Set to open in summer 2020, Saint Louis University's new ISE building will be a showcase facility where undergraduate and graduate science and engineering students and faculty gather to learn, collaborate and experiment. It will feature innovative teaching environments and flexible lab spaces.
Saint Louis University's Master of Science in Biology offers students the chance to gain experience in laboratory research, including experimental design, interpretation of data and scientific writing.
SLU's Master of Science in Biology degree requires a formal research project and thesis and is excellent preparation for continued graduate studies at the doctoral level or for employment at environmental, industrial or research companies. It can also lay the groundwork for careers in academic, private or government sectors.
Biology students at Saint Louis University have access to outstanding facilities on campus and at the University's Reis Biological Station. Collaborations with neighboring institutions such as Washington University in St. Louis, the University of Missouri St. Louis, the Missouri Botanical Garden, the Saint Louis Zoo and the Danforth Plant Science Center further expand possibilities for biological research and learning.
Students interested in the M.S. program in biology may also consider SLU's M.A. in biology program.
The M.S. in biology requires at least 30 post-baccalaureate credits, six credits of which will be thesis research.
Past students in SLU's biology master's program have gone on to medical school or further study in doctoral programs and careers as research scientists, teachers, college faculty, and in various capacities in pharmaceutical companies and government agencies.
Applicants should possess adequate undergraduate preparation in biology with a minimum 3.0 GPA in science and math courses.
Suggested courses include biology (a minimum of 18 upper-division credits); chemistry (a minimum of eight upper-division credits including two semesters of organic chemistry or one semester of organic chemistry and another of biochemistry); physics (two semesters); mathematics (such as a course in calculus). A formal minor is not permitted.
For students interested in ecology, evolution or systematics, additional coursework in some of the following areas is also recommended: genetics, general ecology, evolution, introductory statistics, general botany and a taxonomically oriented course. For students interested in cell or molecular biology, additional coursework in some of the following areas is recommended: genetics, biochemistry, cell biology, physiology, molecular biology, microbiology or immunology.
All admission policies and requirements for domestic students apply to international students along with the following:
Students who want to be considered for an assistantship should submit their application by Dec. 15. Applications submitted after this deadline will be considered if assistantships are available.
Faculty committee members examine each applicant's materials and make recommendations. Consideration is given for matching applicant interests with faculty research areas.
Applicants should outline their research goals in their professional goals statement and should identify and correspond with faculty members whose area of research matches their interests early in the application process.
For priority consideration for a graduate assistantship, applicants should complete their applications by the program admission deadlines listed. Fellowships and assistantships provide a stipend and may include health insurance and a tuition scholarship for the duration of the award.
For more information, visit the student financial services office online at http://www.slu.edu/financial-aid.
The Master of Science in Biology degree requires a minimum of 30 credits, including 24 credits of structured coursework and six credits of thesis research. Courses may be chosen from upper-level electives within SLU's Department of Biology or related departments; coursework may be tailored to the research interests in consultation with advisory committees of students.
