Biotechnology, M.S.

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The biotechnology major with thesis consists of 36 hours of study: 18 hours of the following core courses - BTC 563 , BTC 559 /BTC 559L , BTC 555 /BTC 555L , BTC 557 /BTC 557L , BTC 558 /BTC 558L ; a minimum of three hours each of Thesis Research, BTC 589 , and Thesis Writing, BTC 590 ; three hours each of BTC 575 and BTC 576 and six hours of suggested electives usually in the areas of biotechnology, biology, chemistry or other suitable field. There is no option to obtain a non-thesis degree in biotechnology. Although not considered criteria for admission, all students wishing to pursue a M.S. in biotechnology must complete with a C or better the following prerequisite courses prior to enrolling in biotechnology coursework their first semester: microbiology with laboratory (equivalent of BIO 309), organic chemistry with laboratory (equivalent of CHE 330/330L or CHE 331/331L), and biochemistry (equivalent of CHE 452) preferably with laboratory (equivalent of CHE 452L). If students desire a minor or minors, they may select courses from other departments following the guidelines established elsewhere in this bulletin.

Master of Science Degree with Thesis

The thesis program is available primarily for those who plan to continue their graduate work beyond the master’s degree or who plan to enter positions involving research or scientific writing. Thesis research is offered in the fields of interest indicated in the list of graduate faculty listed in the Department of Biology . The thesis should involve at least six months of research. A qualifying exam will be given to each student at the end of their first or beginning of their second semester. The exam will be presented in an oral format and in addition to the student presenting their research proposal. It will probe the student’s biological and/or biotechnological knowledge base to determine whether she/he has the background to conduct their proposed research. There are four possible outcomes for this exam:

pass unconditionally
conditionally pass
fail with the option to retake
fail with no option to retake

If a student’s graduate committee determines that the student conditionally passed the exam, the committee will outline coursework that must be completed during the time the student is enrolled in the program. If the graduate committee determines that the student failed with the option to retake the exam, the student must retake and pass unconditionally or conditionally pass no later than the end of their second full semester. Failed exams can only be repeated one time if initially given the option to retake the exam. Students who do not pass their retake exam or whose graduate committee determined they failed with no option to retake their initial qualifying exam will be removed from the thesis track and given two options:

remain in the biology program as a non-thesis track student following the guidelines below for the non-thesis option
transfer to the non-thesis M.S.N.S. program (described here )

On completion of the thesis and other requirements for the degree, the student will be given a final oral examination primarily over the thesis by members of the committee and other members of the graduate faculty suggested by the dean of Research and Graduate Studies. For further details concerning these requirements, refer to the section of this bulletin that describes the overall procedure and preparation of the thesis. There are three possible outcomes for the final oral exam:

pass unconditionally
conditionally pass
fail with the option to retake

If a student’s graduate committee determines that the student conditionally passed the final exam, the committee will outline specific conditions that must be met. These conditions must be completed and the committee unconditionally pass the student prior to graduation. If a student’s graduate committee determines that the student failed the final oral exam with the option to retake, the student must retake the exam the following full semester. Failed exams can only be repeated once. If a failed exam is retaken, and the committee again determines that the student failed the exam, the student is given two options:

remain in the biology program as a non-thesis track student following the guidelines below for the non-thesis option
transfer to the non-thesis M.S.N.S. program (described here )

All students must successfully present a departmental seminar over her/his thesis research. Those students graduating during the summer must present their seminar during the preceding spring semester. No semester hours of Advanced Graduate Studies (BIO 575 or BIO 576 ) may be taken without permission of the departmental chair.