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University of Colorado Denver College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

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Biology Master of Science

The Department of Integrative Biology Master of Science program offers students the opportunity to receive advanced training and research experience in an area of specialization of one of our nationally and internationally recognized faculty members.

The MS program in biology is designed to prepare graduates for careers in research and teaching; for employment in business, industry and government; for existing career advancement; and for continuing post-baccalaureate work in PhD and professional programs. It is highly recommended that prospective applicants contact Dr. Timberley Roane to discuss the Department's program before applying.

Students in the biology MS program work closely with research faculty in formulating and conducting an investigative research project, presenting at regional and national scientific conferences, networking, publication and grant writing, and developing professional and scientific skill sets.

Students specialize in fields ranging from cell and molecular biology to organismal to ecosystem level biology. For areas of specialization available to students, see the Research Graduate Faculty profiles. Alumni of the biology MS program have gone on to careers in medicine, research, teaching, and policy and regulation, among others.

As part of the biology MS program, Graduate Teaching Assistantships are available on a limited basis. For more information, contact the Associate Chair for Graduate Studies in Biology.

Please refer to the tabs below for more information about the program, requirements and application process. If you have more specific questions, contact Associate Chair for Graduate Studies in Biology: Dr. Timberley Roane .

​Application Deadlines: (Please note, the Department has only one application period each year for the Fall Semester). It is highly recommended that prospective students contact Dr. Timberley Roane to discuss the Department's program before applying.

DEADLINE:

Domestic Students - February 1

International Students - February 1

​

Application to the Biology M.S. program is through the University Admissions Office . There students will find detailed instruction on how to apply. Complete applications will consist of the University Graduate Application, the Biology Supplemental Application, three letters of reference (minimum of two must be academic); official transcripts; and the University application fee.

Students who have been admitted to a graduate program, but NEVER enrolled for courses, must go through the regular online process for admission.

Students who were previously admitted and enrolled, but have not registered for three consecutive semesters, must apply for readmission. This requires submission of Part I of the graduate admission form to their department or program and the Biology Supplemental Application along with the application fee. Those who have not been active for more than four years must complete the full application process. For more information, please click here.

 

Admission Requirements

The following criteria must be met for consideration for admission to the Biology M.S. program:

  • A BA/BS from an accredited institution awarded within the last 10 years (validation
    of current content may be required).
  • Minimum undergraduate GPA: 3.0
  • General GRE test: minimum 50% performance in each section (verbal,
    quantitative, and analytical writing). GRE scores must be sent directly to the
    University by the GRE testing service. GRE test cannot be substituted by any other
    testing, i.e. MCAT or DAT scores    .
    - Subject GRE test: not required
  • Prerequisite courses required:

      -One year of general biology (lecture and laboratory)

      -One year of general chemistry (lecture and laboratory)

      -One semester of general genetics

      -One semester of general ecology (specific organism-based ecology courses will not 
      satisfy)

      -One semester of cell biology (molecular biology courses will not satisfy)

      -One semester of the following structure/function courses: animal or human anatomy;
      animal or human physiology; microbiology; or botany

Students not meeting any of the criteria must consult with the Associate Chair for Graduate Studies.

 

Identifying an Area of Specialization

A required aspect of the application for the Biology M.S. program is the identification of an area of specialization. All students must declare an area of specialization to emphasize in both their research and coursework while in the Biology M.S. program. Areas of specialization available to students correspond with the expertise of Biology Graduate Faculty. Note that the research by Biology Graduate Faculty may not satisfy the interests of all students. As such, the Biology M.S. program may not be able to meet all students’ needs.

Students interested in applying to the Biology M.S. program should refer to the research profiles of the Biology Graduate Faculty. Upon review, the student should identify a faculty member(s) with expertise in the student’s desired area of specialization. The student should then contact the faculty member of interest to pursue opportunities for joining his/her program. All students must have an invitation to apply to a given faculty member’s program PRIOR to application to the Biology M.S. program. The Biology supplemental application will require this information.

 

Application Review Process

All applications are reviewed by the Biology Graduate Faculty. Applications are first reviewed for admission to the Biology M.S. program (meeting or exceeding the admission requirements below). Upon programmatic review, promising applications are forwarded for review for admission to the identified faculty member’s laboratory. Admission to the Biology M.S. program and to an individual faculty member’s laboratory is a competitive process, and in some cases, students meeting the minimum criteria below may not be admitted. Meeting or exceeding the admission requirements set forth by the program or an individual faculty member is not a guarantee of admission.

 

​A master's degree in biology prepares students for graduate study in PhD or MD programs, teaching, research, or careers in business or government. The Department of Integrative Biology offers a Master's of Science (MS) program tailored to the needs and interests of the student, in consultation with a faculty advisor.  

There are two possible tracks within the Biology MS program: Research (thesis) track and Coursework (non-thesis) track.  

The Research (thesis) track is the primary track in the MS program. Students work with a Biology faculty advisor in developing and conducting a thorough, investigative research project leading to a thesis publication. The majority of students in the MS program are in this track.  

The Coursework (non-thesis) track is aimed at teachers and professionals who need additional or advanced course content. Coursework students are still required to declare an area of specialization that aligns with the interests of one of the Biology MS. Graduate Faculty members. Coursework students must consult with the Associate Chair for Graduate Studies prior to application to the program.  

Students may enroll on a full or part-time basis. Normally, the degree is completed within two years for full-time students, and must be completed within five years for part-time and full-time students.  

All students (Research and Coursework tracks) must complete a series of Biology Comprehensive Exams. This is a series of three written exams that culuminate in an oral exam. For more information, please click on the Comprehensive Exams link above. 

