Biological Sciences MS Web Site
Upon being accepted for admission into the Graduate School, each student will either select or be assigned an advisor from the graduate faculty within the Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences. This faculty member will chair the student's advisory committee, which will include at least two additional graduate faculty members, one of whom may be from another department. Courses may be applied to a particular master's degree program only with the approval of the student's advisory committee. Courses taken before a committee is chosen may not be approved by the committee for the student's particular degree program and, therefore, may not apply to the degree. Course selections will be based upon unique student needs as revealed by academic records and career goals. Course selections will include graduate course offerings in the Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences as well as supporting courses if deemed desirable or necessary from other departments. With committee recommendation, and approval of the Graduate Dean, a maximum of two upper level undergraduate courses may be applied to certain degree programs.
The Biological Sciences MS degree thesis option is available only on-campus, while the non-thesis program is available on campus or fully on-line.
The student will complete a minimum of 30 sh. The program includes: BSC 518 Thesis and other 15 sh of core courses;9 sh of electives selected and approved by the student's advisory committee. The Master of Science degree in Biological Sciences with thesis option is available only on campus.
| Thesis (6 semester hours required) | ||
| BSC 518 | Thesis (6 semester hours required) | 3-6 |
| Required Course (6 semester hours) | ||
| BSC 504 | Advanced Biostatistics | 3 |
| BSC 515 | Advanced Cell Biology | 3 |
| Core courses (9 semester hours) | ||
| To satisfy core requirements choose one course (3 semester hours) from each topic, the second course taken from a topic will be counted towards the general electives: | ||
Topic 1. Genetics | ||
| BSC 512 | Advanced Ecological Genetics | 3 |
| BSC 513 | Molecular Genetics | 3 |
Topic 2. Ecology | ||
| BSC 510 | Community Ecology | 3 |
| BSC 560 | Advanced Landscape Ecology | 3 |
Topic 3. Physiology | ||
| BSC 552 | Comparative Animal Physiology | 3 |
| BSC 550 | Microbial Physiology | 3 |
| Electives (9 semester hours) | ||
Select a total of 9 semester hours from following courses: | ||
| BSC 509 | Microbial Ecology | 3 |
| BSC 510 | Community Ecology | 3 |
| BSC 511 | Avian Biology | 3 |
| BSC 512 | Advanced Ecological Genetics | 3 |
| BSC 513 | Molecular Genetics | 3 |
| BSC 514 | Advanced Pharmacology - Principles and Practice | 3 |
| BSC 516 | Medical Microbiology | 3 |
| BSC 517 | Stem Cell Biology | 3 |
| BSC 519 | Advanced Gene Regulation | 3 |
| BSC 520 | Advanced Immunology | 3 |
| BSC 521 | Epigenetics | 3 |
| BSC 522 | Reproductive Physiology | 3 |
| BSC 523 | The Plant Microbiome | 3 |
| BSC 524 | Advanced Soil and Biogeochemistry | 3 |
| BSC 525 | Advanced Neuroscience | 3 |
| BSC 526 | Advanced Developmental Biology | 3 |
| BSC 527 | Advanced Human Physiology | 3 |
| BSC 530 | Advanced Virology | 3 |
| BSC 531 | Biogeography | 3 |
| BSC 532 | Behavioral Ecology | 3 |
| BSC 533 | Invertebrate Zoology | 3 |
| BSC 534 | Vertebrate Zoology | 3 |
| BSC 535 | Evolution | 3 |
| BSC 537 | Behavior and Conservation | 3 |
| BSC 539 | Herpetology | 3 |
| BSC 540 | Animal Behavior | 3 |
| BSC 541 | Genetic Engineering | 3 |
| BSC 550 | Microbial Physiology | 3 |
| BSC 552 | Comparative Animal Physiology | 3 |
| BSC 560 | Advanced Landscape Ecology | 3 |
| BSC 561 | Bioremediation | 3 |
| BSC 562 | Ecotoxicology | 3 |
| Total Hours | 30 | |
The BS-MS accelerated degree program allows undergraduate students in the Biological Sciences program to begin coursework towards the thesis option of the Master of Science in Biological Sciences program during their senior year at Texas A&M University-Commerce. Students can earn a B.S. and M.S. degree in five years upon completion of degree requirements for both degrees. For this accelerated program, 12 credits of graduate coursework may be taken as an undergraduate student (graduate courses cannot be applied to the undergraduate degree). Once admitted, the BS/MS candidate must maintain a 3.25 Undergraduate GPA. In the final semester of the student’s undergraduate program, a new online Apply Texas Application for the master’s Accelerated program must be submitted to gain admission and continue taking classes to complete the master’s program. The Master of Science degree in Biological Sciences with thesis option is available only on campus.
