Biological Sciences M.S.

Brian Sardella, Ph.D., Program Director

The Master of Science in Biological Sciences is a two-year program that emphasizes high level training in the biological sciences through coursework, and the completion of an original research-based thesis. The program offers students the opportunity to obtain advanced academic and research experience in specialized areas of biology, and is suitable for students wishing to gain higher-level employment or continue to higher-level academic pursuits. The faculty of the Department of Biological Sciences offers a diverse range of research interests, and students will work with a faculty advisor to design and execute their thesis project. The department maintains high expectations and standards for professional conduct and productivity that prepare students to meet their specific educational and professional goals.

Program Learning Outcomes

Successful graduates will:

1. Demonstrate an advanced knowledge of core principles and unifying themes of biology.
2. Demonstrate the ability to independently formulate scientific questions, generate scientific hypotheses, design appropriate experiments to address their hypotheses, and successfully execute their experiments as demonstrated by collection, analysis, interpretation, and presentation of data.
3. Demonstrate the ability to locate, evaluate, and integrate information within peer-reviewed literature, and demonstrate the ability to use databases and information technology.
4. Independently demonstrate the ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing as professional scientists.

Prerequisites for Admission

The minimum requirements for non-provisional entry into the graduate program are:

1. Bachelor’s degree in the Biological Sciences, or a closely related field.
2. Completion of at least 30 units of upper division course work in the Biological Sciences with a GPA ≥ 3.0 in those courses.
3. Completion of the Graduate Record Exam (general) with evaluation criteria at advisor discretion.
4. Support from a faculty member willing to serve as advisor (research and contact potential supervisors prior to applying)

Application Procedures

1. Contact one or two faculty members in the program who most closely match your research interests. Briefly describe your background and your specific academic interests, and inquire if the faculty member is accepting new grad students. Individual faculty will have their own criteria for acceptance.  You should have a faculty willing to sponsor you as your advisor before applying to the program.  
2. Complete an online Graduate School Admissions Application. There is a $55 nonrefundable application fee. (Note: you do not need to complete the “personal statement” section (Part B section 22) of the online application. Instead, send your personal statement/cover letter directly to the program director- see below).
3. Submit one copy of official (sealed) transcripts from all colleges you have attended to Enrollment Services. (Note: Stanislaus State undergraduate students who have not attended other schools since graduation do not need to submit their transcripts).
   
   Send transcripts to:
   Enrollment Services, MSR 120
   California State University, Stanislaus
   One University Circle
   Turlock, CA 95382
    
4. Submit the following items to the Master of Science in Biological Sciences Program Director: 

• Cover letter. In the letter, discuss your career aspirations and academic interests, including specific research interests and possible thesis topics. Identify the faculty member that has agreed to serve as your research mentor. 
• Resume/CV. Your CV should list your academic and professional accomplishments, including dates, locations, and descriptions of activities.
• A Letter from a Stanislaus Biology Faculty stating that they have accepted you as an advisee.
• Two (2) letters of recommendation from university faculty members, employers, or other people who can judge your potential to succeed in graduate school. We accept either signed, sealed original paper copies of letters sent through the mail, or email attachments (pdf files or word documents) sent from the letter writer’s work email address. We recommend that at least one letter should come from a university faculty member who is familiar with your academic abilities and/or research skills. 
• GRE General Exam scores. To insure that the scores get sent to our program, please select Stanislaus State (code 4713) as the institution and Biological Sciences (code 0207) as the Department/Major Field.

Application Review

Applications are reviewed in four steps:

1. The Stanislaus State Graduate School reviews the online application, compiles all transcripts, and calculates GPAs. When complete, these materials are forwarded to the Biological Sciences Program.
2. The Program Director compiles the cover letter, resume/CV, letters of recommendation, and GRE scores, and insures that all application materials are complete.
3. A five-member review panel reviews the applications and ranks the applicants.
4. Selected applicants are admitted to the program and notified.

General Requirements for the Master’s Degree

1. Completion of at least 30 units of required or approved coursework.
2. A G.P.A. of at least 3.0.
3. A passing score on the qualifying exam (taken after the second semester of enrollment).
4. Completion and oral defense of a thesis.