Academics
Graduate Programs
Graduate Programs
Biology, M.A.
About the Program
The master of arts in biology prepares students for advanced research, professional employment, or study at the Ph.D. level.
About the Biology Department
314 Science Building
1300 Elmwood Ave
Buffalo, NY 14222
Phone: (716) 878-5203
Fax: (716) 878-4028
www.buffalostate.edu/biology/
Contact Faculty and Staff in the Biology Department
Admission Requirements
1. A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75 (4.0 scale), or a minimum combined quantitative/verbal score of 1000 on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). The GRE general test is required; the GRE subject test in biology (B24) is strongly recommended.
2. Three letters of recommendation evaluating the applicant’s academic qualifications.
3. An official transcript of the student’s undergraduate program, giving evidence of satisfactory completion of 48 credit hours of college science and mathematics courses, including a minimum of 18 credit hours in biology. It is strongly recommended that this coursework also include one year of college physics, one year of organic chemistry, one semester of statistics, and one semester of calculus. The student’s thesis committee may regard failure to complete these recommended undergraduate courses as a deficiency and may require such coursework for graduation.
4. A written statement of the applicant’s academic background, future plans, and area of research interest.
Each applicant is strongly advised to identify a faculty sponsor and request a letter of support from him or her to accompany the admission application.
In addition, all applicants should review the Admission to a Graduate Program section in this catalog.
Graduation Requirements:
1. A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 (4.0 scale). The candidate may take no more than 36 credit hours to achieve this average.
2. A minimum of 30 credit hours, including a 6-credit-hour master’s thesis.
Courses in which a candidate earns a grade below C do not bear credit toward the degree but are calculated in the cumulative average.
3. Successful oral presentation of the master’s thesis. The thesis must represent an original contribution to biology.
4. Two semesters of Research Seminar (BIO 617).
Program Requirements
Biology Courses* (22 credits)
Research (2 credits)
BIO 617 Research Seminar (1)
Master’s Thesis (6 credits)
BIO 695 Master’s Thesis (6)
Total Required Credit Hours (30 credits)
*Selected under advisement