| Thesis (6 semester hours required) | ||
| BSC 518 | Thesis | 3-6 |
| Required Course (6 semester hours) | ||
| BSC 504 | Advanced Biostatistics | 3 |
| BSC 515 | Advanced Cell Biology | 3 |
| Core courses (9 semester hours) | ||
| To satisfy core requirements choose one course (3 semester hours) from each topic, the second course taken from a topic will be counted towards the general electives: | ||
| Topic 1. Genetics | ||
| BSC 512 | Advanced Ecological Genetics | 3 |
| BSC 513 | Molecular Genetics | 3 |
Topic 2. Ecology | ||
| BSC 510 | Community Ecology | 3 |
| BSC 560 | Advanced Landscape Ecology | 3 |
Topic 3. Physiology | ||
| BSC 552 | Comparative Animal Physiology | 3 |
| BSC 550 | Microbial Physiology | 3 |
| Electives (9 semester hours) | ||
| Select a total of 9 semester hours from following courses: | ||
| BSC 509 | Microbial Ecology | 3 |
| BSC 510 | Community Ecology | 3 |
| BSC 511 | Avian Biology | 3 |
| BSC 512 | Advanced Ecological Genetics | 3 |
| BSC 513 | Molecular Genetics | 3 |
| BSC 514 | Advanced Pharmacology - Principles and Practice | 3 |
| BSC 516 | Medical Microbiology | 3 |
| BSC 517 | Stem Cell Biology | 3 |
| BSC 519 | Advanced Gene Regulation | 3 |
| BSC 520 | Advanced Immunology | 3 |
| BSC 521 | Epigenetics | 3 |
| BSC 522 | Reproductive Physiology | 3 |
| BSC 523 | The Plant Microbiome | 3 |
| BSC 524 | Advanced Soil and Biogeochemistry | 3 |
| BSC 525 | Advanced Neuroscience | 3 |
| BSC 526 | Advanced Developmental Biology | 3 |
| BSC 527 | Advanced Human Physiology | 3 |
| BSC 530 | Advanced Virology | 3 |
| BSC 531 | Biogeography | 3 |
| BSC 532 | Behavioral Ecology | 3 |
| BSC 533 | Invertebrate Zoology | 3 |
| BSC 534 | Vertebrate Zoology | 3 |
| BSC 535 | Evolution | 3 |
| BSC 537 | Behavior and Conservation | 3 |
| BSC 539 | Herpetology | 3 |
| BSC 540 | Animal Behavior | 3 |
| BSC 541 | Genetic Engineering | 3 |
| BSC 550 | Microbial Physiology | 3 |
| BSC 552 | Comparative Animal Physiology | 3 |
| BSC 560 | Advanced Landscape Ecology | 3 |
| BSC 561 | Bioremediation | 3 |
| BSC 562 | Ecotoxicology | 3 |
| Total Hours | 30 | |
The student will complete a minimum of 36 semester hours. The program includes BSC 595 Research Literature and Techniques, (3 semester hours) and 15 semester hours of core courses, plus 18 semester hours of electives selected and approved by the students advisory committee. The Master of Science degree in Biological Sciences with non-thesis option is offered on-campus or fully online.
| Research (3 semester hours required) | ||
| BSC 595 | Research Literature and Techniques (3 semester hours required) | 3 |
15 semester hours of required core courses plus one elective course must be successfully completed before approval to register for BSC 595 can be given (18 hrs total) | ||
| Required Courses (6 credits) | ||
| BSC 504 | Advanced Biostatistics | 3 |
| BSC 515 | Advanced Cell Biology | 3 |
| Required Core Course (9 semester hours) | ||
| To satisfy core requirements choose one course (3 semester hours) from each topic, the second course taken from a topic will be counted towards the general electives: | ||
Topic 1. Genetics | ||
| BSC 512 | Advanced Ecological Genetics | 3 |
| BSC 513 | Molecular Genetics | 3 |
Topic 2. Ecology | ||
| BSC 510 | Community Ecology | 3 |
| BSC 560 | Advanced Landscape Ecology | 3 |
Topic 3. Physiology | ||
| BSC 552 | Comparative Animal Physiology | 3 |
| BSC 550 | Microbial Physiology | 3 |
| Electives (18 semester hours) | ||
Select a total of 18 semester hours from: | ||
| BSC 509 | Microbial Ecology | 3 |
| BSC 510 | Community Ecology | 3 |
| BSC 511 | Avian Biology | 3 |
| BSC 512 | Advanced Ecological Genetics | 3 |
| BSC 513 | Molecular Genetics | 3 |
| BSC 514 | Advanced Pharmacology - Principles and Practice | 3 |
| BSC 516 | Medical Microbiology | 3 |
| BSC 517 | Stem Cell Biology | 3 |
| BSC 519 | Advanced Gene Regulation | 3 |
| BSC 520 | Advanced Immunology | 3 |
| BSC 521 | Epigenetics | 3 |
| BSC 522 | Reproductive Physiology | 3 |
