Biology M.S. Program

The Master of Science in Biology is designed for graduate students who wish to become knowledgeable leaders and professionals in fields of study that range from organismal biology, ecology, and conservation biology to the biomedical sciences. The M.S. in Biology is a very flexible program that allows the course of study to be tailored to the student’s interests and career goals. Here is the Life Sciences Style Guide.

The goal of the M.S. in Biology is:

• To provide graduates with a broad understanding of the biological sciences as well as education, training, and skills in a specific discipline.
• To foster creative independence and critical thinking in graduates so they are competent to practice in and contribute to a variety of professions and fields of scholarship.
• To prepare graduates for careers in the biological and biomedical sciences, and to prepare students for Ph.D. programs.

By joining the M.S. in Biology at TAMU-CC you will:

• Gain expertise in specific biological field including knowledge of the relevant scientific literature related to their thesis or professional paper.
• Understand the scientific method and be able to design and conduct experiments.
• Be able to accurately describe (orally and in writing) biological research.
• Demonstrate the ability to conduct a thorough and complete survey of the relevant scientific literature pertaining to their approved topic of study.
• Demonstrate the ability to collect, organize and interpret data and produce a thesis or professional paper from an experiment, study, or project.
• Develop technical writing and communication skills that will benefit you in your professional careers.

Prospective students who wish to pursue a BIOL M.S. degree should have strong life sciences backgrounds. Students accepted into the program will typically have undergraduate degrees in an area of the biological sciences (e.g., Biology, Biomedical Science, Ecology, Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences) with coursework that includes chemistry (e.g., general chemistry, organic chemistry, biochemistry) and mathematics (e.g., calculus). The BIOL faculty welcome students from diverse academic paths, particularly those who have some research experience.

Want to apply to the M.S. Biology program?

1. The first step to gain acceptance to the M.S. Biology program is to identify a potential graduate supervisor.
   1. Click on this link (https://www.tamucc.edu/science/roster.php?program=lsci) and read up on the research expertise of our faculty
   2. Identify a professor whom you would like to work with and contact them by email
   3. Pitch yourself! Send your professional CV or resume to your prospective mentor along with a professionally worded email indicating who you are, what skills and experience you have that are relevant to their research and, why you would like to work with that professor.
   4. No student will be admitted to the program without a supervisor who agrees to accept the student into their lab.
2. Once you have a confirmed supervisor, then click on this link to start your application (http://gradcollege.tamucc.edu)