Biology Department |
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GUIDE TO THE
MASTER'S DEGREE PROGRAMS
I. ADMISSION TO GRADUATE STUDY
Prospective students must apply to both the
To be considered for admission to graduate study in the Department of Biology
(Graduate Standing) a student must submit all necessary materials for admission
prior to February 1 for the following Fall semester
or prior to August 15 for the following Spring semester. Note that some of
the required materials are to be sent to both the
Necessary Materials
1. To be sent
to : Graduate
School-326
Reno
,
NV
89557
a. A completed application for admission
to UNR (available at http://www.unr.edu/grad)
b. Two official copies of transcripts
from all post-secondary educational institutions attended
c. Official copies of GRE results
for general aptitude (and advanced test if taken)
2. To be sent
to: Biology Department-314
Graduate Admissions
a. A completed application for admission
to the Biology Department Graduate Program UNR (available at
http://www.scsr.nevada.edu/~bioweb/GradApp1.pdf
)
b. Photocopies of transcripts from
all post-secondary educational institutions attended
c. Photocopies of GRE results for
general aptitude (and advanced tests if taken)
d. Three letters of recommendation
from individuals familiar with your academic record
e. International Students: Copies
of TOEFL test results
Note to international students: submit all of the above
except letters of recommendation directly to Office of International Students
and Scholars-074,
The Biology Special Programs Committee will review all completed files.
Applicants will be notified of admittance, denial, or placement
on a waiting list within two months of the application deadline.
Admitted students will have one month to indicate acceptance.
All students on the waiting list will be notified of final
disposition as soon as possible after acceptances have been received.
Applications completed prior to the application review date
will receive first and full consideration.
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B. ADMISSION STANDARDS FOR
MASTER'S DEGREE
The Biology Department offers two Master Degree Programs, Plan A (research-thesis
program) and Plan B (non-thesis program), described in Section II below.
The academic requirements for admission are the same for both programs:
1. See the UNR general catalog for
minimum requirements for graduate admission.
2. To compete successfully for admission
applicants should have:
a. Minimum cumulative grade point
average of 3.00
b. Combined verbal, quantitative,
and analytical GRE score of at least 1650; an advanced test is recommended.
c. Course work in physical sciences
(3 credits), mathematics (6 credits), biology (18 credits), and chemistry
(6 credits), or equivalent
d
. For international students: a
minimum TOEFL score of 600 (paper exam) or 250 (computer exam).
3. Before admission into the Plan
A Masters Degree Program, a full time faculty member
of the Biology Department, must be identified and agree to serve as
Faculty Advisor.
Potential advisors can be identified by reviewing faculty
research interests listed on the department web page (
http://www.scsr.nevada.edu/~bioweb/faculty.html
) or the “Peterson Guide”. If
a mutually satisfactory match of student and faculty interests and field
of study cannot be obtained, admission into the research thesis program
(Plan A) cannot be granted. If interested, the student may apply to the
Plan B (non-thesis) Masters Program, or undertake advanced studies as
a Graduate Special Student. Students
accepted into the Plan B Masters Program will be advised by the Special
Programs Committee during the first semester of study or until an Advisory
Committee is formed.
Acceptance into the Master's Degree program does not obligate the Biology
Department or University to provide financial support. It is the responsibility
of the students to provide for the expense of their studies. However,
there are a number of research and teaching assistantships in the Biology
Department for which students may apply.
A typical teaching assistantship includes a stipend of $10,500,
non-resident tuition ($7,785), and the allowable portion of course fees
($94.75 of $111.00 per credit for 9-12 credits per fall and spring semester),
bringing the financial package for each recipient to more than $19,000.
In addition, the University administers an extensive program
of financial aid services. Potential students are advised to check the
II. GENERAL
REGULATIONS FOR MASTER'S DEGREES
A. DESCRIPTION OF PROGRAMS AND
DEGREE REQUIREMENTS
1. Program Description: The Biology Department offers two
Master’s Degree Programs. Plan A
is a program culminating in a research thesis for students interested in
pursuing further advanced degrees or employment in biological research.
Plan B is a program leading to a non-thesis Masters Degree,
and is intended as the terminal degree for students seeking careers in industry,
education, agencies, or other areas.
Students may select one of three areas in which to concentrate their study:
(1) Cell and Molecular Biology, (2) Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation Biology,
or (3) General Biology.
2. Degree Requirements, Plan A: A minimum of 30 semester
graduate credits in biology or related fields must be completed with a grade
of B or better, with not less than 21 of these to be earned in residence at
UNR. At least 18 credits must be in
courses at the 700 level, including six thesis credits.
Course selection will be determined in consultation with the Faculty
Advisor and Advisory Committee. The
student is required to complete an independent research project and a written
thesis suitable for publication in a peer reviewed scientific journal. At
the end of the student's research program and following acceptance of the
written thesis by the Faculty Advisor and Advisory Committee, the student
will make a public presentation of the thesis research. Following the public
presentation, the student's Advisory Committee will administer and judge a
final oral examination that serves as defense of the candidate's thesis, and
an examination of the student's general knowledge.
3. Degree Requirements, Plan B: A minimum of 32 semester
graduate credits in Biology or a related discipline must be completed with
a grade of B or better, with not less than 23 of these to be earned in residence
at UNR. At least 15 credits must be
in courses at the 700 level. A research
thesis is not required, but a scholarly paper must be prepared and presented.
The paper may be in the form of a scholarly review and synthesis of a current
topic in biology or of a grant proposal in a format appropriate to a funding
agency. Following acceptance of the written paper, the student's Advisory
Committee will administer an oral examination which covers
both general knowledge of the candidate's field and in depth analysis of
the topic of the candidate's study. Passing the oral examination is
determined by the Advisory Committee, and is necessary to complete the degree
requirements.