| BSC 523 | The Plant Microbiome | 3 |
| BSC 524 | Advanced Soil and Biogeochemistry | 3 |
| BSC 525 | Advanced Neuroscience | 3 |
| BSC 526 | Advanced Developmental Biology | 3 |
| BSC 527 | Advanced Human Physiology | 3 |
| BSC 530 | Advanced Virology | 3 |
| BSC 531 | Biogeography | 3 |
| BSC 532 | Behavioral Ecology | 3 |
| BSC 533 | Invertebrate Zoology | 3 |
| BSC 534 | Vertebrate Zoology | 3 |
| BSC 535 | Evolution | 3 |
| BSC 537 | Behavior and Conservation | 3 |
| BSC 539 | Herpetology | 3 |
| BSC 540 | Animal Behavior | 3 |
| BSC 541 | Genetic Engineering | 3 |
| BSC 550 | Microbial Physiology | 3 |
| BSC 552 | Comparative Animal Physiology | 3 |
| BSC 560 | Advanced Landscape Ecology | 3 |
| BSC 561 | Bioremediation | 3 |
| BSC 562 | Ecotoxicology | 3 |
| Total Hours | 36 | |
The BS-MS accelerated degree program allows undergraduate students in the Biological Science program to begin coursework towards the non-thesis option of the Master of Science in Biological Sciences program during their senior year at Texas A&M University-Commerce. Students can earn a B.S. and M.S. degree in five years upon completion of degree requirements for both degrees. For this accelerated program, 6 credits of graduate coursework can be applied to both the BS and MS degrees. Once admitted, the BS/MS candidate must maintain a 3.25 Undergraduate GPA. In the final semester of the student’s undergraduate program, a new online Apply Texas Application for the master’s Accelerated program must be submitted to gain admission and continue taking classes to complete the master’s program. The Master of Science degree in Biological Sciences with non-thesis option is offered on-campus or fully online.
| Research (3 semester hours) | ||
| BSC 595 | Research Literature and Techniques (3 semester hours required) | 3 |
15 semester hours of required core courses plus one elective course must be successfully completed before approval to register for BSC 595 can be given (18 hrs total) | ||
| Required Courses (6 credits) | ||
| BSC 504A | Advanced Biostatistics * | 3 |
| BSC 515A | Advanced Cell Biology * | 3 |
| Required Core Courses (9 semester hours) | ||
| To satisfy core requirements choose one course (3 semester hours) from each topic, the second course taken from a topic will be counted towards the general electives: | ||
Topic 1. Genetics | ||
| BSC 512 | Advanced Ecological Genetics | 3 |
| BSC 513 | Molecular Genetics | 3 |
Topic 2. Ecology | ||
| BSC 510 | Community Ecology | 3 |
| BSC 560 | Advanced Landscape Ecology | 3 |
Topic 3. Physiology | ||
| BSC 552 | Comparative Animal Physiology | 3 |
| BSC 550 | Microbial Physiology | 3 |
| Electives (18 semester hours) | ||
Select a total of 18 semester hours from: | ||
| BSC 509 | Microbial Ecology | 3 |
| BSC 510 | Community Ecology | 3 |
| BSC 511 | Avian Biology | 3 |
| BSC 512 | Advanced Ecological Genetics | 3 |
| BSC 513 | Molecular Genetics | 3 |
| BSC 514 | Advanced Pharmacology - Principles and Practice | 3 |
| BSC 516 | Medical Microbiology | 3 |
| BSC 517 | Stem Cell Biology | 3 |
| BSC 519 | Advanced Gene Regulation | 3 |
| BSC 520 | Advanced Immunology | 3 |
| BSC 521 | Epigenetics | 3 |
| BSC 522 | Reproductive Physiology | 3 |
| BSC 523 | The Plant Microbiome | 3 |
| BSC 525 | Advanced Neuroscience | 3 |
| BSC 526 | Advanced Developmental Biology | 3 |
| BSC 527 | Advanced Human Physiology | 3 |
| BSC 530 | Advanced Virology | 3 |
| BSC 531 | Biogeography | 3 |
| BSC 532 | Behavioral Ecology | 3 |
| BSC 533 | Invertebrate Zoology | 3 |
| BSC 534 | Vertebrate Zoology | 3 |
| BSC 535 | Evolution | 3 |
| BSC 537 | Behavior and Conservation | 3 |
| BSC 539 | Herpetology | 3 |
| BSC 540 | Animal Behavior | 3 |
| BSC 541 | Genetic Engineering | 3 |
| BSC 550 | Microbial Physiology | 3 |
| BSC 552 | Comparative Animal Physiology | 3 |
| BSC 560 | Advanced Landscape Ecology | 3 |
| BSC 561 | Bioremediation | 3 |
| Total Hours | 36 | |
Courses shared with BS
Note: Successful completion of the Comprehensive Exam is required of all students.
