Degree Options

• Master of Science in Biology 
• Master of Arts in Biology 

Graduate Minor in biology

You may also consider a graduate minor in biology. Graduate minors are optional, but if taken must include at least 8 hours of courses approved by a designated advisor from the minor area and the department.

Whatever academic path you choose to take, we have an impressive range of focus areas and opportunities to apply and practice what you learn:

Areas of Interest

• Aquatic biology and fisheries provide you with experience in freshwater environment management and conservation as well as water quality protection and restoration of sensitive and significant aquatic organisms.  If this area interests you, you can spend your summers conducting field research on the Wabash River or Lake Michigan.
• Our Biotechnology Certification Program will prepare you for a career in the biotechnology industry, such as pharmaceuticals, environmental bio-remediation and medical research. This program requires you to complete an internship. 
• Faculty routinely employ the laboratory sciences (cellular and molecular, genetics and microbiology) in classroom and research experiences, such as DNA fingerprinting and PCR technology, to prepare you for in-depth research opportunities for technical positions in government, academia, and industry.
• Wildlife biology prepares you for careers related to conservation and management of wildlife and habitats. Summers are generally spent in field research.

Applied Opportunities

• 17 teaching laboratories and 20 research laboratories
• Interactive visual software for managing, accessing and researching DNA, protein and microarray sequence databases  (Vector NTI)
• Over 500 acres of field study areas
• Wheeler Orchid Collection and Species Bank
• Field studies on Lake Michigan and Wabash River, in Belize, the Gulf Coast, and in South Africa
• Environmental chambers
• Phase, epifluorescent, confocal, transmission and scanning electron microscopes
• Refrigerated preparative and ultracentrifuges, spectrophotometers, flow cytometer facilities, electrophoretic and chromatographic facilities, PCR and imaging.