The
Department of Biology offers courses leading to a Master
of Science in Biology and providing minor and support
areas for degrees in other fields. See
history.
Credit
for a 5000-level course is not given to a student with
previous undergraduate credit in a similar course. Only
15 hours of 5000-level courses may count toward a graduate
degree.
Students
pursuing a master's degree in related fields can include
12 to 18 hours of work in Biology.
Students
pursuing the Master of Science degree with a major in
Biology can include 6 to 9 hours of work in an approved
minor or support area.
Admission
Requirements
1.
The applicant should consult http://www.utpa.edu/dept/biology/requirements.html
2.
Admission to the graduate program with a major in Biology
requires a minimum of 24 hours of undergraduate Biology
with at least 12 hours at the advanced level. As undergraduate
preparation, each student should have completed 3 to 4
hours in each of the following categories: Evolution or
Genetics, Cell Biology or General Microbiology, Organismal
or Environment Biology, and Mammalian or Plant Physiology.
Entering graduate students who have deficiencies in one
or more areas must remove them the first time that the
course(s) is offered.
3.
Full-time graduate students, who do not meet the above
requirements, may take up to 9 hours of leveling work
while taking a limited number of graduate hours.
4.
A minimum grade point average of 3.0 in upper level undergraduate
biology courses (based upon a 4.0 system) is required.
Degree
Requirements
Enrollment
While Completing Leveling Work
The
following courses may be taken while enrolled in leveling
work:
Biology 6365
Biology 6305
Biology 6101 (3-hour limit)
General
Degree Requirements
a. Preliminary Oral Assessment. The purpose of the graduate program is
to provide advanced training in biology. It is expected that all
students entering the program will possess a basic understanding of
general concepts in biology. By the end of the student's first semester
of graduate work, the student's Graduate Committee will administer a
Preliminary Oral Assessment to determine the student's understanding of
general biological principles. The student's performance will help the
Graduate Committee in formulating recommendations for the degree plan
and for removing deficiencies. If deficiencies or weaknesses in basic
biology are apparent, the Graduate Committee will recommend that the
student take appropriate undergraduate courses, or engage in self-study
in the areas of deficiency. These courses and/or studies must be
completed before the comprehensive oral examination (and thesis defense)
is taken.
b.
Comprehensive Oral Examination and Thesis Defense.
After satisfactory completion of the required number
of courses (and the presentation of a seminar on the
thesis research for those pursuing the thesis option)
the student must take a comprehensive examination (and
thesis defense for thesis students). The examination
(and thesis defense) will be conducted by the Graduate
Committee, but it is open to all Biology Graduate Faculty
members. The Biology Graduate Faculty must be notified
of the examination date, time and place at least two
weeks prior to the examination. There is no time limit,
but the examination (and thesis defense) ordinarily
lasts at least two hours. For thesis students, the first
round of questions are devoted to a defense of the thesis
and the second and subsequent rounds of questions are
over basic biological concepts and principles. For non-thesis
students, all questions are on general biology. At the
end of the Comprehensive Oral Examination (and Thesis
Defense), the Graduate Committee will assign a grade
of "pass" or "fail," based on a majority vote of the
committee.
If the student fails the Comprehensive Oral Exami-nation
(and Thesis Defense), he or she may be granted permission
to take a second examination, if doing so is approved
by the Graduate Committee, the chair of the Biology
Department, and the dean of College of Science and Engineering.
In no case will a second examination be given until
at least one semester has passed. After two failures,
no further examination is allowed.
c.
Biology Grades. All graduate students
in Biology are expected to maintain a minimum GPA of
3.0 throughout their MS degree program. Any student
whose GPA falls below 3.0 will be placed on probation.
To remain in the graduate program, the student must
restore his or her GPA to 3.0 by the end of the next
semester (fall or spring).
General
Requirements for Thesis Program
a.
Graduate students selecting the thesis option must complete
30 hours including the thesis. The choice of courses
will be determined through consultation between the
student and his or her graduate advisor and have the
approval of the chair of the department.
b.
