Biological Sciences Graduate Programs (BIOL)
Offered through the Department of Biological Sciences
in the College of Science and Engineering
262 Robert H. Wick Science Building
Phone: 320.308.2039
Fax: 320.308.4166
Department Chairperson: Dr. Timothy Schuh
Department Secretary: Ms. Barbara Kjellberg, Ms. Betty Lommel, Ms. Mary McKenzie
Graduate Coordinator: Dr. Marco Restani
Graduate Faculty: Arriagada, Cetkovic-Cvrlje, Cook, Gazal, Gulrud, Hauslein,
Jacobson, Julius, Kvaal, Marcattilio, Meerschaert, Minger, Olson, Restani, Schoenfuss,
Schrank, Schuh, Simpson, Tubbiola, Voelz
I really love all the support you get here at SCSU including the incredible support and direction from my professors who are always willing to loan out their knowledge.
- Joseph Carlyon
Program Overview
The graduate program in biology offers two tracks:
- Master of Science (Plan A, thesis option) with options in Ecology and Natural Resources or Cell and Molecular Biology. 30 credits.
- Master of Arts (Plan B, non-thesis option) with options in Ecology and natural Resources or Cell and Molecular Biology. 36 credits.
Programs within the department of Biological Sciences are designed to provide a stepping stone into teaching and research positions, medical product sales, professional careers as medical doctors, and natural resource scientists and managers. The objectives of the program are to provide the student with in-depth knowledge in a chosen area of biology, while also gaining a breadth of knowledge in related disciplines. Practical experiences and communication are also emphasized.
Admission Requirements Specific to the Programs
- Applicants to the Ecology and Natural Resources track should have earned a minimum of 12 undergraduate credits in chemistry before gaining admission to this program.
- Applicants to the Cell and Molecular Biology track should have earned a minimum of 32 undergraduate credits in biology and eight credits in chemistry before gaining admission to this program.
- Admission into the graduate program is competitive. All prospective students should contact a faculty member within the department to discuss research interests and graduate student opportunities prior to submitting an application. This step is strongly suggested to increase the probability of admission into the program and to ensure that faculty expertise matches that of prospective students.
- In some cases it may be necessary for the student to complete additional prerequisite undergraduate work.
Faculty Specializations
Faculty tend to be associated principally with one emphasis (Ecology and Natural Resources or Cell and Molecular Biology), but it may sometimes be appropriate for a faculty member to advise a student in either emphasis. Graduate students will develop an individualized program of study with their faculty adviser the first semester enrolled in the program, where permission can be granted to include carefully selected courses within and outside of the principal emphasis. Faculty advisers include:
Biological Sciences: Ecology and Natural Resources
Dr. Jorge Arriagada—plant systematics
Dr. William Cook —terrestrial and community ecology
Dr. Matthew Julius—aquatic and evolutionary ecology
Dr. Anthony Marcattilio— behavioral ecology
Dr. Marco Restani—wildlife ecology
Dr. Neal Voelz—aquatic ecology
Biological Sciences: Cell and Molecular Biology
Dr. Marina Cetkovic-Cvrlje-immunology
Dr. Oladele Gazal-reproductive endocrinology
Dr. Bruce Jacobson-structural biology
Dr. Christopher Kvaal-molecular biology
Dr. Brian Olson-molecular biology of human disease
Dr. Kristin Pederson Gulrud-microbiology
Dr. JoAnn Meerschaert-cell biology, immunology
Dr. Heiko Schoenfuss-evolutionary morphology and aquatic toxicology
Dr. Gordon Schrank-general and medical microbiology
Dr. Tim Schuh-developmental biology
Dr. Maureen Tubbiola-mammalian physiology
Length of Program - Measured by Semesters
- The program has been designed to accommodate both part-time and full-time students.
- Full-time student: four semesters taking nine to twelve credits per semester.
- Part-time student: five to six semesters taking six credits per semester.
- Completion of the graduate programs in ecology and natural resources or in cell and molecular biology requires attendance in daytime courses; some required courses may be offered in the evening or summer term.
Graduate Assistantship Overview
- Seven graduate teaching assistantships are generally sponsored each year, and are available both fall and spring semesters. A few assistantships are also available during the summer.
