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The Department of Biological Sciences offers graduate training for professional careers in both applied and fundamental areas of biology.
Programs are available leading to the degrees of Master of Arts in Teaching, Master of Science, Specialist in Applied Biology, and Doctor of Philosophy.
Major areas of concentration include molecular biology, microbiology, cell biology, development, genetics, physiology, neurobiology, behavior, ecology, conservation biology and evolution.
The Specialist in Applied Biology program offers immunohematology as an area of specialization. Interdisciplinary research programs in the fields of chemistry, geology, and psychology
are also available.
General Links • Links for Current Grad Students
• Application Materials •
Prerequisites • Admission Procedures • Financial Aid • Degree Requirements
Note:
Applications received
by February 1 will have
priority
Prerequisites for the M.S. program include completion of a baccalaureate degree, normally in one of the biological sciences, and completion of course work in organic chemistry
and calculus.
Applicants who are deficient must complete these prerequisites before the final examination. Applicants to the Specialist in Applied Biology program must have completed
or be co-enrolled in a master's degree program or its equivalent.
Applicants to the Ph.D. program who have a grade point average of at least 3.3, scored above the 60th percentile on the GRE, and present evidence of research ability
may enter directly into the Ph.D. program following completion of the baccalaureate degree. A separate application to the Ph.D. program must be made by students completing
a master's degree, even if the degree is from Bowling Green State University. Within three semesters of entering the Department of Biological Sciences master's program at the
University, a student may apply to enter the Ph.D. program.
All applicants are strongly encouraged to visit the faculty websites, identify one or more
faculty members in their area of interest, and contact them in order to make sure they are accepting students BEFORE applying to the program.
Applicants seeking admission to the graduate programs in biological sciences should follow the instructions outlined in the "Graduate Admission" section of this catalog.
Applicants to the M.S. and Ph.D. programs should indicate their intended area of specialization to facilitate the application process. If possible, applicants should identify a
potential advisor (or advisors); we recommend that you contact potential faculty advisors before applying to see if they are accepting new graduate students.
Graduate teaching assistantships are available to qualified students; stipends are normally for nine months and include a
waiver of instructional and nonresident fees. Fee waivers and stipends are also available during the summer term for continuing gradaute assistants.
All awards are made on a competitive
basis and applications
received by February
1 will be more competitive.
Renewal of assistantships and fellowships is contigent upon satisfactory completion of assignments and progress towards the degree. These awards provide a stipend
and a waiver of instructional, nonresident and general fees. Predoctoral nonservice fellowships are available to Ph.D. students, normally during their last year of study.
In addition, opportunities for financial aid are available to graduate students
through various small grants awarded on a competitive basis
(Sigma Xi and Shanklin Awards);
research grants to individual faculty members; and Federal Perkins
Loans, Federal Work-Study, and short-term loans. Click here for more information about potential funding sources for your graduate education.
Please visit BGSU's Office of Sponsored Programs and Research for a detailed list of funding opportunities.
Master of Arts in Teaching
Degree requirements are listed under the heading of Master of Arts in Teaching in the "Degree Programs" section of this catalog.
Master of Science
Students may pursue the M.S. degree under one of two plans, usually completed in 2 years.
Plan I: Plan I is a thesis option recommended for students who intend to continue on to a Ph.D. program or students who want to pursue careers involving
biological research. Students must complete at least 30 semester hours of graduate credit, including one hour of BIOL 601 and three to six hours of BIOL 699. The remainder of the student's course of study
is designed, with the advice of the student's committee, to meet the student's particular needs and interests.
Candidates must complete an original research program and a thesis. Research is carried out with the help and supervision of a graduate faculty adviser designated by the student. The final oral
examination covers both the contents of the thesis and general biological knowledge.
Plan II: Plan II is a non-thesis plan designed to meet the needs of students whose career goals do not require a research-oriented course of study.
Candidates are required to complete 34 semester hours of graduate credit including one hour of BIOL 601 and one hour of BIOL 602. The rest of the program is designed, with the advice of the student's
committee, to meet the student's needs and interests.
In lieu of a thesis, students must complete both a paper based on either original research or a literature search and a comprehensive written examination. The final oral examination covers
the student's written work as well as general biological knowledge.
Specialist in Applied Biology
Degree requirements are listed under the heading of Specialist in Applied Biology in the "Degree Programs" section of the Graduate catalog.
Doctor of Philosophy
Students must complete at least 60 semester hours of graduate credit beyond the master's degree or 90 semester hours beyond the bachelor's
degree (usually completed in 4 years). These hours must include at least 16 hours of BIOL 799, Dissertation Research (no more than 30 are applicable
to the degree). The rest of the student's course of study is designed, with the advice of the student's doctoral committee, to meet the student's needs and interests.
Students must complete a preliminary written and oral examination covering general biological knowledge, usually by the end of the second year
of study. Students successfully completing this examination and defending a proposal are considered to be candidates for the Ph.D. degree.
Candidates must complete an independent research project acceptable to their doctoral committee. This research project is to be described and
evaluated in the dissertation. The final oral examination consists of a defense of the dissertation and may cover related fields of study. Doctoral students are also expected to have at least one
manuscript submitted, accepted, or published before graduation.
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