The Master of Science in Biology program offers a broad range of research opportunities ranging from the sub-cellular to entire ecosystems. Our program offers broad-based training in a variety of disciplines including Conservation Biology, Ecology, Evolution, Physiology, Genetics, and Cell and Developmental Biology.
The Master of Science in Biology program offers a thesis option only (the non-thesis MS option is not currently accepting applications). The thesis option requires a minimum of 30 credit hours, 15 of which must be at the 6000 level. Given the thesis requirement, students who wish to pursue this degree must receive a commitment from a faculty adviser for admission into the program. The thesis option curriculum contains a minimum of 24 credit hours of coursework excluding thesis hours (note: Independent Study and Directed Research may account for a maximum of 6 of the 24 coursework credits).
Total Credit Hours Required: 30 Credit Hours Minimum beyond the Bachelor's Degree
Program Prerequisites
Applicants do not need to have an undergraduate degree in a biological science, but are expected to have 18 hours of biological sciences, including ecology and genetics. Courses in organic chemistry, calculus, and statistics are also recommended. After acceptance, minor deficiencies must be remedied by enrollment in the appropriate course at the first opportunity.
Degree Requirements
Required Courses
7 Total Credits
- Complete all of the following
- Complete the following:
- PCB6095 - Professional Development in Biology I (1)
- PCB6096 - Professional Development in Biology II (1)
- PCB6466 - Methods in Experimental Ecology (3)
- Earn at least 2 credits from the following:
- BSC6935 - Seminar in Biology (1)
- BSC 6935 - Seminar in Biology: Students will take 1 credit hour each of two semesters.
Thesis Option
23 Total Credits
- Earn at least 23 credits from the following types of courses: BSC 6971 - Thesis 6 Credit Hours (minimum) Electives - 17 Credit Hours selected with the faculty adviser and advisory committee and approved by the graduate program director.
Examinations
0 Total Credits
- A thesis proposal defense is required. The purpose of the proposal defense is to present the planned research and its foundations as a seminar to an interested audience of peers and the advisory committee. The proposal should be distributed to advisory committee members two weeks in advance of the defense, and the defense should be advertised (contact the graduate program specialist two weeks in advance). Public attendees typically have an opportunity to ask questions and comment following the seminar, after which the committee meets with the student to further discuss the proposal. The advisory committee must then vote to accept or reject the proposal. The thesis proposal defense must be passed a minimum of one semester preceding the oral thesis defense (i.e., the proposal defense and thesis defense cannot occur in the same semester). When the research is completed, the final oral thesis defense is conducted similar to the proposal defense.
Non-thesis Option (NOTE: The Biology Department is no longer accepting applications to the non-thesis program)
0 Total Credits
- In addition to the 7 credit hours of required courses listed above, nonthesis students must complete 12 credit hours of restricted electives, 19 credit hours of unrestricted electives, and a research report. Currently enrolled thesis option students interested in transferring to the nonthesis option should contact the graduate program director for information. Restricted Electives—12 Credit Hours Students take 12 credit hours of courses in at least three of the five areas below. Ecology Evolutionary Biology Genetics Physiology Cell and Developmental Biology Unrestricted Electives—19 Credit Hours Students take 19 credit hours of unrestricted electives that must be approved by the program graduate director. Research Report—2 Credit Hours BSC 6909 - Research Report 2 Credit Hours Examination Nonthesis students must take a comprehensive exam no later than the semester preceding that of graduation. If a student fails the comprehensive examination, a minimum of four weeks must elapse before reexamination. The comprehensive exam may be taken a maximum of two times.
Independent Learning
0 Total Credits
- Nonthesis students are required to complete a research report as their independent learning experience. The thesis satisfies the independent learning experience for thesis option students.
Grand Total Credits: 30
Application Requirements
For information on general UCF graduate admissions requirements that apply to all prospective students, please visit the Admissions section of the Graduate Catalog. Applicants must apply online. All requested materials must be submitted by the established deadline.
In addition to the general UCF graduate application requirements, applicants to this program must provide:
- One official transcript from each college/university attended
- Three letters of recommendation that addresses the applicant's capabilities and likelihood of success as an M.S. student.
- Résumé or CV
- A personal statement. Assessment of your application is based on your academic background, analytical skills, communication skills, and research experience. A personal statement is an opportunity to convey to the selection committee your personal, academic, and/or professional experiences that have led to your desire to attend graduate school. Include your long-term career goals and how a graduate education will help you achieve these goals. It is important to dedicate a section of your statement to discuss your research interests.
- A computer-based score of 230 (or 89 internet-based score) on the Test of English as a Foreign language (TOEFL) if an applicant is from a country where English is not the official language, or if an applicant's degree is not from an accredited U.S. institution, or if an applicant did not earn a degree in a country where English is the only official language or a university where English is the only official language of instruction. Although we prefer the TOEFL, we will accept IELTS scores of 7.0.
- Applicants applying to this program who have attended a college/university outside the United States must provide a course-by-course credential evaluation with GPA calculation. Credential evaluations are accepted from World Education Services (WES) or Josef Silny and Associates, Inc. only.
Applicants do not need to have an undergraduate degree in a biological science, but are expected to have 18 hours of biological sciences, including ecology and genetics. Courses in organic chemistry, calculus, and statistics are also recommended. After acceptance, minor deficiencies must be remedied by enrollment in the appropriate course at the first opportunity.
MS applicants should first identify faculty who match their own research interests, and then contact faculty in advance to inquire about research opportunities in faculty labs and to solicit agreement that a faculty member is interested in serving as the student's thesis advisor. Applicants who do not have a consenting thesis advisor within the department faculty will not be accepted into the program.
Applicants who do not have a competitive GPA may occasionally be accepted if there is other convincing evidence of potential for high achievement and success.
Application Deadlines
| Biology MS | *Fall Priority | Fall | Spring | Summer |
| Domestic Applicants | Dec 1 | Dec 1 | | |
| International Applicants | Dec 1 | Dec 1 | | |
*Applicants who plan to enroll full time in a degree program and who wish to be considered for university fellowships or teaching assistantships should apply by the Fall Priority date.
Students applying for summer or spring admission will be considered on an ad hoc basis but must complete their applications by December 1.
Financial Information
Graduate students may receive financial assistance through fellowships, assistantships, tuition support, or loans. For more information, see the College of Graduate Studies Funding website, which describes the types of financial assistance available at UCF and provides general guidance in planning your graduate finances. The Financial Information section of the Graduate Catalog is another key resource.
Fellowship Information
Fellowships are awarded based on academic merit to highly qualified students. They are paid to students through the Office of Student Financial Assistance, based on instructions provided by the College of Graduate Studies. Fellowships are given to support a student's graduate study and do not have a work obligation. For more information, see UCF Graduate Fellowships, which includes descriptions of university fellowships and what you should do to be considered for a fellowship.
