Biology M.S.
CIP: 260101
Program Admission Requirements
The Department of Natural Sciences reserves the right of final decision in accepting graduate students to the graduate degree program in the department. Acceptance to the two-year MS in Biology program in the Department of Natural Sciences will be determined by the Biology MS Program Coordinator in conjunction with the Biology Graduate faculty and the Biology Graduate Committee (appointed by the department chairperson and/or discipline coordinator) according to the following requirements and policies.
Eligibility
Compliance with all of the eligibility requirements of the Graduate School as set forth in this catalog. Acceptance to graduate study by the Dean of the Graduate School is required, along with the following.
Completion of a four-year undergraduate degree from an accredited college or university AND one of the following:
An undergraduate grade point average (GPA) of 2.75 (4.00 scale). An applicant with a GPA of 2.50 to 2.74 can apply to be accepted conditionally. If accepted, the student would need to complete the first eight graduate hours with a 3.0 GPA or be subject to suspension for one calendar year.
A student who does not meet the GPA criteria could apply to the university as a non-degree-seeking student. If the student achieves a 3.0 in his/her first eight hours of graduate study, the student may reapply but must undergo the full applications and admission review process. Admission to the department is not guaranteed.
A satisfactory score on the GRE general test. A quantitative (Q) plus verbal (V) score of at least 286 is considered minimal. The analytical writing section must also be submitted.
Applicant must score 3.5 or higher on the analytical writing measure of the GRE.
A student who does not meet the required GRE score may be accepted conditionally to the program.
Successful completion of another Master's Degree from a regionally accredited institution of higher education with at least a 2.75 GPA.
Applicants must submit their transcripts for review as part of graduate application requirements. Student portfolios will be evaluated on a holistic basis by the Graduate faculty to assess the applicant’s qualifications, including previous coursework. Additional courses (such as calculus, computer science, and statistics) may be required for accepted graduate students depending upon the anticipated graduate program of the applicant. Acceptability of courses and additional requirements will be determined by the Biology MS Program Coordinator, Primary Advisor, and Biology Graduate faculty.
Students must contact and secure an appropriately qualified graduate faculty advisor in conjunction with their application efforts. An application cannot be officially accepted until a faculty member has agreed in writing to accept the applicant as an advisee and mentor their project. A listing of biology graduate faculty is available on the Natural Sciences webpage. Applicants are encouraged to review the research interests of faculty within the department and contact them about potential projects within their laboratory. Priority is given to applicants who have identified a research advisor willing to guide them through the completion of their thesis, scholarly paper, or professional capstone experience. The Biology MS Program Coordinator is available to assist prospective students with faculty mentor matching.
Initial Acceptance Procedures and Policies
When applying for admission, the following information should be sent to the Graduate Office:
Official copies of all the applicant’s undergraduate and any graduate transcripts;
A copy of the applicant’s score on the Graduate Record Exam and writing assessment may be submitted IF the exam is being used as an optional form of documentation for admissions requirements (See “Program Admission Requirements” above) AND 3.5 or higher on analytical writing measure.
Two letters of recommendation from individuals who can attest to the applicant’s ability to do graduate work.
A one or two-page (typed) statement of purpose declaring the area of concentration the applicant is interested in and why along with the applicant’s goals.
After declaring his or her area of concentration, the applicant should contact the faculty specialist in that area to be his or her major and thesis advisor. The faculty specialist will determine if the interests of the applicant are compatible with his or her expertise and if he or she is able to act as the applicant’s advisor. The biology faculty reserves the right to determine which students and how many they are able to advise. Upon mutual agreement between applicant and faculty specialist, the faculty specialist would then function as the thesis and major advisor of the graduate student. The Biology MS Program Coordinator shall, however, maintain a file on each graduate student for record-keeping purposes. It is a requirement for acceptance of the application that an appropriate graduate advisor has been engaged and verified by written consent (See “Program Admission Requirements” above).
