The College of Arts and Sciences offers a graduate major in Biology that prepares students as professional biologists who will be prepared either to enter the job market in biotechnology, management and policy or ecology; or to continue education in the health professions or further graduate school. All students share core courses that train them in the practice of graduate-level scholarship and in the design and analysis of research; and shared selective courses emphasize applied principles and methods in fields such as toxicology, biochemistry, GIS and biotechnology.
In accordance with their interests and career plans, and in consultation with an academic advisor, students may choose one of three directed topics-Biotechnology, Management and Policy, or Ecology-each of which entails several specific required courses. Students then may further tailor their degree coursework by choosing selective courses in topics ranging from native landscaping, zoology and botany to conservation genetics and bioinformatics. Each student will complete a graduate capstone experience in accordance with the directed topic and in consultation with her/his advisor. The capstone experience may be independent research culminating in a graduate project or thesis, a professional internship or a meta-analysis project.
Graduates may obtain employment in biological and related fields or pursue advanced degrees. A number of graduates work as biologists, natural resource managers or laboratory scientists at corporations or at county, state, and national parks. Other employment opportunities include work in environmental consulting, habitat assessment or science policy. The curriculum also serves certified secondary school biology teachers who wish to develop an ecological or biotechnology focus.
Faculty research interests range widely and include topics such as microbial ecology, forest and prairie ecology, ecological restoration, rodent population dynamics, conservation genetics, development of targeted drug therapies, environmental toxicology and comparative physiology, plant physiology, ecosystem ecology, environmental policy, and curriculum development in biology education.
Program Student Expected Outcomes
Upon completion of the MS in Biology program, students will be able to:
1. Demonstrate knowledge of biology content areas including molecular, organismic and population biology.
2. Improve critical thinking skills.
3. Use a scientific and scholarly approach to answer a question or solve a problem in the discipline.
4. Identify and refine their academic and career goals.
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