Program Overview

Introduction to the Biological Sciences BS/MS Program

The Accelerated BS/MS in Biological Sciences is designed for academically qualified students who are looking to advance their learning in the discipline by earning both a bachelor's and graduate degree in 5 years. The BS/MS in Biological Sciences is a degree program with both thesis and non-thesis options available.

About the Program

The BS/MS program in Biological Sciences is a rigorous and challenging program that builds on a strong undergraduate foundation to allow students to engage in more extensive study of the discipline at a graduate level. Students applying to this program are often advanced in their plans of study, typically arriving with advanced placement credit when they matriculate.

Eligibility

Exceptional students with a cumulative GPA of at least 3.5 and who are enrolled in the four-year or five-year co-op option are eligible for the BS/MS program. Students participating in co-op will need to be on the spring-summer cycle. Students formally apply to the program after they have completed 90.0 credits but before they have completed 120.0 credits. Students are strongly encouraged to begin planning for the program as early as their freshman year.

Application Process

Prior to applying to the program, students are advised to meet with the respective advisor(s) in the department. The application must be accompanied by a Plan of Study prepared in consultation with the undergraduate and graduate advisors in the department. A brief statement of purpose indicating the applicant's academic and professional interest in pursuing the BS/MS degree is required. Applicants are then formally reviewed by the Biology Graduate Committee.

Requirements

Students enrolled in the Accelerated BS/MS in Biological Sciences must complete 183.5 undergraduate quarter credits for the bachelor's degree and at least 45 graduate quarter credits for the master's degree. Courses may not be double-counted for both the BS and MS degree. All undergraduate and graduate course requirements must be satisfied in full, including producing a thesis (if the thesis-option master's program is elected) no later than the Spring Quarter of the final year. Students in the BS/MS program must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 in their undergraduate and graduate coursework to remain in the program.

Degree Requirements

The following are the degree requirements for the BS/MS in Biological Sciences:

• Humanities and Social Sciences:
  • CIVC 101: Introduction to Civic Engagement (1.0)
  • COM 230: Techniques of Speaking (3.0)
  • COM 310 [WI]: Technical Communication (3.0)
  • COOP 101: Career Management and Professional Development * (1.0)
  • ENGL 101: Composition and Rhetoric I: Inquiry and Exploratory Research (3.0)
  • ENGL 102: Composition and Rhetoric II: Advanced Research and Evidence-Based Writing (3.0)
  • ENGL 103: Composition and Rhetoric III: Themes and Genres (3.0)
  • PHIL 251: Ethics (3.0)
  • UNIV S101: The Drexel Experience (1.0)
  • UNIV S201: Looking Forward: Academics and Careers (1.0)
  • Humanities and Social Science Electives (9.0)
  • Science, Technology, Health and Human Affairs Elective (3.0)
• Mathematics and Statistics:
  • Select one of the following sequences: (12.0)
    • Intro to Analysis: MATH 101, MATH 102, MATH 239
    • Calculus: MATH 121, MATH 122, MATH 123
  • MATH 410: Scientific Data Analysis I (3.0)
  • MATH 411: Scientific Data Analysis II (3.0)
• Physical Sciences:
  • BIO 311: Biochemistry (4.0)
  • CHEM 101: General Chemistry I (3.5)
  • CHEM 102: General Chemistry II (4.5)
  • CHEM 103: General Chemistry III (4.5)
  • CHEM 241: Organic Chemistry I (4.0)
  • CHEM 242: Organic Chemistry II (4.0)
  • PHYS 152: Introductory Physics I (4.0)
  • PHYS 153: Introductory Physics II (4.0)
  • PHYS 154: Introductory Physics III (4.0)
• Core Biology Courses:
  • BIO 131: Cells and Biomolecules (4.0)
  • BIO 134: Cells and Biomolecules Lab (1.0-2.0)
  • BIO 132: Genetics and Evolution (4.0)
  • BIO 135: Genetics and Evolution Lab (1.0-2.0)
  • BIO 133: Physiology and Ecology (4.0)
  • BIO 136: Anatomy and Ecology Lab (1.0-2.0)
  • BIO 207: Applications in Biology I (1.0)
  • BIO 208: Applications in Biology II (1.0)
  • BIO 209: Cell, Molecular & Developmental Biology I (4.0)
  • BIO 211: Cell, Molecular & Developmental Biology II (4.0)
  • BIO 219 [WI]: Techniques in Molecular Biology (3.0)
  • BIO 224: Form, Function & Evolution of Vertebrates (4.0)
  • BIO 225: Vertebrate Biology and Evolution Laboratory (2.0)
  • BIO 471: Seminar in Biological Sciences (2.0)
  • BIO 472: Seminar in Biological Sciences (2.0)
  • BIO 473 [WI]: Seminar in Biological Sciences (2.0)
  • ENVS 212: Evolution (4.0)
• Concentration Courses (28.0-30.0)
• Free electives (24.0)
• MS Degree Courses (45.0)
• Total Credits (229.5-234.5)

Concentrations

There are five concentrations available for the BS/MS in Biological Sciences:

1. The Cell/Molecular/Genetics/Biochemistry (CMGB) Concentration: This concentration provides exposure to several vital disciplines within Biology, and will prepare students for a diversity of careers in research, medicine, and industry.
2. The Organismal Biology/Physiology Concentration: This concentration combines courses in organismal biology and physiology with an opportunity to focus on human physiology.
3. The Ecology/Evolution/Genomics Concentration: This concentration focuses on ecological and evolutionary aspects of biology for biology majors who also have specific interests in ecology, evolution or genomics.
4. The Pathobiology Concentration: The Pathobiology concentration focuses on pathogenesis, and provides a unique option for students that differs from the more traditional disciplines in cell/molecular/genetics/biochemistry.
5. The General Biology Concentration: This concentration will allow maximum flexibility for students who want to develop their own unique plan of study.

Sample Plan of Study

A sample plan of study for the 5-year, 1 co-op BS/MS in Biological Sciences is provided, outlining the courses to be taken each term.

Writing-Intensive Requirements

In order to graduate, all students must pass three writing-intensive courses after their freshman year. Two writing-intensive courses must be in a student's major. The third can be in any discipline. Students are advised to take one writing-intensive class each year, beginning with the sophomore year, and to avoid "clustering" these courses near the end of their matriculation. Transfer students need to meet with an academic advisor to review the number of writing-intensive courses required to graduate.