The following requirements govern which courses may be counted toward a degree:
Students must be enrolled in a course (even if it is for zero credits) every fall and spring semester to maintain standing in the program; students on 11-month assistantships must also enroll in the summer
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
Required Courses | ||
BIOL 5800 | Research Colloquium (taken for 0 credits in the student’s first year, 1 hr in the student’s second year) | 1 |
BIOL 5860 | Scientific Communication | 1 |
BIOL 5990 | Thesis Research (6 credits distributed over multiple semesters) | 6 |
Seminars | ||
BIOL 5810 | Department Seminar (must be taken each semester enrolled) | 0 |
Take two semesters of the following: | ||
BIOL 5820 | Graduate Seminar in Cell and Molecular Regulation (two semesters total; may be taken for 1-2 credits) | 2-4 |
or BIOL 5840 | Graduate Seminar in Ecology, Evolution and Systematics | |
Elective Courses | 18-20 | |
Elective Courses (selected in consultation with the student’s mentoring committee) | ||
Total Credits | 30 |
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
BIOL 4090 | Plant Ecology | 3 |
BIOL 4100 | Natural History of Vertebrates | 4 |
BIOL 4120 | Field Botany | 5 |
BIOL 4130 | Field Mammalogy | 5 |
BIOL 4140 | Field Ornithology | 5 |
BIOL 4150 | Nerve Cell Mechanisms in Behavior | 3 |
BIOL 4160 | Microbial Ecology and Molecular Evolution | 4 |
BIOL 4200 | Aquatic Ecology | 4 |
BIOL 4260 | Biology of Amphibians and Reptiles | 4 |
BIOL 4280 | Biology of Fishes | 4 |
BIOL 4320 | Cave Biology | 4 |
BIOL 4330 | Spring Flora of the Ozarks | 4 |
BIOL 4360 | Animal Behavior | 3 |
BIOL 4370 | Animal Behavior Lab | 1 |
BIOL 4410 | Comparative Animal Physiology | 3 |
BIOL 4440 | Vertebrate Histology: Structure and Function of Tissues | 4 |
BIOL 4480 | Conservation Biology | 3 |
BIOL 4510 | Behavioral Endocrinology | 3 |
BIOL 4540 | Human Systemic Physiology | 3 |
BIOL 4640 | General Microbiology | 3 |
BIOL 4650 | General Microbiology Laboratory | 2 |
BIOL 4720 | Cancer Biology | 3 |
BIOL 4910 | Internship in Conservation | 1-6 |
BIOL 4912 | Internship in Plant Science | 1-3 |
BIOL 5000 | Problems in Vertebrate Morphology | 2-5 |
BIOL 5030 | Genomics | 3 |
BIOL 5050 | Molecular Techniques Lab | 2 |
BIOL 5070 | Advanced Biological Chemistry | 3 |
BIOL 5080 | Advanced Cell Biology | 3 |
BIOL 5090 | Biometry | 4 |
BIOL 5190 | Geographic Information Systems in Biology | 3 |
BIOL 5350 | Current Topics in Cell Biology | 2 |
BIOL 5400 | Problems in Genetics | 1-4 |
BIOL 5480 | Conservation Biology | 3 |
BIOL 5550 | Advanced Ecology | 3 |
BIOL 5560 | Advanced Evolution | 3 |
BIOL 5610 | Principles of Develop Biology | 3 |
BIOL 5630 | Concepts of Immunobiology | 3 |
BIOL 5640 | Advanced Microbiology | 3 |
BIOL 5670 | Advanced Population Biology | 3 |
BIOL 5700 | Advanced Molecular Biology | 3 |
BIOL 5780 | Molecular Phylogenetic Analysis | 3 |
BIOL 5820 | Graduate Seminar in Cell and Molecular Regulation | 1-2 |
BIOL 5840 | Graduate Seminar in Ecology, Evolution and Systematics | 2 |
BIOL 6150 | Neural Basis of Behavior | 3 |
Students must maintain a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.00 in all graduate/professional courses.
Roadmaps are recommended semester-by-semester plans of study for programs and assume full-time enrollment unless otherwise noted.
Courses and milestones designated as critical (marked with !) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation. Transfer credit may change the roadmap.
This roadmap should not be used in the place of regular academic advising appointments. All students are encouraged to meet with their advisor/mentor each semester. Requirements, course availability and sequencing are subject to change.
