Master of Arts in Biology
Working adults enroll in the 30-credit Master of Arts in Biology program in order to:
- update their science knowledge;
- pursue a specialty such as biotechnology, ecology, neurobiology, or genetics;
- prepare for employment in emerging science fields;
- improve their professional standing;
- deepen their understanding of biology;
- obtain a graduate science degree on a part-time basis through evening and weekend courses.
Designed to be adaptable to individual students' unique backgrounds and goals, the program provides a flexible curriculum and close individual advising for each student. Students include science and health professionals, teachers, technicians, and people in science-related businesses.
The M.A. in Biology program is co-sponsored by the Washington University Graduate School of Arts & Sciences, the Washington University Department of Biology, and University College.
Admission
The M.A. in Biology program is open to qualified applicants with a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution who have completed previous undergraduate course work in biology, mathematics and chemistry.
Applicants to the M.A. in Biology program must submit the following materials:
a completed Application for Graduate Admission form including a short essay describing the role of the program in the applicant's career
- a $35 non-refundable application fee
- official transcripts of all previous undergraduate and graduate work and degrees granted
- Graduate Record Examination (GRE) results (analytical, quantitative, and verbal sections) (University College's GRE code is 2833)
- three letters of reference
- other material that either the student or the Program Committee may consider relevant
A pre-requisite for enrollment in M.A. in Biology courses is admission, through formal application, to the M.A. program in Biology. On occasion a student whose application is pending, or whose record suggests he or she should take one or two courses on a trial basis, will be allowed to register for a course, but only after consultation with a University College graduate advisor or Professor Garland Allen. To obtain approval, students not yet formally enrolled in the program must submit a course application form and collegiate transcripts to the program director for permission to enroll. Students admitted to the Master of Arts in Education program may enroll in graduate-level biology courses with the approval of the student's academic advisor.
Prospective students are urged to discuss admission and tentative course schedules, including prerequisite courses, with the biology program coordinator or other members of the Program Committee. Upon admission, each student will be assigned a faculty advisor; course registration and performance will be reviewed each semester.
Admission Time Line: University College and the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences review completed applications and make admissions decisions on a rolling basis. The process typically takes four to six weeks, and so we urge applicants to submit their materials by the following schedule in order to ensure a timely decision: mid-November for spring; mid-April for summer; mid-July for fall. If you plan to apply for federal financial aid, please note that this process can take six to eight weeks. It is suggested that applicants begin by completing their FAFSA at the time of application. For additional information about Financial Aid and step-by-step Financial Aid application instructions, click here.
Degree Requirements
Students seeking the Master of Arts in Biology must satisfactorily complete 30 units of graduate work in the biological sciences in courses approved by the Program Committee. Students with appropriate backgrounds, interests, and academic qualifications may, with authorization, write a master's thesis based on original library or laboratory research. A maximum of 6 credits of related and comparable graduate-level course work may be transferred from another university or from a related graduate program at Washington University with the approval of the program director. These must be graduate-level units not used to fulfill undergraduate degree requirements. Transfer credit may be granted only for authorized courses for which the student received a grade of B or higher.
Please note that the M.A. in Biology degree is a terminal graduate degree awarded on the basis of course work rather than research. Except in rare cases, it is not intended as preparation for a Ph.D. degree. No more than 6 of the 30 credits may be earned in research courses.
Those interested in graduate research or in earning a Ph.D. should apply to the Ph.D. programs offered by Washington University's Division of Biology and Biomedical Sciences.
General: A master’s thesis in biology is a form of independent study. The purpose of a Master’s Thesis is to provide a capstone or final project in which the student can use the knowledge and methodology obtained in previous courses for the investigation of some problem in depth. Master's theses involve 6 units of independent study, generally taken in two consecutive semesters (fall/spring, for example), during the first of which the student carries out their research, and during the second of which he or she will write up the project. A thesis can become a meaningful way to bring to conclusion a student’s work for the Master’s degree.
In general, all the procedures outlined for Independent Study apply to setting up and carrying out a thesis investigation. Like Independent Study, most master’s theses are based on a literature survey, rather than a laboratory investigation. For many students, the problems of setting up and carrying out a successful laboratory project often make this approach impractical. Laboratory-based thesis projects are possible, however, under certain circumstances, as outlined below.
Organization and Scope of a Thesis Project: To carry out a thesis project the student must secure an advisor with whom to work, define the project and fill out the necessary forms to be signed by the advisor, student and University College Program Coordinator. Advisors (mentors) can come from any part of the university or, with approval, from an outside institution or organization. The Biology program coordinator will assist the student in selecting an advisor. The advisor works closely with the student at all stages of the project. A thesis project is expected to encompass a larger range of issues, or a more in-depth investigation than an individual independent study. Theses can be anywhere from 40-50 pages minimum, depending on the topic and type of thesis.
Laboratory-Based Thesis Projects: The problem with laboratory-based thesis projects lies in the practicality of getting set up in a new laboratory and learning techniques and methods used in studying that lab’s particular area of research. In most cases laboratory projects work best when carried out in a laboratory where the student is already working. In most cases this has involved students who work in a laboratory at one of the local medical schools, or biotechnology laboratories. The student's PI, supervisor, or a Post-Doc in the lab with appropriate credentials, can serve as the mentor. If a student carries out a M.A. project in their workplace laboratory, the topic must be something they are independently investigating, and cannot be part of their regular paid job assignment.