During the first semester of study following admission
to graduate study, the student should choose from the
Graduate Faculty a major professor who will serve as
chairman of his or her Graduate Committee and two other
faculty members chosen in conference with the major
professor and the chair of the department. This committee
will approve a plan of study for the student that must
be approved by, and a copy filed with, the department
chair and the dean of the College of Science and Engineering.
The major professor and student should each retain a
copy. This committee will also oversee progress and
supervise the required comprehensive examination.
c.
A thesis topic and plan for research will be chosen
by the student and his or her major professor, subject
to approval by the Graduate Committee.
d.
The research will culminate in a thesis written in the
style approved by the Graduate Committee and should
be worthy of submission, in whole or in part, for publication
in a reputable journal. Approval must be affirmed by
the chair of the department and the dean of the college.
e.
Following acceptance of the thesis, evidenced by the
signatures of the committee members and by the administrators
indicated above, four copies should be presented for
binding, and a fee to cover the cost of binding should
be paid to The University of Texas-Pan American. The
four bound copies will be distributed as follows: the
first (original) and second copy in the library, the
third copy with the Department of Biology and the fourth
copy with the student.
General
Requirements for Non-Thesis Program
A
non-thesis student must complete 27 or 30 hours of biological
sciences and may include in his or her program a maximum
of 6 to 9 hours in a related field for a total of 36 hours.
Master
of Science Degree Thesis Option
Required
Courses 15 hours
BIOL
6101 Biology Graduate Seminar (may be repeated three times)
BIOL 6305 Biometry
BIOL 6365 Graduate Biological Research Problems
BIOL 7300 Thesis
BIOL 7301 Thesis
Electives
15 hours
Select 15 hours from the following:
BIOL 5304 Advanced Ichthyology
BIOL 5307 Host-Parasite Relationships
BIOL 5309 Advanced Herpetology
BIOL 5311 Advanced Ecological Physiology
BIOL 5312 Advanced Ornithology
BIOL 5314 Advanced Plant Systematics
BIOL 5315 Advanced Entomology
BIOL 5316 Advanced Toxicology
BIOL 5344 Advanced Mammalogy
BIOL 5345 Advanced Plant Physiology
BIOL 5404 Molecular Virology
BIOL 5406 Advanced Mycology
BIOL 5408 Advanced Plant Pathology
BIOL 5410 Marine Plant Science
BIOL 5452 Advanced Marine Zoology
BIOL 6302 Special Topics in Biology-Marine Ecology
BIOL 6303 Advanced Ecology
BIOL 6304 Systematic Zoology
BIOL 6308 Plant-Microbe Interactions
BIOL 6313 Advanced Cell Biology and Physiology
BIOL 6314 Aquatic Entomology
BIOL 6316 Molecular Genetics
BIOL 6319 Scientism
BIOL 6321 Applied Microbiology
TOTAL
30 hours
Master
of Science Degree Non-Thesis
Required
courses 9 hours
BIOL 6101 Biology Graduate Seminar
BIOL 6305 Biometry
BIOL 6365 Graduate Biological Research Problems
Electives
in major areas
18-21 hours
Select
from the following:
BIOL 5304 Advanced Ichthyology
BIOL 5307 Host-Parasite Relationships
BIOL 5309 Advanced Herpetology
BIOL 5311 Advanced Ecological Physiology
BIOL 5312 Advanced Ornithology
BIOL 5314 Advanced Plant Systematics
BIOL 5315 Advanced Entomology
BIOL 5316 Advanced Toxicology
BIOL 5344 Advanced Mammalogy
BIOL 5345 Advanced Plant Physiology
BIOL 5404 Molecular Virology
BIOL 5406 Advanced Mycology
BIOL 5408 Advanced Plant Pathology
BIOL 5410 Marine Plant Science
BIOL 5452 Advanced Marine Zoology
BIOL 6302 Special Topics in Biology-Marine Ecology
BIOL 6303 Advanced Ecology
BIOL 6304 Systematic Zoology
BIOL 6308 Plant-Microbe Interactions
BIOL 6313 Advanced Cell Biology and Physiology
BIOL 6314 Aquatic Entomology
BIOL 6316 Molecular Genetics
BIOL 6319 Scientism
BIOL 6321 Applied Microbiology
Approved
minor or support area 6-9 hours
TOTAL 36 hours
