Program Overview

Department of Biology

The Department of Biology offers a Combined BS/MS Degree program for undergraduate candidates.

Combined BS/MS Degree

Undergraduate candidates for departmental honors may be admitted to a special four-year BS/MS program upon recommendation of the department.

To be Eligible

To be eligible for the Combined BS/MS Degree program, candidates must:

• Join a research lab no later than the start of their sixth semester at Brandeis.
• Contact and meet with the designated professor for advising, preferably in or before their fifth semester.
• Meet the University GPA requirement for eligibility for honors at the end of their sixth semester.
• Make significant progress toward completing the required courses by the end of their sixth semester, typically finishing their junior year with at least 120 credits.

Requirements for the Combined BS/MS in Biology

The requirements for the Combined BS/MS in Biology include:

• Completing a total of 38 semester courses, equivalent to 152 credit hours.
• Meeting all requirements for the Bachelor of Science (BS) in Biology.
• Meeting all requirements for senior honors in biology.
• Completing three more biology electives than required for the BS, for a total of 9 electives.
  • At least 6 of the 9 electives must be courses numbered 100 or higher, and completed with a grade of B- or above.
  • At least five of the 100-level courses must be Biology electives.
• A substantial research contribution, including the successful completion of BIOL 199a and BIOL 199b.