M.S. in Biology
Programs in The Biological Sciences
General Information


Admission Requirements

An applicant for the M.S. program with a Biological Science concentration is expected to have a bachelor’s degree in biology or its equivalent, with a GPA of 3.0 or better in biology courses.  The applicant must submit three letters of recommendation and scores on the Graduate Record General and Subject Biology Examinations.

To be accepted as a degree student, an applicant’s scores on the verbal and quantitative general test should total 1,100 or greater and should be in the 50th percentile or better on the biology subject portion with no raw subscore less than 60 (40th percentile).

A substantial statement of interest in the program and an explanation of career goals must be submitted with the standard application.  Prospective students are encouraged to contact potential advisors.  Information concerning faculty interests can be obtained from the departmental office or web page.  Admission is contingent upon acceptance by an advisor. 

Deadlines

Deadlines for admission are March 15 for fall semester and October 1 for spring semester. Please note these deadlines are for completed applications. Decision notification will be made by May 1 for fall admission and December 1 for spring.

Degree Requirements

A student must complete at least 30 semester hours, including at least three hours of seminar.  During their first semester, new students should register for Introduction to Graduate Studies in Biology (BIOL 690).  Students are required to form a supervising committee and submit a program of study to the program coordinator for approval within the first 12 credits of course work.  Course requirements may be fulfilled by completing courses from a variety of departments and institutes on campus.

Students have the option to conduct either a formal thesis (for which a minimum of three credits and a maximum of six credits of BIOL 799 could be earned.) or a project (for which a minimum of one credit and a maximum of three credits of BIOL 798 could be earned). The difference between the two options is in the depth and sophistication of the project.  Whereas a thesis normally involves original research, independent acquisition, and interpretation of data, a project could be employment-related research or a comprehensive report resulting from an internship.

At the conclusion of the program, students pursuing the master’s project option must successfully complete a comprehensive written and oral examination.  Students pursuing the master’s thesis option must defend their thesis and present their results in a public seminar.

Lack of enrollment for two consecutive semesters will result in inactive status.  Reactivation of program enrollment is by application to the M.S. coordinator and is contingent on availability of program resources.

Microbiology Concentration
Molecular Biology Concentration
Systematics and Evolutionary Concentration
General Biological Sciences Concentration

Program in Bioinformatics and Computational Biology Concentration, General Information
Bioinformatics and Computational Biology Concentration

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M.S./Biology
Concentration in Microbiology
Biology Department
George Mason University

Admissions requirements: A bachelor’s degree in biology or the equivalent with a GPA of 3.0 or better in biology courses. Applicants must submit three letters of recommendation and scores on the GRE and biology examinations.  A successful applicant will have at least 1100 points on the combined verbal and math exams, and be at least in the 50th percentile on the biology subject exam with no raw subscore  less than 60 (40th percentile). Admission to the program is contingent on acceptance by an advisor.

Degree Requirements:

Course 
Credits
BIOL 690 Introduction to Graduate Studies in Biology 
1
BIOL 695 Seminar in Molecular, Microbial, and Cellular Biology 
2
BIOL 798 or 799 Project or thesis 
1-6
BIOL 583 Biochemistry 
4
BIOL 501 Microbial Diversity 
3
BIOL 556 Microbial Physiologyand Metabolism 
3
A course in molecular techniques 
2-4
Total required credits 
16-23
Electives 
to 30 credits

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M.S./Biology
Concentration in Molecular Biology
Biology Department
George Mason University

Admissions requirements:  A bachelor’s degree in biology or the equivalent with a GPA of 3.0 or better in biology courses. Applicants must submit three letters of recommendation and scores on the GRE and biology examinations.  A successful applicant will have at least 1100 points on the combined verbal and math exams, and be at least in the 50th percentile on the biology subject exam with no raw subscore  less than 60 (40th percentile). Admission to the program is contingent on acceptance by an advisor.

Degree Requirements:
 

Course
Credits
BIOL 690 Introduction to Graduate Studies in Biology 
1
BIOL 695 Seminar in Molecular,Microbial And Cellular Biology
2
BIOL 798 or 799 Project or thesis
1-6
BIOL 583 Biochemistry
4
BIOL 568 Advanced Topics in Molecular Genetics 
3
BIOL 579 Molecular Evolution and Conservation Genetics 
3
BIOL 584 Eukaryotic Cell Biology 
3
A course in molecular technique
2-4
A course in bioinformatics 
3
Total Required Credits
22-29
Electives
to 30 credits

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Concentration in Systematics and Evolutionary Biology
Biology Department
George Mason University

Admissions requirements: A bachelor’s degree in biology or the equivalent with a GPA of 3.0 or better in biology courses. Applicants must submit three letters of recommendation and scores on the GRE and biology examinations.  A successful applicant will have at least 1100 points on the combined verbal and math exams, and be at least in the 50th percentile on the biology subject exam with no raw subscore  less than 60 (40th percentile). Admission to the program is contingent on acceptance by an advisor.