- Grant funding for faculty sometimes makes graduate research assistantships available. Contact potential advisors to inquire about availability.
Master of Science — Biological Sciences
Ecology and Natural Resources (ENR) or Cell and Molecular Biology (CMB)
Plan A: Thesis at 30 credits
Ecology and Natural Resources (ENR) The ENR program is designed for students with a background and interest in ecology, evolution, natural resources and conservation biology. Students should contact the Department of Biological Sciences and arrangements will be made to talk with a prospective faculty adviser. Each application is reviewed and admission to the program is based on: previous course work, experience, GPA, GRE scores, and recommendation forms.
Cell and Molecular Biology (CMB) The CMB option is designed for students interested in careers as a biotechnologist, developmental biologist, physiologist, microbiologist, immunologist or geneticist. The degree may be useful for those interested in teaching at the community college level.
Required Courses (17 credits)
- BIOL 610, Special Topics in Biology (must be taken for 3 credits, may be repeated for a maximum of 8 credits)
- BIOL 628. Research Design, 2 credits
- BIOL 630. Seminar, 1 credits (must be taken for 3 semesters, maximum of 4 credits)
- BIOL 699. Thesis, 1-6 credits (must be taken for a total of 6 credits)
- 600-level Statistics course, 3 credits (approved by advisor)
In addition to the required courses listed above, each graduate student will be assigned by their graduate committee additional 500 and 600 level courses to complete the 30 credit hours. Students should note that at least 15 hours of the total 30 credit hours must be taken at the 600 level. [The latter requirement is usually satisfied in the process of completing the required courses listed above.]
Possible courses in Ecology and Natural Resources:
BIOL: 514, 518,, 522, 530, 534, 536, 538, 540, 541, 542, 546, 553, 555, 556, 557, 560, 568, 570, 572, 632, 633, 634, 635, 636, 637, 650, 652.
Possible courses in Cell and Molecular Biology:
BIOL: 553, 555, 556, 557, 558, 560, 562, 564, 566, 568, 570, 572, 574, 576, 577, 578, 580, 582, 584, 586, 650, 652, 666, 668, 670, 672, 674, 680.
Final public oral thesis defense. Written completion of thesis approved by committee of faculty members.
Master of Arts — Biological Sciences
Ecology and Natural Resources (ENR) or Cell and Molecular Biology (CMB)
Plan B: Non-Thesis at 36 credits
Ecology and Natural Resources (ENR) The ENR program is designed for students with a background and interest in ecology, evolution, natural resources and conservation biology. Students should contact the Department of Biological Sciences and arrangements will be made to talk with a prospective faculty adviser. Each application is reviewed and admission to the program is based on: previous course work, experience, GPA, GRE scores, and recommendation forms.
Cell and Molecular Biology (CMB) The CMB option is designed for students interested in careers as a biotechnologist, developmental biologist, physiologist, microbiologist, immunologist or geneticist. The degree may be useful for those interested in teaching at the community college level.
Required Courses (11 credits)
- BIOL 610, Special Topics in Biology (must be taken for 3 credits, may be repeated, maximum of 8 credits)
- BIOL 628. Research Design, 2 credits
- BIOL 630. Seminar, 1 credits (must be taken for 3 semesters, maximum of 4 credits)
- 600-level Statistics course, 3 credits (approved by advisor)
In addition to the required courses listed above, each graduate student will be assigned by their graduate committee additional 500 and 600 level courses to complete the 36 credit hours. Students should note that at least 18 hours of the total 36 credit hours must be taken at the 600 level.
Possible courses in Ecology and Natural Resources:
BIOL: 514, 518, 522, 526, 530, 534, 536, 538, 540, 542, 553, 555, 556, 557, 560, 568, 570, 572, 632, 633, 634, 635, 636, 637, 650, 652.
Possible courses in Cell and Molecular Biology:
BIOL: 553, 555, 556, 557, 558, 560, 562, 564, 566, 568, 570, 572, 574, 576, 577, 578, 580, 582, 584, 586, 650, 652, 666, 668, 670, 672, 674, 678, 680.
Satisfactory completion of a written comprehensive examination approved by committee of faculty members.
