Biology Multi-Award Program - B.S./M.S. Degree
Department of Biology
Office: 221 Science Center
(716) 673-3282
William D. Brown, Interim Chairperson
Karry Kazial, Graduate Coordinator
Email: biology@fredonia.edu
Website: https://www.fredonia.edu/academics/colleges-schools/college-liberal-arts-sciences/biology
Application Criteria/Eligibility
Only students who will complete both a Bachelor’s and a Master’s in Biology at Fredonia are eligible to enroll in the program. Students need to be a current, continuing undergraduate in Biology at the time of application. Students may declare intent to enter the BS/MS program as an incoming freshman. They will do so in writing with Biology Department advisors.
Students with an overall GPA of at least 3.00 may apply to the BS/MS program after:
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Completion of the lower division core requirements: BIOL 131/132, 133/134, 237/238, 243/244, 330/331, 333/334; CHEM 115/125, 116/126, 215/225, 216/226; STAT 250 OR MATH 120 OR MATH 122
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74 hours of academic credit have been completed or are in progress (typically Fall semester Junior year);
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Declaration of capstone BIOL 491 OR BIOL 492 OR BIOL 493
Students who are accepted into the program may be granted probation for one semester following an overall GPA below 3.00. If a student does not achieve an overall 3.00 GPA after one probation semester, a student will not be allowed to continue in this program.
Application Procedure
Students will normally apply directly to the Department of Biology for the BS/MS Biology Multi-Award program during their Fall semester of the third academic year. Students should apply when they declare their capstone during advising week.
Application requirements include:
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GPA of 3.00 or greater
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Two letters of recommendation (for MS Thesis option one letter should be from the faculty research mentor)
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For MS Thesis option agreement of a faculty member to mentor the student in their research lab if accepted
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Academic transcripts (unofficial transcripts are OK)
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Letter of intent
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CV/resume
Admission decisions will be made by the Biology Department Graduate Committee and based on the student's previous academic success in the department, as indicated by GPA and grades in the core curriculum, as well as potential success in the graduate program as indicated by the letters of recommendation and the student's letter of intent.
Decisions will normally be communicated to students within four weeks of submitting a complete application to the BS/MS Biology Multi-Award Program.
Requirements During Undergraduate Studies (first 8 semesters)
All university requirements, including general education courses, must be completed before the final (graduate) year of the BS/MS Biology Multi-Award Program. In the final undergraduate year, students will take 10 credits of graduate-level courses. If any courses are dual-listed, students in the BS/MS Biology Multi-Award Program must complete all assignments expected of graduate students and they will be evaluated in the same way as graduate students.
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Students will earn 10 graduate credits during their undergraduate program.
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Students will be considered undergraduates for tuition, academic requirements and financial aid purposes until all requirements for the undergraduate degree are completed. Following this they will be considered graduate students, will pay graduate tuition, and will be eligible for graduate financial aid.
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During the undergraduate program the student will typically take BIOL 491 Capstone Research in order to enter the BS/MS program with the Thesis option. Any Capstone will be taken in order to enter the BS/MS program with the Comprehensive Exam option.
Summer between Year 4 & Year 5
Requirements During Graduate Studies
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After successful completion of their undergraduate program, students will be eligible to take the second year of the MS curriculum. At this point students will be treated as graduate students for purposes of tuition and fees, financial aid, etc.
Graduation Without Completion of the BS/MS Biology Multi-Award Program
If a student decides at some point to pursue only the undergraduate portion of the degree, the Department Biology will recognize the graduate courses taken in lieu of undergraduate courses. Credit from the undergraduate degree cannot be used toward a graduate degree at a later date.
Requirements for the Biology Multi-Award Program
Undergraduate Coursework:
NOTE:
- BIOL 491, BIOL 492, BIOL 493 are variable, 1-3 credit hour courses. Students are to complete the course they are advised to enroll in for at least 3 credit hours to satisfy the degree requirement.
Graduate Coursework - Thesis Option:
| BIOL 590 | Graduate Seminar | 1 |
| BIOL 511 | Graduate Research Methods | 3 |
| BIOL 521 | Graduate Science Communication | 3 |
| Eighteen (18) Credits of Biology 500/600 Level Electives | 18 |
| BIOL 690 | Thesis Research | 1-9 |
| Written Proposal and Proposal Defense | |
| Written Thesis and Thesis Defense | |
| Total Credit Hours: | 30 |
Note:
- BIOL 590 Seminar is to be taken three times
- BIOL 690 needs to be taken for three (3) credits
Graduate Coursework - Comprehensive Exam Option:
| BIOL 590 | Graduate Seminar | 1 |
| BIOL 511 | Graduate Research Methods | 3 |
| BIOL 521 | Graduate Science Communication | 3 |
| Eighteen (18) Credits of Biology 500/600 Level Electives | 18 |
| | Graduate Elective - any department | 3 |
| Final Comprehensive Exam | |
| Total Credit Hours: | 30 |
Note:
- BIOL 590 Seminar is to be taken three times
- Three (3) credits of BIOL 680 - Graduate Research, may be used towards the Biology Graduate course requirement or Graduate Elective requirement