Fossil Preparation

Master of Science in Biology

The department offers both thesis and non-thesis degree programs. The thesis option (Plan I) is designed for students entering research-related careers or planning to enter advanced graduate and professional degree programs. The non-thesis option (Plan II) is designed primarily for students entering professional fields such as teaching. Most graduate students in biology hold teaching assistantships.

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Admission to the Masters Program in Biology

In addition to the general requirements of the university, specific requirements for admission to the M.S. program in Biology include:

  1. A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university
  2. Completion of an undergraduate major in biology or associated fields (e.g., microbiology, botany, zoology or chemistry with at least 30 quarter units of upper-division biology course work)
  3. One year each of laboratory courses in: general biology, general chemistry, organic chemistry and physics
  4. One full-term course in basic calculus or methods in calculus
  5. Upper division courses in cellular or molecular biology, genetics, ecology, and organismal biology. Students lacking one of these courses may be admitted to the program, but must make up the deficiency in their first year. Students will not be permitted to enroll in 600-level biology courses without the appropriate prerequisite course. Graduate-level courses may have additional prerequisites.
  6. A cumulative undergraduate grade point average of at least 3.0 ("B") in all courses used for credit in the major
  7. Completion of the graduate entrance writing requirement
  8. Submission to the Department of Biology Graduate Committee, scores from the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) including advanced testing in biology
  9. Submission to the Department of Biology Graduate Committee a one-page, typewritten statement of the student's preparation for graduate study, goals in the graduate training program, potential area of research and possible advisor (for thesis option) and professional goals following completion of the M.S.
  10. Submission of three letters of recommendation from people who are in a position to make relevant comments on the student's intent and potential for success in the M.S. program. At least two of the letters should be from current or former college or university faculty familiar with the student's scholarship and related activities.

Applicants interested in pursuing the thesis option are encouraged to contact potential advisors in the Biology Department before they apply. Students are only admitted into the thesis track with the consent of an advisor.

Application procedures

Students must both apply to the university (even if they are currently CSUSB undergraduates) and send supplemental application materials (listed above) to the Biology Department.

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Department Graduate Committee and Major Advisor

The Department of Biology Graduate Committee consists of the graduate program coordinator and two or more faculty members. This committee has general supervision over the work of students progressing toward the Master's degree, and will determine whether students are adequately prepared for graduate study in biology. Each new graduate student should consult with the graduate program coordinator for advice in selection of the appropriate graduate program.

Students wishing to complete a thesis are responsible for contacting potential major advisors. Students may only enter the Thesis Program (Plan I) if they are accepted by a thesis advisor, and the Biology Graduate Committee approves the student's petition to enter the Thesis Program. The major advisor in consultation with the student will develop a program of specific courses and an acceptable thesis research proposal based on the student's interests, abilities and preparation. The major advisor will direct the thesis research. The program of courses and the thesis topic, as well as any subsequent modification of these, are subject to approval by the Department of Biology Graduate Committee and the Dean of Graduate Studies.

Students following the non-thesis program should consult directly with the Department of Biology graduate program coordinator.

Students currently enrolled in the graduate program wishing to take courses off campus and include them in the degree program must petition the Department of Biology for approval through the graduate program coordinator and the Graduate Committee, otherwise the course may not be accepted as part of the program. 1000- to 9999-level extension courses are not applicable to the graduate program. 300-level courses taken will be accepted only by written approval of the department. 300-level courses are seen as support courses and therefore are not generally applicable to the graduate degree program. Courses taken to satisfy quantitative or qualitative deficiencies cannot be applied toward a master's degree. Repeat of courses or the comprehensive final examination require approval of the Department of Biology Graduate Committee and may be granted for serious and compelling reasons.

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Advancement to Candidacy

In order to be advanced to candidacy, the student must have:

  1. Achieved classified status
  2. Been accepted by a major advisor from the Department of Biology, if a thesis project is selected
  3. Completed at least 15 quarter units of work applicable to the degree program as a graduate student at this university with the approval of the Department of Biology Graduate Committee, and with a minimum grade point average of 3.0 ("B")
  4. Gained a recommendation for advancement to candidacy from the Department of Biology Graduate Committee
  5. Submitted a formal program of graduate course work prepared in consultation with and approved by the Department of Biology Graduate Committee
  6. Gained final approval of the program and of the candidacy itself by the Dean of Graduate Studies.

