5###Ecology/Evolutionary Biology Elective 2
µþ±õ°¿³¢Ìý5990 Thesis Research 1
µþ±õ°¿³¢Ìý5810 Department Seminar 0
ÌýCredits5
ÌýTotal Credits30

For additional information about our program, please contact:

Robert Wood, Ph.D.
314-977-3718
robert.wood@slu.edu