All graduate students in the M.S. and M.A. degree programs are required to participate in the Biology Seminar Program on a regular basis during their tenure.  The course may be taken once for credit (BL 478, 1 credit).

Some courses are cross-listed at 400-level and 500-level.  The 500-level courses require an additional oral presentation or paper, but this level is highly recommended for graduate students as minimum requirements exist for the number of 500-level classes that must be taken.

In addition, all graduate students in both degree programs are required to pass a comprehensive examination, upon completion of the requirements, as follows:

Master of Science
Oral (or written) examination consisting of questions that reflect the student’s educational experience and thesis and that seek to integrate knowledge across those areas.  The examination will be administered by the thesis committee after successful completion of the thesis.

Master of Arts
Take-home written examination consisting of questions that reflect the student’s educational experience and that seek to integrate knowledge across that course work.  Type of examination is decided by the student’s examination committee.

In some cases, a student and the committee may feel that an alternative examination would be appropriate.  In this case, the Associate Dean for Graduate Studies may be petitioned via the Biology Department chair.