Biological Sciences MS

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.

Master of Science in Biological Sciences - Option I Thesis

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 518Thesis (6 semester hours required)3-6
Required Course (6 semester hours)
BSC 504Advanced Biostatistics3
BSC 515Advanced Cell Biology3
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 512Advanced Ecological Genetics3
BSC 513Molecular Genetics3
Topic 2. Ecology
BSC 510Community Ecology3
BSC 560Advanced Landscape Ecology3
Topic 3. Physiology
BSC 552Comparative Animal Physiology3
BSC 550Microbial Physiology3
Electives (9 semester hours)
Select a total of 9 semester hours from following courses:
BSC 509Microbial Ecology3
BSC 510Community Ecology3
BSC 511Avian Biology3
BSC 512Advanced Ecological Genetics3
BSC 513Molecular Genetics3
BSC 514Advanced Pharmacology - Principles and Practice3
BSC 516Medical Microbiology3
BSC 517Stem Cell Biology3
BSC 519Advanced Gene Regulation3
BSC 520Advanced Immunology3
BSC 521Epigenetics3
BSC 522Reproductive Physiology3
BSC 523The Plant Microbiome 3
BSC 524Advanced Soil and Biogeochemistry3
BSC 525Advanced Neuroscience3
BSC 526Advanced Developmental Biology3
BSC 527Advanced Human Physiology3
BSC 530Advanced Virology3
BSC 531Biogeography3
BSC 532Behavioral Ecology3
BSC 533Invertebrate Zoology3
BSC 534Vertebrate Zoology3
BSC 535Evolution3
BSC 537Behavior and Conservation3
BSC 539Herpetology3
BSC 540Animal Behavior3
BSC 541Genetic Engineering3
BSC 550Microbial Physiology3
BSC 552Comparative Animal Physiology3
BSC 560Advanced Landscape Ecology3
BSC 561Bioremediation3
BSC 562Ecotoxicology3
Total Hours30

Master of Science in Biological Sciences (Accelerated BS/MS) Option I Thesis 

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 518Thesis3-6
Required Course (6 semester hours)
BSC 504Advanced Biostatistics3
BSC 515Advanced Cell Biology3
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 512Advanced Ecological Genetics3
BSC 513Molecular Genetics3
Topic 2. Ecology
BSC 510Community Ecology3
BSC 560Advanced Landscape Ecology3
Topic 3. Physiology
BSC 552Comparative Animal Physiology3
BSC 550Microbial Physiology3
Electives (9 semester hours)
Select a total of 9 semester hours from following courses:
BSC 509Microbial Ecology3
BSC 510Community Ecology3
BSC 511Avian Biology3
BSC 512Advanced Ecological Genetics3
BSC 513Molecular Genetics3
BSC 514Advanced Pharmacology - Principles and Practice3
BSC 516Medical Microbiology3
BSC 517Stem Cell Biology3
BSC 519Advanced Gene Regulation3
BSC 520Advanced Immunology3
BSC 521Epigenetics3
BSC 522Reproductive Physiology3
BSC 523The Plant Microbiome 3
BSC 524Advanced Soil and Biogeochemistry3
BSC 525Advanced Neuroscience3
BSC 526Advanced Developmental Biology3
BSC 527Advanced Human Physiology3
BSC 530Advanced Virology3
BSC 531Biogeography3
BSC 532Behavioral Ecology3
BSC 533Invertebrate Zoology3
BSC 534Vertebrate Zoology3
BSC 535Evolution3
BSC 537Behavior and Conservation3
BSC 539Herpetology3
BSC 540Animal Behavior3
BSC 541Genetic Engineering3
BSC 550Microbial Physiology3
BSC 552Comparative Animal Physiology3
BSC 560Advanced Landscape Ecology3
BSC 561Bioremediation3
BSC 562Ecotoxicology3
Total Hours30

Master of Science in Biological Sciences - Option II Non-Thesis

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 595Research 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 504Advanced Biostatistics3
BSC 515Advanced Cell Biology3
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 512Advanced Ecological Genetics3
BSC 513Molecular Genetics3
Topic 2. Ecology
BSC 510Community Ecology3
BSC 560Advanced Landscape Ecology3
Topic 3. Physiology
BSC 552Comparative Animal Physiology3
BSC 550Microbial Physiology3
Electives (18 semester hours)
Select a total of 18 semester hours from:
BSC 509Microbial Ecology3
BSC 510Community Ecology3
BSC 511Avian Biology3
BSC 512Advanced Ecological Genetics3
BSC 513Molecular Genetics3
BSC 514Advanced Pharmacology - Principles and Practice3
BSC 516Medical Microbiology3
BSC 517Stem Cell Biology3
BSC 519Advanced Gene Regulation3
BSC 520Advanced Immunology3
BSC 521Epigenetics3
BSC 522Reproductive Physiology3
BSC 523The Plant Microbiome 3
BSC 524Advanced Soil and Biogeochemistry3
BSC 525Advanced Neuroscience3
BSC 526Advanced Developmental Biology3
BSC 527Advanced Human Physiology3
BSC 530Advanced Virology3
BSC 531Biogeography3
BSC 532Behavioral Ecology3
BSC 533Invertebrate Zoology3
BSC 534Vertebrate Zoology3
BSC 535Evolution3
BSC 537Behavior and Conservation3
BSC 539Herpetology3
BSC 540Animal Behavior3
BSC 541Genetic Engineering3
BSC 550Microbial Physiology3
BSC 552Comparative Animal Physiology3
BSC 560Advanced Landscape Ecology3
BSC 561Bioremediation3
BSC 562Ecotoxicology3
Total Hours36

Master of Science in Biological Sciences (Accelerated BS/MS) Option II Non-Thesis 

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 595Research 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 504AAdvanced Biostatistics *3
BSC 515AAdvanced 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 512Advanced Ecological Genetics3
BSC 513Molecular Genetics3
Topic 2. Ecology
BSC 510Community Ecology3
BSC 560Advanced Landscape Ecology3
Topic 3. Physiology
BSC 552Comparative Animal Physiology3
BSC 550Microbial Physiology3
Electives (18 semester hours)
Select a total of 18 semester hours from:
BSC 509Microbial Ecology3
BSC 510Community Ecology3
BSC 511Avian Biology3
BSC 512Advanced Ecological Genetics3
BSC 513Molecular Genetics3
BSC 514Advanced Pharmacology - Principles and Practice3
BSC 516Medical Microbiology3
BSC 517Stem Cell Biology3
BSC 519Advanced Gene Regulation3
BSC 520Advanced Immunology3
BSC 521Epigenetics3
BSC 522Reproductive Physiology3
BSC 523The Plant Microbiome 3
BSC 525Advanced Neuroscience3
BSC 526Advanced Developmental Biology3
BSC 527Advanced Human Physiology3
BSC 530Advanced Virology3
BSC 531Biogeography3
BSC 532Behavioral Ecology3
BSC 533Invertebrate Zoology3
BSC 534Vertebrate Zoology3
BSC 535Evolution3
BSC 537Behavior and Conservation3
BSC 539Herpetology3
BSC 540Animal Behavior3
BSC 541Genetic Engineering3
BSC 550Microbial Physiology3
BSC 552Comparative Animal Physiology3
BSC 560Advanced Landscape Ecology3
BSC 561Bioremediation3
Total Hours36
*

Courses shared with BS

Note:  Successful completion of the Comprehensive Exam is required of all students.

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