Requirements for Graduation

  1. A minimum of 45 quarter units of acceptable graduate-level work included in the formal program, with no less than 32 units completed in residence at this university and with at least 24 units gained from 600-level courses in biology
  2. Advancement to candidacy for the degree and approval of the specific program of courses
  3. A grade point average of 3.0 ("B") in all graduate course work fulfilling the requirements of the Master of Science in Biology and grades of "C" (2.0) or better in each course in the program
  4. Completion of a final oral examination concluded by acceptance of the thesis (Plan I); or satisfactory completion of the Comprehensive Final Examination (Plan II)
  5. The graduation writing requirement is met upon successful completion of the thesis or the written portion of the comprehensive examination
  6. Any additional general requirements not cited above and listed in the University Catalog. ("Requirements for a Master's Degree Program" under "Graduate Degree Programs" in the University Catalog.)

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Thesis Program (Plan I)

Students electing this program, Plan I below, must conduct an original research study and from these efforts write a thesis acceptable to the major advisor, the department graduate committee and the Dean of Graduate Studies. The student should consult the Department of Biology for details on preparing the thesis manuscript. A final oral examination consisting primarily of discussion of the thesis and thesis research is required. The official examiners are the major advisor, the department graduate committee, and a representative from outside the Department of Biology chosen by the Dean of Graduate Studies. Successful completion of the final oral examination includes acceptance of the thesis by the examiners.

Thesis Program (Plan I) Course Requirements (effective Fall 2006; a minimum of 45 units)

  1. BIOL 601. Teaching Assistant Training in Biology (2)
  2. BIOL 690. Graduate Seminar in Biology (2)
  3. BIOL 692. Graduate Research Methods in Biology (2)
  4. BIOL 699A. Thesis Research and Thesis (3)
  5. BIOL 699B. Thesis Research and Thesis (3)
  6. BIOL 699C. Thesis Research and Thesis (3)
  7. Five of the 600-level courses in Biology listed under "Course Categories" A, B, and C. (List follows the non-thesis program description below.) At least one of these must be taken from each of the three categories. (Minimum of 10 units.) Course categories are:
    1. Cellular and Molecular Biology
    2. Physiology and Organismal Biology
    3. Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
  8. Twenty (20) units of electives to be chosen from biology or related courses at the 600-, 500- and 400-levels (excluding BIOL 601). A maximum of twelve (12) units from any combination of BIOL 595, BIOL 692, and BIOL 696 may be applied toward the student's degree. Courses taken outside the department to fulfill this requirement require prior approval of the Graduate Committee and thesis advisor.

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Non-thesis Program (Plan II)

Students pursuing this alternative are required to pass the Biology Department graduate comprehensive examination in addition to the completion of required course work selected from the three major curricular areas in biology as described below. This requirement serves to provide breadth of background at an advanced level for the student in the non-thesis track. Students must register for BIOL 999 during the quarter they take the comprehensive final examination. The comprehensive final examination may be repeated one time only if justified by serious and compelling reasons and approved by the Biology Graduate Committee. Satisfactory completion of the Plan II must be certified by the Department of Biology Graduate Committee before graduation from the program is possible.

Non-Thesis Program (Plan II) Course Requirements (effective Fall 2006; a minimum of 45 units)

  1. BIOL 601. Teaching Assistant Training in Biology (2)
  2. BIOL 690. Graduate Seminar in Biology (2)
  3. Eight courses (a minimum of sixteen units) of 600-level courses listed under "Course Categories" below. Must include at least two 600-level courses from each of the following categories:
    1. Cellullar and Molecular Biology
    2. Physiology and Organismal Biology
    3. Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
  4. Twenty-five (25) units of electives to be chosen from biology or related courses at the 600-, 500- and 400-levels, with at least one course in each of the categories (A, B, and C) above. A maximum of six (6) units from any combination of BIOL 595, BIOL 692, and BIOL 696 may be applied toward the student's degree.
  5. Upon completion of all course work, attendance of at least one per quarter Biology Department graduate presentations or selected colloquia, until the comprehensive examination has been passed.
  6. Successful completion of the Department of Biology Comprehensive Examination (BIOL 999).

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Course Categories

A. Cellular and Molecular Biology

B. Physiology and Organismal Biology

C. Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

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Teaching Assistantships

Teaching assistants are responsible for designing and teaching their course, holding office hours (2 per week) and meeting regularly with the TA Coordinator and their fellow TAs during the quarters they teach. Teaching assistants must enroll in BIOL 601 ("Teaching Assistant Training in Biology") prior to, or concurrently with their first assignment as a teaching assistant.

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