Dr. Mollie Cashner
Graduate Coordinator
Associate Professor
Location: Sundquist Science Complex, Room A127
Phone: 931-221-6488
Email: cashnerm@apsu.edu
Dr. Amy Thompson
Chair, Department of Biology
Professor
Location: Sundquist Science Complex, Room D123
P.O. Box 4718
Phone: 931-221-7781
Email: thompsona@apsu.edu
Description of Major
The graduate program in the Department of Biology offers courses that can be used to fulfill requirements for the Master of Science degree. The mission of the Department of Biology is to educate students to become competent, confident, and compassionate individuals within their chosen careers. The Department of Biology faculty is committed to providing instructional and research experiences for students to develop skills of inquiry, abstract and logical thinking, and critical analysis of natural science phenomena. The Department is also committed to meeting the needs of students by providing professional and academic tracks for degree completion.
Admission Requirements
Non-Thesis Track
Applications are due by March 1 for Fall admission and October 15 for Spring admission. Unofficial GRE scores and transcripts may be used for the admission evaluation process, but if admitted, official documents are required before starting classes.
Listed below are the required application materials and the associated scores (if necessary) for each. The Biology Graduate Committee will evaluate all applicants and provide its admission decision (admit/deny) to the graduate school to complete the required admission process.
- Application for admission
- Application Fee: $45 domestic or $55 international
- Official transcripts from all colleges attended
- Verification of lawful presence in the United States (i.e. submit a license or other approved document)
- Bachelor’s degree in Biology or a minor in Biology, from a regionally accredited institution showing a minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 2.75
- GPA of 3.0 or a 300 GRE score
- Demonstrated success in upper-level biology courses
- Curriculum vitae
- A one-page statement of your area(s) of interest in biology and purpose for seeking an M.S. degree in Biology
- Three letters of recommendation (must be from someone qualified to evaluate academic and/or extracurricular accomplishments)
- Military documents (if applicable)
Thesis Track
Applications are due by March 1 for Fall admission and October 15 for Spring admission. Unofficial GRE scores and transcripts may be used for the admission evaluation process, but if admitted, official documents are required before starting classes.
Listed below are the required application materials and the associated scores (if necessary) for each. The Biology Graduate Committee will evaluate all applicants and provide its admission decision (admit/deny) to the graduate school to complete the required admission process.
- Application for admission
- Application Fee: $45 domestic or $55 international
- Official transcripts from all colleges attended
- Verification of lawful presence in the United States (i.e. submit a license or other approved document)
- Bachelor’s degree in Biology or a minor in Biology, from a regionally accredited institution showing a minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 2.75
- GPA of 3.0 or 300 GRE score
- Curriculum vitae
- Support of a faculty research mentor. Candidates should review biology faculty research interests and are encouraged to contact faculty with whom they would like to collaborate on a graduate thesis project. Applicants must have support of a faculty member that agrees to serve as the thesis advisor prior to admission under this plan.
- Demonstrated success in upper-level biology courses
- A one-page statement of research interests you wish to pursue, past research experiences, and the name(s) of the faculty member with whom you wish to work.
- Three letters of recommendation (must be from someone qualified to evaluate academic and/or extracurricular accomplishments
- Military documents (if applicable)
Special rules or conditions needed for graduation (written/oral exams, practicum, etc.)
All candidates must maintain a minimum scholastic average of “B” (3.0) on all graduate courses completed. Both tracks require giving an oral presentation and passing an oral exam to assess competency in fundamental biological principles and biological research for completion of the Biology Department Master of Science degree. Those on the Non-Thesis track may accomplish the presentation requirement through presentations in BIOL 5000, BIOL 5735, or another avenue deemed appropriate by the faculty advisor. Those pursing the Thesis track must give a public, oral seminar and defense of their completed thesis research. A minimum of 75% of elective hours must come from Biology courses.
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