Degree Requirements:
 
 

Course
Credits
BIOL 690 Introduction to Graduate
Studies in Biology 
1
BIOL 692 or 695 Graduate seminar 
2
BIOL 798 or 799 Project or thesis 
1-6
BIOL 574 Population Genetics 
3
BIOL *** Theoretical Evolutionary Biology 
3
BIOL *** Discussion Group (Systematic/Evolution) 
1
A course in molecular techniques
2-4
A course in organismal biology
3-4
Total required credits
16-24
Electives
to 30 credits

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M.S./Biology
Biological Science Concentration 
Biology Department
George Mason University

The Biological Science concentration encompasses traditional programs of study such as animal behavior, botany, cell biology, ecology, physiology, and vertebrate zoology. With committee guidance, a student plans a course of study to meet individual interest and goals.  Students interested in microbiology, molecular biology, systematics and evolutionary biology, or bioinformatics should pursue a concentration in those areas.

Admissions requirements: A bachelor’s degree in biology or the equivalent with a GPA of 3.0 or better in biology courses. Applicants must submit three letters of recommendation and scores on the GRE and biology examinations.  A successful applicant will have at least 1100 points on the combined verbal and math exams, and be at least in the 50th percentile on the biology subject exam with no raw subscore  less than 60 (40th percentile). Admission to the program is contingent on acceptance by an advisor.
 

Degree Requirements:
 

Course 
Credits
BIOL 690 Introduction to Graduate Studies in Biology 
1
BIOL 692 or 695 Graduate seminar 
2
BIOL 798 or 799 Project or thesis 
1-6
Courses in BIOL or related areas as approved by the student’s committee 
21-26
Total
30 credits

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M.S./Biology
Concentration in Bioinformatics 
and Computational Biology
Biology Department
George Mason University

Admissions requirements: A bachelor’s degree in a natural science, mathematics, engineering, or computer science with a GPA of 3.0 or better in the last 60 hours or study. Applicants are expected to have competency in the biological sciences of computer science, and must submit three letters of recommendation, a statement of interest, and scores on the GRE.  A successful applicant will have at least 1200 points on the combined verbal and math exams. Admission to the program is contingent on acceptance by an advisor.

Degree Requirements:
 

Courses 
Credits
Category 1-Computational Sciences   Minimum of 7
CSI 601 Computational Science Tools I 
(1)
CSI 602 Computational Science Tools II 
(1)
CSI 603 Introduction to Scientific Programming I 
(1)
CSI 604 Introduction to Scientific Programming II 
(1)
INFS 614 Database Management
(3)
Category 2 – Bioinformatics 
Minimum of 9
BIOL 580 Computer Applications for the Life Sciences 
(3)
CSI courses numbered 730-739 
(3)
Category 3 – Biotechnology and Molecular Biology 
Minimum of 7
BIOL 568 Advanced Topics in Molecular Genetics 
(3)
BIOL 575 Selected Topics in Genetics 
(1-4)
BIOL 578 Mutation, DNA Repair, and Environmental Contamination 
(3)
BIOL 668 Advanced Topics in Molecular  Biology 
(4)
Category 4 – Individual Program Focus
Minimum of 12
BIOL 690 Introduction to Graduate Studies 
(1)
BIOL 695 Seminar in Molecular, Microbial, and
Cellular Biology 
(1)
BIOL 798 or 799 Project or Thesis 
(1-6)
Total Credits
35

Accelerated Five Year BS/MS Program
With a concentration in 
Microbiology or Molecular biology
Biology Department
George Mason University
Requirements:
BIOL 213, 303, 304, 305/306, 307, 311, 
CHEM 314, 318, and 
Overall and major GPA of 3.0 or higher.

OR Completion of 75 undergraduate credits including BIOL 494, and
an overall GPA of 3.0 or higher.

Three letters of recommendation including one from a thesis/project director.

Specifics:

Graduate courses may not be taken until the completion of 90 undergraduate credits.  After completion of 120 hours, provisionally accepted students must submit scores on the Graduate Record General and Biology Subject Examinations to become degree students.  Ordinarily, scores should total at least 1100 on the verbal and quantitative portions of the general test and be at least in the 50th percentile on the subject examination to attain degree status.

All of the requirements for the Bachelor of Science and the Master of Science with a Concentration in Molecular Biology or Microbiology must be met. The Bachelor of Science is conferred upon satisfactory completion of 120 credits.  The Master of Science is conferred after the satisfactory completion of an additional 24 credits.  Six credits of graduate work may be used in partial satisfaction of the requirements of the undergraduate degree, and gives the student advanced standing in the MS program.  However, a graduate course can be applied to the Master’s program only if a grade of B or better is earned.

For more information on the microbiology and molecular biology concentrations within the Master of Science program, see the Biology Department web page:  http://www.gmu.edu/departments/biology
 

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