The applicant’s academic file will be forwarded to the department and will be assessed by the Biology MS Program Coordinator and Biology Graduate faculty. The Biology MS Program Coordinator will notify the Graduate Office of its decision and of any academic deficiencies an accepted applicant may have. The successful applicant who has any deficiencies will be accepted on a provisional status until the deficiencies are corrected. The Graduate Office will notify the student of their application status.
For matriculated students, a Degree Audit Form detailing the student’s curriculum plan must be filed with the Graduate Office during the first semester of enrollment. This form should be completed in conjunction with the student’s primary graduate project advisor.
General Requirements and Policies
All requirements of the Graduate School must be met.
A grade point average of 3.00 in all graduate work is required for graduation.
Not more than six semester hours of “C” grades may be applied toward the master’s degree.
A maximum of 12 transfer credits meeting Graduate School requirements may be applied toward the master’s degree if approved by the Biology MS Program Coordinator and/or primary advisor.
For Option 1: A thesis defense and/or seminar covering the thesis or research paper (as applicable) must be given in the semester of graduation. For Option 2: A seminar covering the scholarly paper must be given during a semester prior to graduation or in the semester of graduation. For Option 3: Successful completion of the Capstone I & II courses as verified by the area-specific advisor through course outcome achievement.
If an advisor is unsatisfied with the progress of the student or if personality conflicts arise, the advisor may request that the student be removed from the project or area of specialization, or removed from the Biology program with the approval of the Biology Graduate faculty.
A written comprehensive examination is required for all students receiving the Thesis or Scholarly Paper M.S. degree. The comprehensive assessment may take one (or more) of several forms: take-home essay(s), timed sit-down essay(s), reflective portfolio essay(s), or oral exam(s). Students must achieve the minimum of an overall “B” grade in order to pass. The assessment may be repeated up to three times according to existing graduate policy.
Research, Scholarly Paper, and Comprehensive Examination Committee Formation and Responsibilities
Upon acceptance by a major advisor, the graduate student in consultation with his or her major advisor should select a committee to evaluate the student’s comprehensive examination and for Option 1, to evaluate the student’s research/thesis. For Option 2, the committee will also evaluate the student’s scholarly paper and presentation.
Transition Between MS Program Options
If a student enrolled in Option 1: Thesis desires to transition to Option 2: Scholarly Paper, this student may transfer a maximum of three Thesis Research (04698) credits to apply toward the 26-28 content hour component of their Option 2 degree. The student must also enroll for a minimum of one Scholarly Paper credit hour (04697) and additional hours as needed to complete their scholarly paper under the direction of a major graduate advisor. The student should also be prepared to take any additional content electives needed to make the minimum of 26 content hours required in Option 2. Thesis (04699) credits may be applied to the Option 2 degree total, but do not count toward the content course requirements. The primary graduate advisor for Option 2 must be arranged by the student before permission to transition will be granted by the Natural Sciences Graduate Coordinator and the Graduate School; this advisor can be the student’s previous thesis advisor if the match is also appropriate and copacetic for a scholarly paper project.
If a student enrolled in Option 2: Scholarly Paper desires to transition to Option 1: Thesis, this student may transfer a maximum of three Scholarly Paper (04697) credits to apply toward the 20-23 content hour component of their Option 1 degree. The student must also enroll for a minimum of three Thesis Research in Biology credit hours (04698), a minimum of one Thesis (04699) credit, and additional hours as needed to complete their research project under the direction of a major graduate advisor. The student should also be prepared to take any additional content electives needed for proficiency as directed by their major advisor and approved by the Graduate Coordinator. Additional Scholarly Paper (04697) credits above three may be applied to the Option 1 degree total, but do not count toward the content course requirements. The primary graduate advisor for Option 1 must be arranged by the student before permission to transition will be granted by the Natural Sciences Graduate Coordinator and the Graduate School; this advisor can be the student’s previous scholarly paper advisor if the match is also appropriate and copacetic for a thesis project.