Year One | ||
---|---|---|
Fall | Credits | |
4000/5000 level electives 1 | 5-6 | |
BIOL 5810 | Department Seminar | 0 |
BIOL 5800 | Research Colloquium | 0 |
BIOL 5990 | Thesis Research | 1 |
Credits | 6-7 | |
Spring | ||
4000/5000 level electives 1 | 4 | |
BIOL 5810 | Department Seminar | 0 |
BIOL 5820 or BIOL 5840 |
Graduate Seminar in Cell and Molecular Regulation or Graduate Seminar in Ecology, Evolution and Systematics |
2 |
BIOL 5860 | Scientific Communication | 1 |
BIOL 5990 | Thesis Research | 1 |
Credits | 8 | |
Summer | ||
BIOL 5990 | Thesis Research | 2 |
Credits | 2 | |
Year Two | ||
Fall | ||
4000/5000 level electives 1 | 6 | |
BIOL 5810 | Department Seminar | 0 |
BIOL 5800 | Research Colloquium | 1 |
BIOL 5990 | Thesis Research | 1 |
Credits | 8 | |
Spring | ||
Completion of written Thesis and Presentation of Thesis Research | ||
4000/5000 level electives 1 | 3 | |
BIOL 5810 | Department Seminar | 0 |
BIOL 5990 | Thesis Research | 1 |
BIOL 5820 or BIOL 5840 |
Graduate Seminar in Cell and Molecular Regulation or Graduate Seminar in Ecology, Evolution and Systematics |
2-1 |
Credits | 6-5 | |
Total Credits | 30 |
1 | A maximum of 6 hours of 4000-level courses can counted toward the MS; please see detailed requirements and sample schedules in Program Notes below. |
Year One | ||
---|---|---|
Fall | Credits | |
BIOL 5050 | Molecular Techniques Lab | 2 |
BIOL 5700 | Advanced Molecular Biology | 3 |
BIOL 5800 | Research Colloquium | 0 |
BIOL 5990 | Thesis Research | 1 |
BIOL 5810 | Department Seminar | 0 |
Credits | 6 | |
Spring | ||
BIOL 5070 | Advanced Biological Chemistry | 3 |
BIOL 5820 | Graduate Seminar in Cell and Molecular Regulation | 2 |
BIOL 5860 | Scientific Communication | 1 |
BIOL 5990 | Thesis Research | 1 |
BIOL 5810 | Department Seminar | 0 |
Credits | 7 | |
Summer | ||
BIOL 5990 | Thesis Research | 2 |
BIOL 5980 | Graduate Reading Course | 1 |
Credits | 3 | |
Year Two | ||
Fall | ||
BIOL 5030 | Genomics | 3 |
BIOL 5640 | Advanced Microbiology | 3 |
BIOL 5800 | Research Colloquium | 1 |
BIOL 5990 | Thesis Research | 1 |
BIOL 5810 | Department Seminar | 0 |
Credits | 8 | |
Spring | ||
BIOL 5630 | Concepts of Immunobiology | 3 |
BIOL 5820 | Graduate Seminar in Cell and Molecular Regulation | 2 |
BIOL 5990 | Thesis Research | 1 |
BIOL 5810 | Department Seminar | 0 |
Credits | 6 | |
Total Credits | 30 |
Year One | ||
---|---|---|
Fall | Credits | |
BIOL 5550 | Advanced Ecology | 3 |
BIOL 5030 | Genomics | 3 |
BIOL 5800 | Research Colloquium | 0 |
BIOL 5990 | Thesis Research | 1 |
BIOL 5810 | Department Seminar | 0 |
Credits | 7 | |
Spring | ||
BIOL 5110 | Advanced Sex, Evolution and Behavior | 3 |
BIOL 5840 | Graduate Seminar in Ecology, Evolution and Systematics | 2 |
BIOL 5860 | Scientific Communication | 1 |
BIOL 5990 | Thesis Research | 1 |
BIOL 5810 | Department Seminar | 0 |
Credits | 7 | |
Summer | ||
BIOL 5990 | Thesis Research | 2 |
Credits | 2 | |
Year Two | ||
Fall | ||
BIOL 5480 | Conservation Biology | 3 |
BIOL 5560 | Advanced Evolution | 3 |
BIOL 5800 | Research Colloquium | 1 |
BIOL 5990 | Thesis Research | 1 |
BIOL 5810 | Department Seminar | 0 |
Credits | 8 | |
Spring | ||
BIOL 5840 | Graduate Seminar in Ecology, Evolution and Systematics | 2 |
BIOL 5### | Ecology/Evolutionary Biology Elective | 3 |
BIOL 5990 | Thesis Research | 1 |
BIOL 5810 | Department Seminar | 0 |
Credits | 6 | |
Total Credits | 30 |