At a glance: 

  • Research (thesis) MS degree
    Minimum credits required: 30
    Required coursework:
      - Two semesters of the Biology graduate seminar (BIOL 6655)
      - Four to six credits of thesis (BIOL 6950)
      - No more than seven credits of independent study/internship can be applied toward
        degree

       Required exams: 
         -Biology comprehensive written exam (when: end of first fall semester in the
          program)
         -Two specialty comprehensive written exams (when: in last 1-2 semesters in the 
          program)
         -Oral comprehensive exam (when: last 1-2 semesters in the program)
         -Oral research defense and written thesis (when: last semester in the program  

Minimum required GPA: 3.0 

Estimated time to completion: 2-2.5 years   

  • Coursework (non-thesis) MS degree

    Minimum credits 32
    Required coursework:
      -Two semesters of the Biology graduate seminar (BIOL 6655)
      -No more than six credits of independent study/internship can be applied toward
        degree 

      Required exams:
        -Biology comprehensive written exam (when: end of first fall semester in the
         program)
        -Two specialty comprehensive written exams (when: in last 1-2 semesters in the
         program)
        -Oral comprehensive exam (when: last 1-2 semesters in the program) 

Minimum required GPA: 3.0 

Estimatedtime to completion: two years  

More detailed information regarding Biology MS program requirements can be found in the Biology M.S. Program Graduate Student Handbook. Additional information regarding Graduate School requirements can be found in the University of Colorado Denver Graduate School-Denver Campus Graduate Student Handbook

​

All students in the Biology MS program are required to complete a series of biology comprehensive exams (written and oral formats). The purpose of the exams is to demonstrate mastery of chosen biological concepts in general biology, cell biology, ecology, genetics, and anatomy/physiology of biological systems. The exam series includes a multiple-choice General Biology comprehensive exam followed by two written specialty exams and a culminating oral exam.

Taken upon entry into the Biology MS program, the General Biology Comprehensive Exam assesses your working knowledge of general biological concepts. A general study guide will be provided.

Taken in the third/fourth semester in the Biology MS program, the specialty and oral exams assess your mastery of biological information and concepts in your area of specialization. Two examining faculty members will administer the specialty and oral exams. For each specialty exam, the examining faculty member will provide the student with the Comprehensive Exam Clarification Form with study guidelines in preparation for the exam. Both student and faculty signatures on the form are required.

These exams further help you develop your ability to communicate scientific information in both written and oral formats, a skill difficult to teach in the classroom and a skill highly valued by graduate/professional schools and employers.

Students with unsatisfactory performances on any aspect of the comprehensive exams (written and oral) will be required to complete a remedial action (as determined by the examining faculty members and the Biology MS program). Students may be allowed to re-take one of the exams (written or oral) once. If successful completion is not achieved, the student will be expelled from the program and will not receive the MS degree. Students must pass all aspects of the exam series in order to receive the MS degree.

For more information regarding the Biology comprehensive exams, refer to the Biology MS Program Graduate Student Handbook

 

If you choose the thesis plan, you must complete 30 hours of combined coursework and thesis credit hours. Your 30 hours must include a minimum of four, but no more than six, thesis hours. In addition, you may count a maximum of six hours of independent study and/or graduate level internship. Graduate internship or independent study projects must consist primarily of research.

  

Thesis Advisory Committee

  • You must form a three-person advisory committee consisting of members of the graduate faculty, with at least two from the regular CU Denver faculty. Your committee membership must be approved by your graduate advisor.
 

First Meeting of Your Committee

  • You must meet with your committee before the end of your first year.
  • Committee members must be presented with a document describing the thesis research plan in sufficient detail so that members can understand the design and goals of the project. Your graduate advisor may specify the format this should take. Committee members should receive this document at least one week prior to the meeting.
  • At this meeting, you will give an oral presentation describing your proposed project, including background from the literature, your hypothesis based on this background, proposed methods, and possible outcomes and pitfalls. Your committee members will then have the opportunity to provide input in the design and methodology of your project. At the end of the meeting, the members will sign a Thesis Project Approval Form (pdf) that will approve the basic research plan. The document should also specify any changes agreed to at the meeting. If the plan is not approved, a new meeting and presentation must be scheduled as soon as possible. 
 

 Progress Check Meetings with Your Committee

  • You should schedule meetings with your entire committee at least once per year to keep members abreast of your progress and of any changes in goals or design of your projects. A Thesis Project Approval Form should be signed at each meeting when changes are proposed.
 

Thesis Research, Writing and Submission

  • Your thesis committee will help guide the development of your research. And you can rely on them for direction in your chosen topic.
  • Additionally, there are a number of steps that you must take regardless of your topic or discipline. These steps are part of a venerable university process applicable to all who undertake thesis research. Please see the following centralized resources:
    College of Liberal Arts & Sciences Thesis Guidelines (forms, deadlines, and links to required research protocol approvals)
    UCD Instructions for Preparing a Master's Thesis (specifics on format, citations, printing, submitting to the Graduate School, etc.)
 

The Thesis Defense

  • The thesis defense will be held separately from the oral comprehensive exam, even if your committee members are the same for both. Your thesis defense may be scheduled at the convenience of you and your thesis committee, but only after you have passed your oral and written comprehensive exams. The Exam Report Form will be signed, but will be turned into the Graduate School only after you have passed your thesis defense as well.
  • Do not count on your committee members to be available during the summer—plan ahead!  
  • The thesis defense consists of a seminar on your thesis research, which you should publicize with posted fliers a week ahead of time. All Biology faculty and graduate students will be invited to attend. The seminar will be followed by a question and answer session involving only you and your thesis committee.
  • If you have kept your committee members informed and provided them with ample opportunity for input ahead of time, the thesis defense should be a very positive experience.