If a student enrolled in Option 1 or Option 2 desires to transition to Option 3: Professional Development Experience, this student may transfer a maximum of three Scholarly Paper (04697) credits OR a maximum of three Thesis Research (04698) credits to apply toward the 25-27 content hour component of their Option 3 degree. The student must also enroll for a minimum of one Capstone I (04688) credit, Capstone II (04689), and additional Capstone hours as needed to complete their approved professional development experience under the direction of a major graduate advisor. The student should also be prepared to take any additional content electives needed for proficiency or elective deficit as directed by their major advisor and approved by the Graduate Coordinator. Additional Scholarly Paper (04697) credits above three may be applied to the Option 3 degree total, but do not count toward the content course requirements. Thesis (04699) credits may also be applied to the Option 3 degree total, but do not count toward the content course requirements. The primary graduate advisor for Option 3 must be arranged by the student before permission to transition will be granted by the Natural Sciences Graduate Coordinator and the Graduate School; this advisor can be the student’s previous scholarly paper or thesis advisor if the match is also appropriate and copacetic for capstone oversight.
Option 3 students who desire to transition to Option 1 or 2 must arrange for the consent of a primary graduate project mentor and may transfer a maximum of three total Capstone I and II credits to the content hour component of Option 1 or 2 programs. They will be required to arrange an approved plan of courses to be confirmed by their advisor and the Graduate Coordinator prior to changing programs. Students transferring from Option 3 will be required to meet all designated committee formation and comprehensive exam requirements described for Options 1 and 2 respectively.
Change of Advisor Procedure for Students and Advisors
If a graduate student wishes to change their primary advisory association while in degree progress via Options 1, 2, or 3, they should contact the Graduate Coordinator for their program to discuss the circumstances of the desire for change. The Graduate Coordinator will serve as a mediator if mediation is required. Students are encouraged to utilize the Graduate Coordinator for their program as an ombudsperson to whom they may report concerns. If a student wishes to change their primary advisor, they may do so at any point in their degree progress with the understanding that this change may extend their time to completion of the degree, and require their enrollment in additional credit hours depending on whether a track change is also associated.
It is important that the student work with the Graduate Coordinator arrange a new advisor in advance, and communicate with their former advisor and proposed transitional advisor about their intent prior to making a formal request to manage expectations for all parties.
After conferring with the Graduate Coordinator about the logistics of such a change, students should express their desire to change primary research advisor in writing via formal email request, copying the Graduate School, their current advisor, their new advisor, the Chair or Assistant Chair, and the Graduate Coordinator for their program. This request must be acknowledged by the former advisor. A written affirmation of advisee acceptance must be submitted to the Graduate Coordinator by the student’s new mentor.
If an advisor wishes to discontinue the mentoring relationship with a graduate advisee, they may do so due to:
Insufficient progress toward the degree as identified by the Graduate Catalog
Irreconcilable personal differences
Change of student degree track (student’s request)
Desire of the student to discontinue their degree
Other reasons as identified by either party or Graduate School policy
As above, a formal email request copying all interested parties is required to initiate advisory change. Transparency is valued in all aspects of advisor/student mentorship.
Advising for Graduate Admission Requirements
A minimum overall grade point average of 2.75 on the undergraduate transcript OR an overall undergraduate GPA of 2.50 to 2.74 and a 3.0 GPA on six hours of required graduate coursework at Northwest in the major program where admission is requested.
Professional Development Experience
Professional development experience capstone class may take the form of an internship or other prescribed experience appropriate to the discipline of the specific graduate program. Students must have an approved capstone contract completed with the NW Graduate Program Coordinator before the student will be allowed to enroll in capstone courses.
Graduate Assistantships Enrollment Requirements
The graduate assistant must enroll in and complete a minimum of 6 hours with at least 3 hours at the graduate level per semester to be eligible for a Graduate Assistantship. Incomplete coursework from previous semesters does not count towards the number of hours for eligibility. Students must also maintain an overall 3.00-grade point average and a 3.00-grade point average in graduate courses each term of enrollment to be a Graduate Assistant.
