Graduate Programs (Revised Spring 2004)
 

The CCSU Department of Biological Sciences offers five graduate degree programs:

Master of Arts in Biological Sciences

Master of Arts in Biological Sciences: Ecology and Environmental Sciences

Master of Science in Biological Sciences: Anesthesia

Master of Science in Biological Sciences: Health Sciences Specialization

Master of Science in Biological Sciences: Professional Education Program

Each degree program, except for the Health Sciences Specialization, offers the options of either a thesis plan (Plan A) or a non-thesis plan with a final comprehensive exam (Plan B).

Additionally, a Certification in Biology for Secondary Education program is available.

Department Overview
The Department of Biology offers programs of study leading to the Master of Arts and the Master of Science degrees, as well as courses which may serve as part of the education requirements for students preparing to teach in fields other than biology.

The Department of Biology has a full-time faculty representing specializations within the broad field of biology. Copernicus Hall houses laboratories for introductory and advanced courses and research in biology. The department has a wide range of modern research equipment in laboratories designed for class and/or individual research studies. Specialized facilities, available for faculty and student instruction and research, include a greenhouse, herbarium, photosynthesis research laboratory, ecology research laboratory, experimental gardens, controlled environment rooms, and growth chambers. Faculty and students also have research and teaching access to Outer Island (Stewart B. McKinney National Wildlife Refuge) through the Connecticut State University Center for Education and Research at Outer Island (CEROI).

Through the academic and extracurricular opportunities which the department offers, students are prepared to understand and participate in a wide variety of biological specializations. Students in the graduate programs are expected to expand their understanding of biological concepts, to become familiar with recent developments in biology, and to become familiar with library, computer, and laboratory resources for biological research.

Admission requirements for the Master of Arts or Master of Science in Biology
The following items are required:

• Application for admission to graduate study

• Narrative statement

• Letters of recommendation by three college instructors familiar with your ability and record in biology and the related sciences

• Graduate Record Examination scores for the aptitude and advanced biology tests are recommended but not required.

• Official transcripts from all institutions in which undergraduate and graduate work has been taken.

The application for admission to graduate study is available at http://www.ccsu.edu/grad/admissions_app.htm. The forms for the narrative statement and letters of recommendation for application to the graduate programs in the Department of Biology are available at http://www.biology.ccsu.edu/pdf/GradApp.pdf (PDF format).

The above items are to be submitted to the Graduate Office. When an applicant's admission folder is complete, it will be forwarded to the Biology Department Chair. The Departmental Graduate Committee will make a recommendation regarding admission to the program. Students who are accepted will be assigned a program committee/advisor at the time of acceptance. A thesis-advising committee will be assigned after the student begins the program of study.

Note that applications procedures other than those described above may apply for the Master of Science in Biology: Anesthesia program and for the Certification Program. Students interested in applying to either of those programs should contact the appropriate program coordinator directly.

Last Modified: Wednesday, 31. October 2007