Thesis Evaluations: When completed, an M.A. thesis will be evaluated by a committee consisting of the mentor, the Biology Department program coordinator, and one other faculty member from the Biology Department or Division of Biology and Biomedical Sciences who is a specialist in the area on which the thesis focuses. The program coordinator will assist the student in selecting the additional faculty member.
Procedures and Timeline
It is important to adhere closely to requirements and deadlines associated with the final project in order to ensure timely completion of the project and fulfillment of program requirements. Please read carefully below for detailed information about procedures, requirements, forms, and deadlines. All students authorized to pursue the Master’s Thesis must complete the Title, Scope, and Procedure Form. See below for detailed information about procedures and deadlines.
Planning
If you have authorization to pursue a Thesis, begin planning two semesters prior to your final semester of study. The Title, Scope and Procedure Form must be completed and returned to University College at least six months before the month in which the degree is expected to be conferred (August, December, or May). University College will forward approved Title, Scope & Procedure forms to the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences.
Registration
The Final Project Form must be completed with all required signatures for registration. Registration follows the normal academic schedule. Refer to the current course schedule for registration deadlines. Submit your Final Project Proposal Form to the Administrative Assistant for Academic Programs, University College, January Hall, Room 100. Complete the University College Registration Form for the appropriate course.
Schedule Your Oral Defense
The Oral Defense should be scheduled as soon as possible after you have registered. The Oral Defense should take place no later than two weeks prior to the end of the semester you plan to graduate. Consult with your committee to find a time that is agreeable. Your Oral Defense will probably only last 1 hour, but schedule 1.5 hours for the defense to provide a small cushion of extra time if needed. To schedule and reserve space, contact the Administrative Assistant for Academic Programs, 314-935-6759. Please consult the University College online calendar for specific deadlines for the oral defense. Usually the defense must be completed by the beginning of September for summer graduates, the beginning of January for fall graduates, and late April or early May for spring graduates. Please note that these dates conform to deadlines for all graduate programs and are not flexible.
Submission of the Master’s Thesis
Submit a copy of your thesis to each member of your committee two weeks in advance of your oral defense to allow time for review. Upon successful defense of the project, the final version must be submitted to University College. In addition, thesis candidates must submit an electronic copy and one hard copy fo the Master’s Thesis to the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences according to the deadlines listing in the online calendar. Please refer to the Graduate School Arts & Sciences Master’s Thesis guidelines for formatting and presentation requirements.
Biology Independent Study Guidelines
Students enrolled in the M.A. Program in Biology may receive up to six (6) credits of advanced work toward their degree. Independent study involves work carried with a mentor on a designated project which is approved in advance of the semester in which the work is done. Independent study may be arranged for 1, 2 or 3 credits per semester, up to the total of six. Most independent study projects involve writing a paper describing the student’s work/project at the end of the semester.
Topics: Topics may focus on any aspect of biology deemed appropriate by the mentor and the Program Coordinator from the Biology Department. Most independent study projects involve literature search and review, though some hands-on laboratory projects are possible (see above for discussion of the M.A. Thesis). The student would work with his or her mentor to find appropriate journal or other literature on the subject, and then pursue a question or controversy within that literature. Stuents are expected to come up with their own ideas a result of reading through the literature, and not merely present a summary of material they have read.
Choosing A Mentor: Mentors are usually instructors from whom the student has already taken a course, though other non-university or non-University College personnel may serve as mentors under special circumstances. Mentors should be individuals with a Ph.D. in their field; if they are not already Washington University faculty or University College instructors, they would have to present a C.V. to the Program Coordinator for consideration. Mentors are compensated for their time in guiding independent study projects. It is the student’s responsibility to seek out a mentor and discuss with him/her the possibility of carrying out an independent study project. The mentor has the responsibility not only of helping the student set up the project but also to meet with the student periodically during the semester, and to read and evaluate the student’s paper at the completion of the work.
Credits: Credit assignment is based on the extent of the project, which usually translates into a final paper of a certain length. Although there are no hard-and-fast rules on paper length, the following guidelines are helpful in establishing the credit for independent study: 1 credit (5-7 pages); 2 credits (8-12 pages), and 3 credits (13-15+) pages.
Application: Students wishing to carry out an independent study project should obtain the appropriate form from the University College office. It must be signed by the student, the mentor and the Program Coordinator.
Important Contact Information
Garland Allen, Biology Program Coordinator Email Telephone: (314) 935-6808.
Elizabeth Fogt, Director of Advising and Student Services, University College Email Telephone: (314) 935-6778.
Cassandra Schroeder, Administrative Assistant for Academic Programs, University College Email Telephone: (314) 935-6759.
Participating Faculty
Garland Allen, Ph.D. Harvard University; Professor of Biology and Program Director
Richard W. Coles, Ph.D. Harvard University; Adjunct Professor of Biology
Sarah Elgin, Ph.D. California Institute of Technology; Professor of Biology; chromosome structure
Jeffrey Jeddeloh, Ph.D. Washington University; Danforth Plant Biology Center; molecular biology
Kathryn Miller, Ph.D. Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine; Professor Biology; developmental biology
Daniel Hanson, Ph.D. Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine; Adjunct Professor of Biology; immunology
For more information, E-mail: ucollege@artsci.wustl.edu
