MS in Biology
Boston University Graduate School of Arts & Sciences
Key Information
Campus location
Boston, USA
Languages
English
Study format
On-Campus
Duration
2 - 3 years
Pace
Full time, Part time
Tuition fees
USD 32,356 / per semester *
Application deadline
01 May 2024
Earliest start date
Sep 2024
* full-time semester tuition
Introduction
The Department of Biology offers three tracks that lead to the MS: a coursework track, a scholarly paper track, and a research thesis track. The coursework track can be completed in one year and the scholarly paper track can be completed in a year and summer. The research thesis track typically requires two years to complete. In all three tracks, students are assigned faculty advisors in their subfield of interest during the first semester in the program.
Upon completion of the master’s program, students should be prepared for further graduate training or for eventual employment in teaching and/or research positions in academia, industry, government, or nonprofit agencies. The program accepts post-bachelor’s applicants with degrees in related disciplines where the focus has been on biology or a relevant field. Students with prior graduate work may be able to transfer course credits.
Admissions
Scholarships and Funding
Funding
The Biology Department does not guarantee financial support for MS students, although limited partial scholarships are available, and there are often Teaching Assistant positions available for MS students that provide $6,000 per semester. If interested in these opportunities please indicate this in your application.
Financial Aid
Various forms of financial aid are available to support your studies in a master’s program at the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences (GRS). In addition to loans (federal and credit-based) and external funding opportunities, we offer a range of School and department-based aid in the form of fellowships, scholarships, work-study programs, and research assistantships.
Financial Aid may not exceed your total Cost of Attendance. When estimating the total cost of attendance at GRS, you will need to consider BU medical insurance and living expenses such as housing, transportation, etc.
Curriculum
Students must complete 32 credits of 500-level and above coursework with a minimum grade point average of 3.0. All credits must be a lecture, laboratory, or seminar courses. These courses will be selected under the mentorship of the faculty member who is serving as the student’s primary advisor.
The Department of Biology offers three tracks that lead to the MS: a coursework track, a scholarly paper track, and a research thesis track. Each track has unique requirements:
- Coursework Track
- Students must complete 32 credits of 500-level and above coursework with a minimum grade point average of 3.0. All credits must be lecture, laboratory, or seminar courses. These courses will be selected under the mentorship of the faculty member who is serving as the student’s primary advisor. The full list of Biology courses can be found here.
- Scholarly Paper Track
- Coursework Requirements:
- Students must complete 32 credits of 500-level and above coursework with a minimum grade point average of 3.0. Ordinarily, these courses will be selected under the mentorship of the faculty member who is serving as the student’s primary scholarly literature-based paper reader (see below). At least 28 of these graduate level credits must come from formal course work (i.e., cannot include credits from a research course). Up to 4 credits can be Readings in Biology (BI 701/702). The full list of Biology courses can be found here.
- Scholarly Paper:
- In addition to the course requirements listed above, the student must complete a scholarly literature-based paper, based on recent literature and with adequate bibliography. The scholarly paper will generally be approximately 30–80 pages on a selected research topic in current biology and will usually include several chapters and extensive literature references. This paper will be written in consultation with a faculty member from the Biology Department who will serve as the primary reader. The scholarly paper is presented for approval by the student’s faculty committee of two readers.
- Coursework Requirements:
- Research Thesis Track
- Course Requirements:
- Students must complete 32 credits of 500-level and above coursework with a minimum grade point average of 3.0. At least 20 of these credits must come from formal course work (i.e., cannot include credits from a research course). Up to 12 credits can be Readings in Biology (BI 701/702) or Master’s Research in Biology (BI 595). Courses will be selected under the mentorship of the student’s faculty advisor and will vary depending on program discipline. Please refer to the Graduate Program Guide for more details. The full list of Biology courses can be found here.
- Thesis Project:
- In addition to the requirements listed above, the student must complete a program of research acceptable to their thesis committee that leads to the preparation of a thesis. This thesis must be approved by a committee of three faculty members that includes at least two faculty members from the Biology Department.
- Course Requirements:
Program Outcome
- Demonstrate academic mastery in one of three areas of Biology: Ecology, Behavior, Evolution, & Marine Biology; Neurobiology; or Cellular & Molecular Biology.
- Attain expertise in a specific field of study within one of three broad subject areas represented in the department: Ecology, Evolution, Behavior, & Marine Biology; Neurobiology; or Cellular & Molecular Biology
- Attain skills and qualifications needed for employment in an academic, government or private sector position related to the life sciences.
Program Tuition Fee
Career Opportunities
BU Biology students experience the unique advantages of obtaining an education in Boston—a hub for the scientific and medical community. Students collaborate on research with the world’s top scientific and medical minds, have access to outstanding professional development events, and network with local professionals from both academia and industry. Many graduates of our programs choose to stay in the Boston area, providing a rich base of local alumni available for Departmental events, networking and mentoring.
Our Center for Career Development is also ready to help you find the best use of your degree. From networking to job opportunities to salary negotiations, our mission is to help you grow your professional life and keep it humming well beyond graduation.
Facilities
English Language Requirements
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