Mar 29, 2024  
UofM 2020-2021 Graduate Catalog * 
    
UofM 2020-2021 Graduate Catalog * [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Biological Sciences, (MS)


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MS Degree Program


Program objectives are: (1) understand biological principles, concepts, and theories, and in-depth knowledge in a chosen specialty; (2) develop expertise in experimental design, data analysis, and oral and written presentation of research results; and (3) become competitive for professional positions in the biological sciences.

Program Admission


  1. Application should be made online through The University of Memphis Graduate School portal https://memphis.liaisoncas.com/applicant-ux/#/login. Information on the application process can be obtained by emailing the department Graduate Studies Coordinator (grad_studies_coordinator@memphis.edu).
  2. Official transcripts of all previous academic coursework must be sent directly from the issuing institution to The University of Memphis Graduate Admissions. Prospective MS students must hold a Baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution. An overall minimum grade point average of 2.75 (on a 4.0 scale) at the undergraduate level is usually competitive. Applicants whose highest degree is from a foreign institution must have their credentials evaluated by any credentialing agency listed on the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services’ website. The course-by-course report is required.
  3. To be competitive, applicants must have majored in a STEM or STEM education discipline or have completed upper division coursework in one of these disciplines.
  4. The Graduate Record Exam (GRE) is not required for admission into our MS program.
  5. Applicants for the Master’s degree require a faculty advisor for acceptance into the program. Applicants must contact a potential faculty research advisor in the department’s graduate program. Faculty research interests are listed on the department website (https://www.memphis.edu/biology/researchareas/index.php); applicants are encouraged to interact directly with faculty whose research interests match their own interests. The faculty advisor will send the student and the Graduate Studies Coordinator (grad_studies_coordinator@memphis.edu) a letter or email stating that (1) he/she is willing to mentor the applicant and (2) how the student will be funded while in the program.
  6. Two letters of recommendation from persons capable of assessing the applicant’s suitability for graduate work in biology must be submitted to the Graduate School application site (https://memphis.liaisoncas.com/applicant-ux/#/login) or to the Department Graduate Studies Coordinator (grad_studies_coordinator@memphis.edu).
  7. F1 visa applicants for whom English is not their native language must submit proof that they have taken the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IETLS). The minimum acceptable IELTS score is 6.0. The minimum acceptable TOEFL score is 550 on the paper, 210 on the computer-based, or 79 on the internet-based test. International applicants seeking Graduate Teaching Assistantships in the Department of Biological Sciences must obtain a score of 26 or higher on the spoken English component of the TOEFL iBT. Alternatively, these applicants can take the SPEAK test (Speaking Proficiency English Assessment Kit)  on campus and must obtain a score of 50 or higher in order to be appointed as a Teaching Assistant.

Program Requirements (Thesis)


  1. A minimum of 30 credit hours is required beyond the baccalaureate degree. For a full-time student, the typical time to complete the program is 3 years.
  2. A grade point average of 3.0 must be maintained. A student whose grade point average drops below 3.0 will have one semester to raise his/her GPA to 3.0 or better. Continuation of a student who fails to reach a 3.0 overall GPA during two consecutive semesters while in the graduate program is at the discretion of the Graduate Studies Committee in consultation with the student’s advisory committee.
  3. Mandatory courses include BIOL 7000  (Orientation to Graduate Studies), BIOL 7004  (College Biology Teaching), BIOL 7102  (Thesis Proposal), 3 credit hours of BIOL 7200  (Seminar in Biology), 6 credit hours of BIOL 7092  (Research), 6 credit hours of BIOL 7996  (Thesis Research) and  BIOL 7600  (MS Thesis Defense Seminar). Attendance at departmental seminars is mandatory. BIOL 7000  and BIOL 7004  must be completed during the first year of residence and BIOL 7600  in the last semester.
  4. Full-time students should become candidates usually no later than the end of their fourth semester in residence after they have: (1) successfully passed BIOL 7000 , BIOL 7004  and BIOL 7092   (2) successfully taken a written and oral Comprehensive Examination administered by the student advisory committee; the scope of this examination is broad and includes a review of general biological principles; (3) successfully taken the Research Prospectus/Proposal (BIOL 7102   that includes a written research proposal, a seminar on the research proposal and an examination of the proposal by the student’s thesis committee.
  5. At least 6 credit hours of post-candidacy thesis research (BIOL 7996   must be completed after the student becomes a candidate (no more than 6 credit hours of BIOL 7996 will be counted toward the degree).
  6. A written thesis detailing the results of the student research. The thesis must demonstrate mastery of the techniques and intellectual process of scientific research.
  7. An MS thesis defense seminar and final examination (BIOL 7600  ). The final examination will be conducted by the student advisory committee. The thesis committee will consist, insofar as possible, of the same graduate faculties involved in the Comprehensive Examination. The final examination will be an oral defense of the thesis and will be announced and open to the public. Upon successful completion of the examination and all degree requirements, the committee will recommend awarding the MS with Thesis degree.

Program Requirements (Non-Thesis)


  1. A minimum of 36 credit hours of graduate courses is required. Credit hours counting toward the degree must be in STEM or STEM education courses.
  2. Mandatory courses include BIOL 7000  (Orientation to Graduate Studies), BIOL 7004  (College Biology Teaching) and 3 credit hours of BIOL 7200  (Seminar in Biology). BIOL 7000  and BIOL 7004  must be completed during the first year of residence. Though students are not expected to present in BIOL 7200 , their attendance at the BIOL 7200  seminars is mandatory. No more than 3 semester hours can be satisfied by BIOL 7092 .
  3. A grade point average of 3.0 must be maintained. A student whose grade point average drops below 3.0 will have one semester to raise his/her GPA to 3.0 or better. Continuation of a student who fails to reach a 3.0 overall GPA during two consecutive semesters while in the graduate program is at the discretion of the Graduate Studies Committee in consultation with the student’s Advisory Committee.
  4. MS Non-Thesis students must students are required to take and pass a written and oral Comprehensive Examination, administered by the student’s advisory committee usually before the end of students’ last semester in residence. The scope of this examination is broad and includes a review of general biological principles.

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