Mar 28, 2024  
Graduate Catalog 2016-2017 
    
Graduate Catalog 2016-2017 [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Master of Arts in Biological Sciences


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Advisor: Silvia Rossbach,
3923 Wood Hall

The Master of Arts in Biological Sciences is a non-thesis, coursework-based degree covering the broad areas of biology. The program is designed to provide flexibility in coursework to enhance student’s breadth and depth in numerous sub-disciplines in biology while meeting individual needs and interests. The degree may serve as preparation for continued graduate or professional study or for positions in the private or public sector.

Admission Requirements


To be admitted into the master’s program, both departmental and University requirements must be met. Application materials must be obtained from both the Department of Biological Sciences at wmich.edu/biology/academics/master-arts or (269) 387-5600 and the Office of Admissions at www.wmich.edu/apply/graduate/ or (269) 387-2000 for domestic students or Office of International Services and Student Affairs at wmich.edu/internationaladmissions/apply or (269) 387-5865 for international students.

  1. Completed university and departmental application forms, including fees;
  2. Official transcripts from all colleges and universities previously attended, indication that the applicant has
    • earned a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution with an overall grade point average of at least 3.0 and
    • taken appropriate courses in biology, chemistry, physics, and mathematics;
  3. Official scores for the verbal, quantitative, and analytical sections of the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) general test (submitted to the Office of Admissions);
  4. Three letters of recommendation;
  5. A cover letter highlighting the student’s accomplishments to date and indicating how graduate work at Western Michigan University will further the applicant’s career goals.

 

Program Requirements


The Master of Arts in Biological Sciences requires 30 hours of coursework. A minimum of 15 hours of these credits must be at the 6000-level or above.

Minimum Grade Requirement


The student must receive a grade of “B” or better in their graduate courses.

Graduate Core Courses


Master’s students are required to take three of the following six graduate core courses:

Colloquium


Each student in required to take two hours of:

Electives


Nineteen credit hours of elective courses are required. Elective courses are selected with the advice and approval of the Graduate Advisor. Electives are selected from biological sciences or approved cognate courses. Up to nine credit hours of coursework in related areas from other departments can be included.

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