Biology, M.A.

Charles Dana Hall
Telephone (203) 576-4253
Fax: (203) 576-4262

The Biology Master’s degree programs of­fer a contemporary biology curriculum that emphasizes the principles and experimen­tal approaches of modern biology. The M.S. program emphasizes design and execution of experimental research, while the M.A. pro­gram emphasizes career building.

The program offers a variety of customized options so students may select an academic plan that best suits their goals. We offer de­gree course paths in Molecular Biology, Bio­medical Science, or Ecology and Evolution. We also offer two degree options, the Master of Science (MS) or Master of Arts (MA) in Biology.

Degree Options

Master of Arts (M.A.) in Biology

This option emphasizes career building. As a student in the M.A. degree program, students will have the option of pursuing an internship or completing their degree with coursework only. Students in the M.A. degree program will most likely be working professionals in­terested in advancing their careers by gaining expertise in the field of biology.

Careers and Professions Available to Graduates of the Program.

The program advances the skills and training of students with degrees in Biology or related fields, making them competitive for jobs in private, academic, and government research institutions, clinical laboratories, government agencies, as well as for those seeking teaching opportunities and to strengthen their applications to doctoral programs and other professional programs. Graduates with master’s degrees in biology are expected to have additional opportunities in nonscientist positions re­lated to biology, in fields like sales, market­ing, publishing, and research management. Some examples of nonscientist job titles that require or prefer a Master’s degree include Proposal Development Specialist, Global Product Manager, Technical Sales Represen­tative, and Land Management Specialist.

Objectives of the Program

The M.S. program requires a minimum of 30 credit hours of coursework designed to meet stated objectives of student learning for the program. All credit hours must therefore be graduate level (400-level or higher) courses in Biology, or cognate courses tailored to individual student interests, in Chemistry, Mathematics, Computer Science, Engineer­ing, Health Science, or Medical Technology. All cognate courses are subject to depart­mental approval of their contributions to ei­ther the research or career skill acquisitions listed in the programs objectives (see item III.1 below). Every student in the program must take the core courses BIOL 445 , BIOL 470 , BIOL 490 , BIOL 498  or BIOL 499  and MATH 423B . Those electing the thesis option (M.S.) must com­plete twenty four credits of course work and six credits of Master’s Research, culminating in a written thesis and oral defense, demon­strating the program’s objective of successful acquisition by the student of independent re­search skills. Students choosing the non-the­sis option (M.A.) must either complete thirty three credits of course work in Biology or cognate courses aimed at further acquisition and refinement of program student learning objectives or thirty credits of course work and, with the approval of the graduate Chair of biology, three credits of intern experience in a professional setting aimed at student ac­quisition of career skills targeted by the pro­gram. Both MS and MA students should take examinations, oral or written as appropriate. Upon completion of the internship, the stu-dent should have a written report by the in-tern advisor and should present a seminar at UB, demonstrating successful completion of the area of their internship.

Program Admissions and Special Requirements

Applicants to the M.S. and M.A. programs must submit the following documents:

• Official transcripts of all undergraduate (and any graduate) work.
• Evidence of successful completion of the baccalaureate degree, with an overall cu­mulative index of B as well as a B or bet­ter average in program prerequisites: Biol­ogy and cognate science courses, such as Biochemistry, Chemistry, or applied clini­cal lab-based science courses.
• Two letters of recommendation.
• For M.A. students: If students decide to complete the internship, they will be re­quired to submit a letter of sponsorship from a suitable internship site after enroll­ing in the graduate Biology program.

In addition, the candidate must have the fol­lowing pre-requisites.

At least one course with a grade of C or bet­ter in each of the following areas: calculus, organic chemistry, physics, ecology, physi­ology, cell biology, genetics, and molecular biology. The courses must be designated as appropriate for biology majors. Students will not be admitted to the program with more than 9 credits of deficiency. Credits from courses addressing deficiency do not count toward the M.S./M.A. degree. Deficiencies must be remediated in the first 15 credits of the program either at UB or, with prior per­mission from the program chair, from else­where.

Learning Outcomes

The program will prepare graduates to:

• Search, read and interpret current biologi­cal literature;
• Develop an in-depth understanding of the scientific issues of a particular area of bi­ology;
• Develop expertise in research methods associated with an area of biology;
• Develop professional skills related to work in a specific area of biology or bio­medical science;
• Integrate techniques, skills, and under­standing of scientific principles across various area sub-disciplines of biology.

The M.A. program will also develop profes­sional work skills, including the ability to:

• Integrate knowledge of biology and bio­logical research to occupations in clinical settings;
• Apply knowledge of biology and biologi­cal research to occupations in commercial or policy settings.

These objectives serve the university’s mis­sion to offer “career-oriented undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees and pro­grams for people seeking personal and pro­fessional growth.”

Graduation Requirements

Comprehensive Examination: All students must pass an oral or written comprehensive examination as determined by their advisors, covering current theory, application and re­search in areas appropriate to their training and interests. In addition

• M.A. candidates may complete a literature review, or those who choose the intern­ship option must also submit a recom­mendation letter from their internship mentor and an internship report describ­ing the work done in their internship and the professional advancement outcomes achieved. Furthermore the student should present their work in a seminar at UB.