It is strongly recommended that the required course work for either Plan
A or Plan B degree be completed within the first two years of residency. Under
appropriate circumstances, it is possible to transfer from one of these programs
into the other. All requirements for
either degree must be satisfied within the period of
4 calendar years immediately proceeding the granting of the degree.
III. SUGGESTED SCHEDULE OF
CLASSES FOR Plan B MASTER'S PROGRAMS
A. Cell and Molecular Biology (CMB)
Year
Semester 1
BCH 705 (4) Molecular Genetics
BIOL 606 (3) Molecular Biology Laboratory
BIOL 695 (1) Seminar
Semester 2
CMB 710 (4) Molecular Cell Biology
BIOL 691 (2) Independent Study (Lab in Genetics and Cell
Biology)
BIOL 695 (1) Seminar
Summer 1
BIOL792 (3) Special Problems (directed study or research).
An independent study course resulting in a paper consisting
of a scholarly review and synthesis of a current topic in biology or a grant
proposal in a format appropriate to a major funding agency.
Year
BIOL 792 (3) A continuation of an
independent study course resulting in a paper consisting of a scholarly review
and synthesis of a current topic in biology or a Grant Proposal in a format
appropriate to a major funding agency.
BIOL or BCH electives (11) with at least 1 credit at 700
level.
Available Biology and Biochemistry Electives
BIOL 605 (3) Molecular Biology
BIOL 608 (3) Cytogenetics
BIOL 660 (3) Immunobiology
BIOL 675 (4) Neurobiology
BIOL 680 (3) Developmental Biology
BIOL 705 (3) Current Topics in Cell and Molecular Biology
BIOL 708 (2) Molecular Biology of the Chromosome
BIOL 711 (3) Advances in Cell Biology
BIOL 764 (3) Current Research in Developmental Biology
BCH 612 (
3) Plant Biochemistry
BCH 613 (
3) Molecular Biophysics
BCH 617 (
4) Metabolic Regulation
BCH 701 (
3) Experimental Biochemistry
BCH 722 (
3) Advanced Metabolism
BCH 731 (
3) Physical Biochemistry
BCH 740 (
3) Enzymology
CMB 790 (
1) Graduate Seminar
CMB 794 (
1) Colloquium
Upon agreement of the Faculty Advisor and individual Advisory and Examining
Committee, prepared students may substitute specialized electives for certain
required courses. The course work can and should be completed in 2 calendar
years.
B. Ecology, Evolution and Conservation
Biology (EECB)
Year
Semester 1
BIOL 750 (3) Research Design in Ecology
BIOL 695/EECB 794 (1) Seminar or Colloquium
BIOL (3) electives
Semester 2
BIOL 615
(4) Evolution
BIOL 695/EECB 794
(1) Seminar or Colloquium
BIOL (3) electives
Summer 1
BIOL792 (
3) Special Problems (directed study or research). An
independent study course resulting in a paper consisting of a scholarly review
and synthesis of a current topic in biology or a Grant Proposal in a format
appropriate to a major funding agency.
Year
EECB 752 (3) Topics in Evolution or EECB 753 (3) Topics in Conservation
Biology
BIOL 792 (3) –A continuation of an independent study course resulting in
a paper consisting of a scholarly review and synthesis of a current topic
in biology or a Grant Proposal in a format appropriate to a major funding
agency.
EECB and BIOL (8) electives, with at least 3 credits at 700 level
Available Biology and EECB Electives
BIOL 604 (3) Population Genetics
BIOL 615 (4) Evolution
BIOL 634 (3) Biogeography
BIOL 646 (3) Desert and Montane
Ecosytems
BIOL 681 (3) Principles of Animal Behavior
BIOL 682 (1) Animal Behavior Lab
BIOL 683 (3) Animal Communication
BIOL 685 (3) Population and Community Ecology
BIOL 712 (3) Mathematical Modeling in Ecology
BIOL
717 (3) Seminar in Arid Lands Ecology
BIOL 730 (3) Molecular Evolutionary Genetics
EECB 734 (4) Molecular Techniques in Ecology and Evolution
EECB 751 (2 or 3) Topics in Ecology
EECB 752 (2 or 3) Topics in Evolution
Upon agreement of the Faculty Advisor and individual Advisory and Examining
Committee, prepared students may substitute specialized electives for certain
required courses. The course work can and should be completed in 2 calendar
years.
C. General Biology
Year
Semester 1
BCH/BIOL 605 (4) Molecular Biology
BIOL 615 (4) Evolution
BIOL 695 (1) Seminar
Semester 2
CMB 710 (4) Molecular Cell Biology
BIOL 685 (3) Population and Community Ecology
BIOL 695 (1) Seminar
Summer 1
BIOL792 (3) Special Problems (directed study or research).
An independent study course resulting in a paper consisting
of a scholarly review and synthesis of a current topic in biology or a Grant
Proposal in a format appropriate to a major funding agency.
Year
BIOL 792 (3) A continuation of an
independent study course resulting in a paper consisting of a scholarly review
and synthesis of a current topic in biology or a Grant Proposal in a format
appropriate to a major funding agency.
BIOL, EECB, BCH, or CMB electives (11) at least 5 credits
at 700 level
Available Electives
See Electives for CMB and EECB programs
Upon agreement of the Faculty Advisor and individual Advisory and Examining
Committee, prepared students may substitute specialized electives for certain
required courses. The course work can and should be completed in 2 calendar
years.
Revised December 2002