Biology, M.S.

Admission Requirements

Required application materials include official transcripts, Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores, three letters of recommendation, and a personal statement.

Students receiving unconditional admission typically will have a 3.00 overall (in biology coursework) undergraduate grade point average and overall GRE scores above 297 (current scale) or 1000 (former scale), with minimum scores of 150 and 141 respectively on the verbal and quantitative sections (current scale) or 450 on both the verbal and quantitative sections (former scale).

All students in the graduate program must have an undergraduate minor (19 hours) in biology or its equivalent and 12 hours of chemistry (including one semester of organic chemistry or biochemistry).

Application Procedures

All application materials are to be submitted to the College of Graduate Studies.

Applications for admission are accepted year-round; preference for admission will be given to students adhering to the following deadlines: Summer/Fall enrollment, March 1; Spring enrollment, October 1.

Applicant must

1. submit an application with the appropriate application fee (online at www.mtsu.edu/graduate/apply.php); 
2. submit official scores on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE); 
3. submit official transcripts of previous college work;
4. submit three letters of recommendation from professors or professionals that address the applicant’s potential to successfully complete an M.S. in Biology;
5. submit a personal statement. The personal statement should outline the student’s interest in graduate study and indicate a potential area of research interest and thesis advisor.

Degree Requirements

The Master of Science in Biology requires completion of a minimum of 30 semester hours including at least 21 hours at the 6000 level.

Candidate must

1. successfully complete both written and oral comprehensive examinations (may be taken no more than twice) the semester before graduation;
2. present and successfully defend the thesis in a public forum;
3. complete 6 semester hours of approved research tools or two semesters (6 hours) of a foreign language in addition to the 30 hours;
4. complete
   BIOL 6620 Biological Research
     and submit a Research and Thesis Approval Form and a copy of the research proposal to the graduate program director before the end of the second semester of study.

Curriculum: Biology

 Candidate must complete 30 hours with at least 21 hours at the 6000 level in the following course of study:

Program Notes

Candidate must

1. file a degree plan in the College of Graduate Studies prior to the completion of 21 credit hours;
2. file a Notice of Intent to Graduate form in the College of Graduate Studies within the first two weeks of the term in which candidate intends to graduate.