2011-2012 University Catalog 
  
2011-2012 University Catalog

Biology, MS


Banner Code:  SC-MS-BIOL

This program provides advanced training for college graduates or professionals seeking careers in the biotechnology industry or biodefense, as well as more traditional careers in biomedical research, teaching, evolutionary biology, and animal biology. Master’s level concentrations are available in molecular biology (MOB), microbiology and infectious disease (MID), bioinformatics and computational biology (BCB), and organismal and evolutionary biology (OEB). Alternatively, students may choose the program in general biological sciences, which allows flexibility to specialize in additional areas.

This program of study is offered by the School of Systems Biology in the College of Science .

Admission Requirements

Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree in biology or its equivalent, except for students who choose the BCB concentration. Students who choose the BCB concentration must have an undergraduate degree in any natural science, mathematics, engineering, or computer science. It is preferred that students who choose the BCB concentration have some undergraduate course work in cell biology, molecular biology, genetics, and biochemistry (two to four upper-division courses), plus some undergraduate course work in computer science (two to four courses that include substantial programming projects). Students without this background may be asked to remedy their deficiencies. Students who choose the concentration in microbiology and infectious disease must have a lecture and lab course in microbiology and a lecture course in biochemistry. All MS concentrations require a GPA of 3.00 in biology course work or in the last 60 credits of undergraduate study. Students must also submit three letters of recommendation and scores on the general GRE. Successful applicants usually score at least 1,100 on the verbal and quantitative sections of the GRE. Admission is contingent on acceptance by a faculty research advisor.

Degree Requirements


An advisory committee and the student work together to develop a program of study that best fits the student’s background and interests. At least one member of the committee must be a member of the Molecular and Microbiology Department. The student must submit a program of study to the program director for approval within the first 12 credits of graduate work and must complete at least 30 graduate credits.

Students have the option to complete a thesis (3 to 6 credits of BIOL 799) or a research project (1 to 3 credits of BIOL 798). According to Mason graduate policies, the same quality of work is expected of students regardless of their chosen option; that is, the MS thesis option or the MS project option. In general, the MS thesis is most appropriate for students planning or considering a research career. The MS project is most appropriate for students who have scheduling commitments, such as a full-time job, that may preclude performing a complete series of laboratory experiments. The requirements differ primarily at the conclusion of the project, when students pursuing the project option must successfully complete written and oral comprehensive exams. Students pursuing the thesis option must write a formal thesis that meets the requirements of the graduate school and must defend their thesis and present their results in a public seminar.

Students in the molecular biology, microbiology and infectious disease, and the bioinformatics and computational biology concentrations are required to present one research paper at a meeting or conference any time before graduation.

Recommended Electives


The following list, for students in the molecular biology concentration or the bioinformatics and computational biology concentration, is provided as a suggestion only and is not intended to be complete. Note that two courses covering substantially similar topics may not both be counted in the student’s course plan. Students should consult their faculty research advisor or the graduate program coordinator when preparing a course plan.

Program in Biological Sciences


This program is for students who wish to specialize in an area not covered by the concentrations described below.

1–3 credits of research methodology:


1–6 credits of research:


19–26 credits of electives:


  • 19–26 credits of electives in BIOL, BIOS, or related areas as approved by the student’s advisor and the program director

Total: 30 credits


Concentrations


Master’s level concentrations are available in molecular biology (MOB); microbiology and infectious disease (MID); bioinformatics and computational biology (BCB), and organismal and evolutionary biology (OEB). The BCB, MOB, and OEB concentrations each require 2-4 credits of  molecular techniques courses as explained below.

Molecular Techniques Requirement


Students in the BCB, MOB, and OEB concentrations must satisfy the molecular techniques requirement by taking 2-4 credits of BIOL 668 or BIOS 740. Special topics courses, such as BIOL 575 or 691, may also be approved for this requirement by the program director, but only in semesters in which they are primarily a laboratory course of at least two credits with substantial content of techniques in molecular biology.

▲ Concentration in Bioinformatics and Computational Biology (BCB)


1–3 credits of research methodology:


2–4 credits of molecular techniques:


  • 2–4 credits of courses satisfying the Molecular Techniques requirement

1–6 credits of research:


6–15 credits of electives:


  • 6–15 credits in BIOL, BIOS, or related areas as approved by the student’s advisor and the program director

Total: 30 credits


▲ Concentration in Microbiology and Infectious Disease (MID)


1–3 credits of research methodology:


1–6 credits of research:


Total: 30 credits


▲ Concentration in Molecular Biology (MOB)


1–3 credits of research methodology:


2–4 credits of molecular techniques:


  • 2–4 credits of courses satisfying the Molecular Techniques requirement

1–6 credits of research:


0-8 credits of electives:


  • 0-8 credits of electives in BIOL, BIOS, or related areas as approved by the student’s advisor and the program director

Total: 30 credits


▲ Concentration in Systematics and Evolutionary Biology (SEB)


1–3 credits of research methodology:


9-10 credits of core biology:


2–4 credits of molecular techniques:


  • 2–4 credits of courses satisfying the Molecular Techniques requirement

1–6 credits of research:


5–14 credits of electives:


  • 5–14 credits of electives in BIOL, BIOS, or related areas as approved by the student’s advisor and the program director

Total: 30 credits