Graduate Catalog 2004-2005
Biological Sciences
Scott Rogers, Chair
Stan Smith, Graduate Coordinator
217 Life Sciences Building
Phone: 419-372-2332
Degrees Offered
Master of Science; Master of Arts in Teaching; Specialist in Applied Biology; Doctor of Philosophy
Graduate Faculty
| Professors: | Verner Bingman, Ph.D. (Psychology); George Bullerjahn, Ph.D.; Carmen Fioravanti, Ph.D.; Narasaiah Gavini, Ph.D.; John Graham, Ph.D.; Carol Heckman, Ph.D.; Roudabeh Jamasbi, Ph.D. (Public and Allied Health); Rex Lowe, Ph.D.; Lee Meserve, Ph.D.; Paul Moore, Ph.D.; C. Lee Rockett, Ph.D.; Scott Rogers, Ph.D.; Stan Smith, Ph.D.; Ron Woodruff, Ph.D. |
| Associate Professors: | M. Sue Houston, Ph.D. (Family and Consumer Sciences); Michael Geusz, Ph.D.; Robert Huber, Ph.D.; R. Michael McKay, Ph.D.; Helen Michaels, Ph.D.; Jeffrey Miner, Ph.D.; Paul Morris, Ph.D.; Kevin Pang, Ph.D. (Psychology); Lakshmidevi Pulakat, Ph.D.; Moira van Staaden, Ph.D. |
| Assistant Professors: | Juan Bouzat, Ph.D.; Raymond Larsen, Ph.D.; Karen Root, Ph.D.; Tami Steveson, Ph.D.; Daniel Wiegmann, Ph.D. |
| Lecturer: | Daniel Pavuk, Ph.D. |
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, conservation biology and genetics, physiology, neuroscience and behavior, aquatic ecology, plant science, and entomology/parasitology. 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.
Prerequisites to Graduate Work
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.
Admission Procedure
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.
Degree Requirements
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.
Plan I: Plan I is a thesis option recommended for students who intend to continue on to a Ph.D. program as well as 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, one hour of BIOL 781, 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 this 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. 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 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.
Graduate Courses
Please access graduate courses online at http://webapps.bgsu.edu/courses/search.php. Graduate courses offered by the Department of Biological Sciences use the prefix: BIOL.
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