The maximum number of hours that a Graduate Assistant may enroll in is 18 hours per semester. Students enrolling in more than 18 hours must complete and file a Petition for Excess Credit with the Graduate Office.
Graduate Assistantships Work Requirements
Graduate Assistantships require 20 hours of work per week during each semester. Natural Sciences Graduate Assistant is required to provide 3 office hours a week per semester.
Hours in excess of 20 are not allowed. If a graduate assistant feels their workload cannot be completed within the 20-hour limit they must communicate their concerns and consult with their immediate supervisor to shift the workload or consider other alternatives. A Graduate Assistant may not hold other employment on the Northwest campus. In extraordinary circumstances, a written request for additional work hours may be made to the Graduate Dean. Any additional work hours will be paid by the supervising department from regular student labor funds.
Teaching/SI Assistant
Teaching: Assist in the set-up of laboratory, monitor laboratories, assist students with problems, operate audiovisual equipment, assist in the preparation of course materials, assist in administering and scoring examinations, monitor classes as requested, and other duties as may be assigned from time to time.
SI: Work one-on-one with small groups of students to provide supplemental instruction.
Application for Graduate Assistantships
Applicants must submit a cover letter and resume along with their application, a must be fully accepted in a graduate program. They also must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 in 8 hours of graduate work OR 2.75 GPA in an undergraduate degree.
Traditional 2-year Masters students are eligible for up to two consecutive graduate assistantships (4 semesters of employment) conditionally upon continued positive performance evaluations. In extenuating circumstances, students may petition the Graduate School for eligibility extensions beyond four semesters.
This competitive placement will consist of an interview and a content exam/scenario-based questionnaire. Availability of assistantship positions fluctuates based on graduate office funding; historically the Department of Natural Sciences has had six possible lines available on a rotating basis.
Areas of Concentration
Although there are common courses for all biology graduate students, each individual student selects, in conjunction with his or her cooperating professor, his or her field of specialty and specific coursework. Students are expected to have a broad background in biology as well as the research concentration and/or the topic of the scholarly paper. Specific areas of study will depend upon the specialties of the biology faculty.
For each area of concentration, some specific coursework may be required. The Biology Graduate Committee, in consultation with the area specialist, will indicate specific coursework to an applying graduate student.
Area of Concentration: Biomedical / Molecular
Area of Concentration: Environmental/ Organismal Biology
Option 1: Thesis
Traditional Biology Master
Option 1 (Thesis), Option 2 (Non-Thesis, Scholarly Paper), and Option 3 (Non-Thesis, Professional Development Experience)
Completion of a minimum of 30 hours of approved graduate credit (courses numbered at 500 or above) is required. Fifteen hours must be at the 600 level or above. A maximum of 16 approved hours may be taken outside of the department.
Required Courses
Total Credit Hours: 30
Completion and Defense of an Approved Research Project and Thesis
The thesis project may involve a maximum of 11 hours (8 hours thesis research and 3 hours thesis) toward a minimum of 30 hours. No credit or grade will be issued for these courses until completion of the thesis and research, including the oral defense of the thesis.
Option 2: Scholarly Paper
Required Courses
| Approved Electives | 26-28 |
| BIOL 04680 | Graduate Seminar in Biology | 1 |
| BIOL 04697 | Scholarly Paper in Biology | 1 to 5 |
Total Credit Hours: 30
Completion and Presentation of the Scholarly Paper
The scholarly paper (04-697) may involve a maximum of 5 hours toward a minimum of 30 credits. No credit or grade will be issued for these hours until completion of the project, paper, and seminar (presentation).
Option 3: Non-Thesis, Professional Development Experience
Required Courses
Total Credit Hours: 30
Completion of Approved Professional Development Experience
Professional Capstone courses I and II may contribute a maximum of 4 hours toward the minimum of 30 credits. Completion of Professional Capstone I and II may be an approved internship, or other prescribed experience appropriate to the Natural Sciences discipline of concentration is required for completion of Option 3.
