نظرة عامة على البرنامج

Introduction to the Master of Science in Biology Program

The Master of Science in Biology program at Towson University is designed to provide advanced training in biology, preparing students for careers in academia, industry, and government. This innovative program enables students to pursue advanced biology training while building highly valued workplace skills.

Program Overview

The Master of Science in Biology requires 30 credits of coursework, and students can choose between the thesis and non-thesis tracks. The program is intended for students who wish to pursue advanced training in biology, including those interested in pursuing a doctoral degree or a career as an academic or college professor.

Thesis Track

The Thesis Track is designed for students who plan to pursue further study for their doctoral degree, for those whose employment requires research training, and for those who wish to teach in community colleges. Students in this track complete a major research project, and graduate teaching and research assistantships are awarded on a competitive basis to full-time thesis students.

Non-Thesis Track

The Non-Thesis Track is designed for students who want a broader background in biology, including secondary school teachers or students planning to apply to professional schools. Research opportunities are available but not required for the degree.

Admission Requirements and Deadlines

• Application deadlines for the thesis track and non-thesis track vary.
• A baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college or university is required.
• A minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.00 (on a 4-point scale) is required for full admission to the program, and 2.75 is required for conditional admission.
• A minimum of 24 undergraduate units in biology and a grade point average (GPA) of 3.00 is required in all previous biology courses.
• Prerequisite coursework in general chemistry, organic chemistry, and physics is recommended.
• Thesis track only: Interview. A successful interview with the potential research mentor and the Graduate Committee is required before an applicant can ultimately be accepted into the thesis-degree program.

Degree Requirements

• The master's in biology requires 30 credits of coursework.
• Students can choose between the thesis and non-thesis tracks.
• The thesis track requires the support of a faculty mentor, the completion of a large research project, and producing a thesis of publishable quality for a peer-reviewed scientific journal.
• In the thesis track, 6 of the required 30 units are dedicated to conducting research.

Tuition Fees

• The cost per credit is $739 (in-state tuition and fees).

Research Areas

• Cellular and Molecular: Virology, Cancer, Signaling, Immunology, Host-pathogen, Biochemistry
• Microbiology: Host-microbe interactions, Microbiome
• Genetics: Population, Genomics, Conservation
• Physiology: Behavior, Biomechanics, Ecological, Evolutionary, Functional Morphology
• Organismal: Mammalogy, Ichthyology, Ornithology, Herpetology, Invertebrate, Vertebrate, Entomology, Marine
• Ecology: Plant, Microbial, Behavioral, Molecular, Community, Ecosystem, Toxicology, Conservation, Population
• Evolution: Molecular, Systematics, Phylogenetics, Morphology, Microbial, Biodiversity

Career Opportunities

• Research facilities
• Private and government laboratories
• Environmental consulting firms
• Public and private secondary schools
• Competitive Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) or Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) programs.