Department of Biological Sciences
Graduate Degree Requirements

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Refer to the Graduate School Bulletin for procedures, deadlines, and other information for admission to the graduate program in Biological Sciences.

The graduate program in the Department of Biological Sciences at Youngstown State University leads to a Master of Science degree with opportunities in a wide variety of fields. The program seeks to develop the qualities of independent thinking and problem solving skills, with a goal of preparing students for research and academic careers.

Students may pursue the M.S. degree in Biological Sciences in one of two options. The Thesis Option is a research-intensive program designed to provide students a strong foundation in fundamental biological principles and theories through coursework and the completion of a faculty-guided research project (thesis). The Non-thesis Option allows students to gain an in-depth understanding of biology through coursework and the writing of a graduate research paper.

The complete application for admission, including all supporting materials, should be received by the School of Graduate Studies and Research at least four weeks before the beginning of the term in which the applicant plans to register. YSU admits graduate students in the fall, spring, and summer semesters.

Admission Requirements

Note: Students with deficiencies in these areas should contact the Biology graduate director prior to applying for admission.

Degree Requirements - Thesis Option

Under this option, students work on a faculty guided, original research project and gain practical experience in research techniques and data collection. It is designed for students who wish to pursue careers in academic or industrial laboratories or continue toward the Ph.D. degree.

A minimum of 36 semester hours of credit is required for the M.S. degree with Thesis option. Students must submit an acceptable thesis proposal, pass an oral review of the proposal, submit an acceptable thesis reporting the results of a faculty-supervised research project, and pass an oral defense of the thesis. All students must take 2 semester hours of Seminar in Biological Sciences (Biology 6988) and one semester hour of Topics (Biology 6996-7000). Students may repeat Research Methods - Thesis (Biology 6991) to a maximum of 6 semester hours and may repeat Master's Thesis Research (Biology 6990) to a maximum of 6 semester hours. An additional 21 semesters hours of course work is required, of which a maximum of 8 semester hours may be at the 5000 level. A minimum grade-point average of 3.0 is required for graduation.

Required Coursework

Seminar must be taken the first time during the Fall semester (Biology faculty give presentations). Seminar must be taken the second time during Spring semester (Thesis graduate students present their thesis proposal and thesis data. Non-thesis students present their written Research Review.)

A review of the current scientific literature in a selected area of biology. Topics may be taken any semester.

This course is designed to be taken twice (3+3 s.h.), during which thesis students must write their Thesis Proposal. The student must first consult with their faculty advisor to determine a thesis research project. During the first semester this course is taken, the student must write the Literature Review section of their thesis proposal and have this section approved by their faculty advisor. This review must be based on information obtained from primary scientific journal articles. The second time the course is taken, the student must complete their proposal (including Specific Aims and Materials & Methods sections), have the entire proposal approved by all members of their committee, and give an oral presentation to their committee. The Literature Review section must be completed during the first semester and the entire proposal and oral presentation must be completed during the second semester. A letter course grade is determined by the committee at the end of each semester.

This may be used for independent thesis research time and writing/defending the thesis. Up to 6 s.h. may be taken each semester. More than 6 s.h. in total may be taken, but only the first 6 s.h. count toward graduation.

The student must complete a written Thesis that includes Literature Review, Specific Aims, Materials and Methods, Results, and Discussion sections. The student must then give an oral, public presentation to the members of their committee. The oral presentation may not be scheduled until after the written thesis has been approved by all members of the committee.

Total Hours: 36 s.h. minimum

Degree Requirements - Nonthesis Option

This option provides students with a strong understanding of biological theories and principles, but does not require an original research project. It is designed for students whose future goal is a non-research oriented career such as professional school or pharmaceutical sales.

A minimum of 38 semester hours of credit is required for the M.S. degree with Non-thesis option. Students must take Research Methods - Nonthesis (Biology 6994, 2 semester hours), which requires the submission of an acceptable Literature Review paper and the oral presentation of this paper before their Graduate Committee. Students must also take 2 semester hours of Seminar in Biological Sciences (Biology 6988) and one semester hour of Topics (Biology 6996-7000). An additional 33 semester hours of coursework must also be completed, with no more than 12 semester hours being at the 5000 level. Students must also pass a comprehensive exam administered by their Graduate Committee and achieve a minimum grade-point average of 3.0 for graduation.

Required Coursework

Seminar must be taken the first time during the Fall semester (Biology faculty give presentations). Seminar must be taken the second time during Spring semester (Thesis graduate students present their thesis proposal and thesis data. Non-thesis students present their written Research Review.)

A review of the current scientific literature in a selected area of biology. Topics may be taken any semester.

During this course, non-thesis students must develop and write a substantial Literature Review paper, based on a topic determined jointly by the student and their faculty advisor. The paper must be utilize information obtained from primary scientific journal articles. The paper must be approved by all members of the committee. After approval of the written work, the student must give an oral presentation to their committee. The paper and oral presentation must be completed during the semester that the Research Methods course is taken. A letter course grade is determined by the committee at the end of the semester. This course may be taken only one time.

Graduate Research Experience, BIOL 6989, is available as an independent study course for non-thesis student who wish to work on a research project for a limited time. 1-3 s.h. per semester; maximum total of 3 s.h..

The student must pass a comprehensive examination prior to graduation. The nature of the exam (written, oral) and the material covered is determined solely by the faculty committee members, with each member having an equal component. The student should consult with each committee member several months in advance to determine the requirements for this exam.

Total Hours: 38 s.h. minimum

Graduate Assistantships

For more information, refer to the Handbook for Graduate Assistants.