In the Biology Graduate Program, students benefit from small classes, modern laboratory facilities, and faculty with a sincere desire to provide you with an excellent education. The objectives of our graduate program are to expose you to diverse topics in biology; to expand on your undergraduate experience; and to guide your growth as an independent thinker, researcher and scientist.
Faculty research interests are diverse and include, but are not limited to:
- Molecular biology
- Chihuahuan Desert floral taxonomy, insect taxonomy and ecological associations, mammal inventory and varied aspects of mammalogy
- Cell surface glycoproteins and their roles in the pathogenesis of Candida albicans
- Microsatellites as tools for population genetics
- Lipid and fatty acid composition in arthropod tissues
- Molecular systematics
- Behavioral ecology and quantitative biology
There are two graduate programs in Biology:
The MS in Biology requires 30 semester hours, with 6 of those hours focused on original research resulting in completion of a master's thesis. The MS is typically pursued by students interested in advancing their knowledge of biology for application in biology-related employment, teaching, or further graduate study toward a PhD.
The department's research resources permit graduate students to pursue a variety of thesis research topics. Students may choose field or laboratory studies or a combination of both. Thesis research projects are based on the student’s needs and curiosity, in conjunction with faculty expertise and research interests.
The MA in Biology requires 30 semester hours with 12 hours of core and 18 elective credits. Three of the core hours are met by taking BIOL 6113 Scientific Literature and Research, which consists of an individualized scientific literature investigation.
An MA may be the appropriate postbaccalaureate option for students who seek medical/professional school application and need an additional opportunity to demonstrate their ability to master challenging coursework and be a strong applicant.
- An undergraduate degree from a regionally accredited college or university,
- A GPA of at least 3.0 in the last 60 hours of undergraduate work exclusive of credit hours awarded by a two-year college,
- Twenty-four hours in biology, including 12 semester hours of advanced level courses,
- One year of physics,
- One and one-half years of chemistry, including one semester of organic chemistry.
- Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Test scores are not required, however:
- Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit scores to mitigate potential weaknesses in the application (e.g. low GPA). Scores, if submitted, must be the official scores from ETS.
- Students applying for the Master of Arts degree and choosing to submit exam scores may substitute official scores from the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT), the Pharmacy College Admission Test (PCAT), or Dental Admission Test (DAT) for the GRE.
If you do not fulfill all of these requirements you may be admitted conditionally until the enrollment criteria are met by satisfactory completion of leveling coursework.