Accelerated Biology MS
Accelerated Biology MS. The program allows outstanding students within 30 hours of completing their undergraduate degree to concurrently pursue a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in Biology, and a Master of Science (M. S.) degree in Biology; an area of concentration in Biomedical /Molecular or Environmental/ Organismal Biology, and to complete graduation requirements for both degrees within five years at Northwest Missouri State University (Northwest).
Accelerated BS/MS Biology Admission Requirements
The Natural Sciences MS Program Coordinator will review the application to assess each applicant’s eligibility:
Students who are currently pursuing a B.S. from the Department of Natural Sciences at Northwest or students who are willing to transfer into Northwest from a different institution within the United States are eligible to apply for this program.
A student must apply for admission to the program no sooner than the end of the sophomore year (graded courses up to a total of 60 hours) and no later than the graded courses up to a total of 90 hours.
The student must also satisfy one of the following GPA criteria. (both overall GPA and major GPA are on the 4.0 scale)
Overall GPA >= 3.0 and major GPA >=3.3
or
Overall GPA is between 2.90 and 2.99, and major GPA is between 3.0 and 3.32 with any of the following test scores. (Before the program coordinator is allowed to review the application, the Graduate school must verify one of these scores):
A minimum ACT score of 22
A minimum SAT score of 1100
A minimum GRE score of 290
Applicants must satisfy these criteria at the beginning of the fifth year:
Compliance with all the eligibility requirements of the Graduate School as outlined in the Graduate Catalog.
Applicants are expected to have completed these courses with a minimum letter grade of 'C':
Biomedical /Molecular, or Environmental/ Organismal Biology
Principles of Biology and laboratory
Zoology and laboratory OR Botany and laboratory
General Microbiology OR Cell Biology
General Chemistry II and laboratory
Applicants must also sit a competency exam in the area of concentration for their associated Accelerated program. Students are required to score at least 70% overall to be considered or the program.
Available seats in limited cohort enrollments will be allotted by highest GPA + competency exam score. Should all objective metrics be equal for an applicant cohort, the ad hoc Graduate Committee for the appropriate Division will decide seat award.
Students are not eligible to apply to the accelerated BS/MS program after being awarded their B.S. degree. However, they have an alternative path to get an M.S. degree. Contact the Natural Sciences MS Program Coordinator for more details.
Advising for courses in the Junior and Senior years
The program will begin after a student is admitted to this program. A student can enroll in graduate courses only after the sophomore year.
The Natural Sciences MS Program Coordinator, in conjunction with the assigned discipline-specific secondary advisor, will help the student develop a plan for enrolling in classes to complete both degrees within a five-year timeframe.
During the junior or senior years, a student can take graduate courses under the following conditions:
Students can enroll in 500 level courses for undergraduate and graduate dual credit.
During the junior year, students may take a maximum of 4 hours of graduate credit (either 500 or 600 level) per semester but with no more than 16 total credit hours taken.
During the senior year: students may take a maximum of 4 hours of graduate credit (either 500 or 600 level) per semester with no more than 16 total credit hours taken.
The Dean of Arts and Sciences and the Associate Provost of Graduate Studies and Special Programs can approve exceptions only in the senior year.
If a course has already been taken for undergraduate credit, it cannot be overridden for graduate credit.
Required Courses
| Graduate Courses in Area of Concentration | 20-24 |
| BIOL 04622 | Environmental Issues | 4 |
| BIOL 04688 | Professional Capstone I | 1 to 3 |
| BIOL 04689 | Professional Capstone II | 1 to 3 |
Total Credit Hours: 30
Completion of Approved Professional Development Experience
Professional Capstone courses I and II may contribute a maximum of 4 hours toward the minimum of 30-hour degree. Completion of Professional Capstone I and II may be an approved internship, or other prescribed experience appropriate to the Natural Sciences discipline of concentration is required for completion of the Accelerated MS in Biology.