What will I learn?

The Department of Biology has extensive resources to support superior teaching and research in all the major areas of contemporary biological sciences to prepare students for medical school, other graduate or professional studies, teaching, or careers in industry or government.

In addition, other greenhouses provide students with a convenient location for field research, and the indoor environments make experimentation possible no matter what the weather conditions. The building itself is energy efficient with sunshades, and the green roof holds water to help prevent street flooding. With Lake Michigan just steps away, students have another natural resource at their fingertips.

The MS degree is conferred after demonstrating proficiencies as assessed as follows:

  • Students are expected to gain proficiency in experimental design and analysis. Students must successfully complete (grade of B or higher) the required Biostatistics course (BIOL 470) as an assessment of learned skills in experimental design and analysis.
  • Students are expected to gain proficiency in scientific writing and reading scientific literature, assessed by successfully completing (grade of B or higher) the required Scientific Logic course (BIOL 500).
  • Students’ academic progress in the program will be evaluated each semester by a thesis committee consisting of at least three Biology Graduate Faculty members, two of which are Department of Biology faculty. Students are expected to meet with their committee and provide a written progress report including all preliminary data and analyses for evaluation.
  • Students are expected to gain communication skills in both teaching and presenting research by successfully completing the required teaching unit (didactic + practical teaching) and Graduate seminar.
  • Students’ ability to critically think, analyze data and write scientifically will be assessed by the successful completion of a formal thesis, approved by their full thesis committee.
  • Finally, students’ ability to interact as an independent researcher is assessed by the presentation of the thesis research in a seminar format to the entire Biology Department, and successful defense of the thesis in an oral exam judged by the student’s thesis committee.

Which department am I in?

Graduate School

Study options

Full Time (2 years)

Tuition fees
USD $1,125 Per Credit Hour
Start date

Expected August 2024

Venue

Graduate School

1032 W. Sheridan Road,

CHICAGO,

Illinois,

60660, United States

Entry requirements

For international students

For admission to the Department of Biology MS program, applicants should have or be in the process of completing a Bachelor's degree in Biology.

Applicants with a degree in a different major may still apply, but need to have taken one year of general chemistry, a year of organic chemistry and or biochemistry, one semester of physics, and demonstrate biological knowledge by taking the subject GRE in Biology. Applicants to the MS degree program ordinarily have an undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0.??

English language requirements:

For the IELTS, a minimum score of 6.5 is required.

For the TOEFL, a minimum score of 79 on the iBT or a 550 on the written test is required.

Deadlines: Fall-June 1

*There may be different IELTS requirements depending on your chosen course.

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