Core Courses – 12 hours (taken by all students in four consecutive semesters – one course offered each semester in a two-year rotation):

     Biol 501: Modern Concepts in Biology (3 credits)

     Biol 502: Biology and Environment (3 credits)

     Biol 503: Contemporary Cell Biology (3 credits)

     Biol 504: Perspectives in Modern Genetics (3 credits)

a.  Thesis Option – Core + 21 additional hours:                      

     Biol 515 Research in Biology,  (12 credit hours)

     Biol 601 Thesis Preparation, (3 credit hours)           

     Graduate Elective Courses* (6 hours)

b.  Non-Thesis Option –Core + 21 additional hours   

     Biol 515 Research in Biology,  (12 credit hours)

     Graduate Elective Courses* (9 credit hours)

MS in Applied Biology – Accelerated Program (4+1)
The accelerated MS program in Applied Biology is designed to provide  exceptional Salisbury University undergraduates of high ability and achievement the opportunity to begin their graduate studies during their senior year.  The purpose of the accelerated program is two-fold.  It recognizes excellence in undergraduate research by allowing that work to form the basis of a graduate Masters Biology thesis and it enables the excellent student to complete both the B.S. Biology and M.S. Applied Biology degree programs in approximately 5 years.

Students currently enrolled as undergraduates at SU are eligible to apply for the accelerated program during their Junior year provided they fulfill these requirements:

a.  have a 3.30 GPA at the end of the semester during which they apply

b.  have engaged in significant undergraduate research with a faculty advisor who can endorse their application for admission to the program

c.  meet all the requirements, including pre-requisite course work, for post-graduate admission to the program by the end of the semester in which they are applying for admission to the accelerated program. 

For students accepted into the accelerated program, up to 9 credits of graduate course work may be taken during the senior year and applied to both the BS and MS degree programs.  Six of these credits will include the graduate classes (Biol 501-504) offered during the student’s senior year.  The remaining three may include research.

*Graduate Electives currently listed in the catalog - see courses page for descriptions:

Allied Professional Skills requirement
Students completing the MS degree in Applied Biology must demonstrate their applied expertise by developing proficiency in an Allied Professional Skill.  Allied Professional Skills include things like computer programming, geospatial analysis, foreign language, technical writing, etc.  The choice of Allied Professional Skill is left to the student in consultation with the advising committee.  Skills should be relevant to the student’s research or career goals,  should be chosen early in the student’s program of study and are subject to approval of the Graduate Advisory Committee. 

Allied Professional Skill must be certified by the completion of a course or by written certification from a faculty member who is expert at the skill chosen.  If a course of instruction is necessary for certification of an Allied Professional Skill, the credits earned in that course may not be counted toward the number required for graduation.  Students who develop their applied proficiency through directed study may register for a 2 credit course: Biol 590  “Topics: Allied Professional Skill”.

Admission to the Program
Admission to the MS in Applied Biology requires an application for graduate program admission, the application fee, official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended, the Residency/Domicile Information form (for those students applying for in-state tuition) and the following program-specific credentials.

    a.  An undergraduate degree (in biology or related field) with a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 point scale.  In addition to their coursework in biology, student transcripts should demonstrate the completion of pre-requisite courses in Chemistry (two courses in General Chemistry and at least one semester of Organic Chemistry), at least one course in Physics and a course in Statistics.

    b.  Three letters of recommendation from individuals qualified to judge the applicant’s potential for success in a graduate program.

    c.  A personal statement relating the applicant’s goals and career objectives as well as research interests and potential graduate advisors in the department.

    d.  Scores on the General Graduate Record Exam at or above the 50^th percentile.  Scores on the Biology GRE are optional but if submitted will be considered in admission decisions.

    e.  All applicants (thesis and non-thesis) are encouraged to make contact with prospective graduate advisor(s) in the department prior to submission of an application for admission to the program.  M.S. thesis students must make such contact and will not be admitted without the endorsement of a graduate advisor for their research.   

    f. International students are referred to additional guidelines described in the current Salisbury University catalog.

    g. Students transferring to SU from other universities may receive a maximum of 6 transfer credits for courses in which they have earned a grade of B or better.  Each course will be individually assessed for program equivalency.  Determination of allowable credit for work completed elsewhere will be made at the time of admission by the Director of the Graduate Program. 

For further information please contact the Biology Graduate Program Director.