| Degree Requirements |
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The Master of Science degree in biology is specifically designed for students who desire to pursue advanced studies in professional and graduate schools or various vocational opportunities in biology and related areas. The program leading to the M.S. degree in biology requires the successful completion of 30 semester hours of course work approved by a supervisory committee. At least 16 of these hours must be in courses at the 6000-level, including two Special Topics courses consisting of at least 5 credit hours, and no more than 8 hours of thesis research. In addition to course work, each candidate for a degree must pass an oral candidacy examination. The candidate must also prepare, present and defend a thesis based upon original research acceptable to the Supervisory Committee and open to the public. Students who choose to pursue the Master of Arts degree in biology at UNC Charlotte must complete 32 semester hours of course work approved by a supervisory committee. The M.A. degree has the same requirements as the M.S. degree, with the following exceptions: a maximum of 4 hours of credit for thesis research may be included in the required 32 hours, and three courses of the 32 hours submitted for the degree must include a formal laboratory. The thesis for the M.A. degree is based upon a directed study (typically library) project rather than upon laboratory or field research. The specific degree requirements include: A. Course Work: Note: All courses for graduate credit must be taken at the 5000-level or higher. Students can receive graduate level credit only for courses taught by Graduate Faculty and Adjunct Graduate Faculty. M.S. Degree: 30 total hours with a GPA of 3.0 or better. Note: two grades of C are acceptable, but a third C will lead to termination. A grade of U will lead to termination. 5000 level: as needed to acquire 30 total hours 6000 level:
M.A. Degree: 32 total hours with a GPA of 3.0 or better. Note: two grades of C are acceptable, but a third C will result in termination from the program. A grade of U will result in termination. 5000 level: as needed to acquire 32 total hours 6000 level:
Three courses of the 32 hours must include formal laboratory for the M.A. Amount of Transfer Credit Accepted: All transfer credit must be approved by the Student's Supervisory Committee and the Graduate Coordinator. Only courses with grades of A or B may be accepted for transfer credit. Courses taken to satisfy the requirements of a previously completed degree can not be counted toward the Masters degree. Typically, no more than 6 hours of transfer credit or 6 hours of postbaccalaureate courses taken at UNC Charlotte may be applied toward the Masters degree. Please use the Application for Transfer Credit to submit your request. Non-Biology Courses Accepted: Up to 8 non-Biology Department course credits can be applied towards the M.A. or M.S. degree with approval of the Supervisory Committee. More than 8 hours can be applied with approval of the Graduate Committee and Graduate Coordinator. Requests to apply non-biology course credits to the Masters degree should be included in the Application for Transfer Credit. B. Oral Candidacy Exam: Both degree programs require this exam which evaluates the student's knowledge in his/her specialty area, as well as general knowledge of basic biological concepts. In the event the student's performance is judged not satisfactory, the Supervisory Committee may recommend a retake. Failing the retake exam results in termination from the program; successful completion of the Candidacy Exam is required for continuation in the program. The Oral Candidacy Exam must be approved by a student’s Supervisory Committee no later than the beginning of the 3rd semester of graduate study and must precede the defense of the Thesis Proposal. The Candidacy Exam must occur seprately from the formal defense of the thesis proposal. However, at the discretion of the Supervisory Committee, students can be required to give a brief presentation of the thesis research to date, which typically provides a starting point for questioning during the Candidacy Exam. Results of the Oral Candidacy Exam must be submitted to the Graduate Coordinator using the REPORT OF COMPREHENSIVE EXAMINATION form. Additionally, each member of the student's Supervisory Committee must complete and return to the Graduate Coordinator a Student Learning Outcomes Assessment Form. C. Thesis Proposal: Each degree candidate must prepare and present a written proposal for thesis work which is acceptable to the Supervisory Committee. The thesis proposal must be accompanied by a Cover Sheet and a Topic Approval Form, both of which must be signed and dated by all Supervisory Committee members. The Topic Approval Form and Thesis Proposal must be approved by a student’s Supervisory Committee by the beginning of the 3rd semester of graduate study, and cannot be approved before the successful completion of the Oral Candidacy Exam. The defense of the Thesis Proposal occurs separately from the Oral Candidacy Exam. D. Thesis: M.S. Degree: A thesis is required based upon original laboratory or field results. While a "traditional" thesis may be submitted, a format styled after a manuscript prepared for submission to a journal in the specialty area is acceptable and encouraged. M.A. Degree: A thesis is required based upon library research and must include a review of the literature plus a synthesis and interpretation of material, with conclusions. E. Thesis Defense Seminar: Each degree candidate must present a seminar acceptable to the Supervisory Committee and the Department in defense of the thesis work. The seminar will be open to the public. Notice of each defense must be publicized at least one week prior to the defense. Results of the Thesis Defense must be submitted to the Graduate Coordinator using the REPORT OF THESIS DEFENSE form. F. Departmental Seminars: Graduate students are expected to attend all seminars sponsored by the Department of Biology. |
