Master of Science/Arts in Biology
College of Sciences
Dr. Karen Kettler, Ed.D., Dean
Program Advisor: Dr. Joseph Horzempa, Ph.D., Co-Program Director of the MA/MS in Biology
Program Advisor: Dr. Zachary Loughman, Ph.D., Co-Program Director of the MA/MS in Biology
The traditional MA in Biology provides a bridge program for students desiring coursework at the graduate level to prepare for more competitive professional school entrance or for advancement in the workplace. Coursework in the traditional MA in Biology can be selected from a variety of dual-listed electives to allow focusing of study as needed. The use of dual-listed courses (upper-level courses in undergraduate biology offered with differentiated learning at the 500-level to graduate students) allows maximum efficiency in programming without any detriment to the undergraduate student population. The MA in Biology, Zoo Science option is specific for professionals in animal management fields holding 4-year degrees from accredited institutions of higher education who wish to extend their education at the graduate level. The designated 30 credit hours of coursework required is specific to the challenges within animal management fields and will be offered in an online format to facilitate program completion across the nation. The traditional MS in Biology features 14 credit hours of graded biology coursework, the option for additional research hours and graduate-level electives, and a traditional thesis. The MS in Biology, Zoo Science provides off-campus students a 20-credit hour core curriculum with research, thesis, and additional electives as needed to fulfill educational expectations. The MS in Biology, Zoo Science, Fellowship option provides on-campus students the opportunity to explore research questions impacting animal husbandry and conservation. MS in Biology, Zoo Science, Fellowship students will take a required 26-credit hour core curriculum, research, thesis, and additional electives as needed.
Admission Requirements
Application submission does not guarantee acceptance into the program and students are urged to apply early. Students must first complete and return the Graduate Application for Admission to the Graduate Admissions Office at West Liberty University to be considered for admission to the program. All applicants must provide a complete application file which contains the following items to be submitted in one packet to the Graduate Admissions Office.
- A completed discipline-specific bachelor’s degree from an accredited 4-year institution of higher education with an overall GPA of at least 2.6
- An undergraduate science minimum GPA of 2.8
- Undergraduate degrees should be in Biology, Ecology, Chemistry, or a related field. Consideration will be given to students receiving a bachelor’s degree in an unrelated area as long as 18 biology or ecology course credits were completed with a minimum GPA of 3.0.
- For applicants to the MS/MA in Biology/Zoo Science option the 18 course credit hours requirement may be waived providing the individual has 5 plus years of appropriate experience in animal management and conservation as determined by the admissions committee in conjunction with the Zoo Science and Applied Conservation Coordinator.
- Graduate Record Examination (GRE) – A combined score (Verbal and Quantitative Reasoning) of 300 on the GRE with a score of at least 3.5 on the analytical writing portion. The Biology Subject Test GRE is not required. GRE must be taken within two years prior to successful program application. Applicants with a 3.3 (overall and Science) GPA or have their undergraduate biology degree from WLU are not required to take the GRE exam.
- Three recommendation forms
- A statement of the student’s career goals indicating how earning the MS/MA in Biology will enhance the applicant's career goals. Please discuss your research and/or professional experience specific to the biological sciences, and how this influenced your decision to achieve a graduate education. This statement should be approximately one to two pages.
- A professional curriculum vitae or resume.
Upon approval by the faculty, provisional admission may be granted to candidates who do not meet the minimum requirements.
International Student Applicants: In addition to the requirements listed above, international students must submit:
- Proof of English Proficiency: one of the following test results that has been completed within the past three years:
- Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL): A minimum score of 80 for the Internet-based test (IBT), or 550 for the paper-based test (PBT)
- International English Language Testing (IELTS): 6
- EIKEN: Grade Pre-1
- Pearson Test of English (PTE) Academic: 54
- Credit Certification: all coursework and credits from institutions outside of the United States, evaluated by a credential evaluation service provider [e.g., World Education Services (WES), Global Credential Evaluators (GCE), Association of International Credentials Evaluators (AICE), American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO), etc.]
- Proof of Financial Support: documentation of adequate financial support for one academic year (nine months) [e.g., official bank statement, sponsorship award letters, scholarship awards, Affidavit of Support (DHS Form I-134), etc.]
- Copy of ID page from passport
- Immunization records
MS in Biology Traditional and (3+2) Graduation Requirements
- Students must complete at least 30 hours of biology graduate coursework, including the thesis. A minimum 3 to a maximum of 9 credit hours may be earned for the thesis.
- Candidates for the MS degree must register for and participate in Graduate Seminar (seminar will be 1 credit hour per semester) each semester, except the thesis semester, while they are actively enrolled in the graduate program. No more than 3 credit hours of seminar may be used to complete the 30 credit hour requirement.
- Students must complete 14 credit hours in graded graduate biology courses including BIO 510 Graduate Research Skills.
- Students may take up to 9 credit hours of BIO 580 Research per semester. However, no more than 4 credit hours in BIO 580 Research may be used to complete the 30 credit hour requirement. Moreover, these Research credits may only be applied beyond the required 14 credit hours in graded biology graduate courses.
- Students may take BIO 500-level electives beyond the required coursework to reach the 30-graduate credit hour requirement for graduation; students taking additional elective coursework are still required to complete a minimum of 3 credit hours of BIO 598 Thesis.
- Successful completion of the graduate program in biology requires a GPA of 3.0 or higher, and no more than 6 credit hours of “C” grades may be applied to the total hours for graduation.
- Upon completion of course requirements and the thesis, MS candidates must pass an oral thesis defense.
MS in Biology (Traditional) Graduation Requirements
- Students must complete at least 30 credit hours of biology graduate coursework, including the thesis. A maximum of 9 credit hours may be earned for the thesis.
- Candidates for the MS degree in Biology Zoo Science option must successfully complete, grade of “C” or higher, the 19-credit hour Zoo Science core curriculum.
- Students may take up to 9 credit hours of BIO 580 Independent Study per semester. However, no more than 2 credit hours in Independent Study may be used to complete the 30-credit hour requirement.
- Successful completion of the graduate program in biology requires a GPA of 3.0 or higher, and no more than 6 credit hours of “C” grades may be applied to the total hours for graduation. Upon completion of course requirements and the thesis, MS candidates must pass an oral thesis defense.
Semester 1
| BIO 525 | Graduate Seminar | 1 |
| BIO 510 | Graduate Research Skills | 3 |
| | BIO Graduate Electives (3-4) | 3-4 |
Semester 2
| BIO 525 | Graduate Seminar | 1 |
| | BIO Graduate Electives (3-4) | 3-4 |
| | BIO Graduate Electives (3-4) | 3-4 |
Semester 3
| BIO 525 | Graduate Seminar | 1 |
| | | |
| | BIO Graduate Electives (3-4) | 3-4 |
Semester 4
MS in Biology, Zoo Science Graduation Requirements
- Students must complete at least 30 credit hours of biology graduate coursework, including the thesis. A minimum of 3 and maximum of 9 credit hours may be earned for the thesis.
- Candidates for the MS degree in Biology Zoo Science must successfully complete, grade of “C” or higher, the 20-credit hour Zoo Science core curriculum.
- Students may take up to 9 credit hours of BIO 580 Research per semester. However, no more than 1 credit hour in Research may be used to complete the 30-credit hour requirement.
- Students may take BIO 500-level electives beyond the required coursework to reach the 30-graduate credit hour requirement for graduation; students taking additional elective coursework are still required to complete a minimum of 3 credit hours of BIO 598 Thesis.
- Successful completion of the graduate program in biology requires a GPA of 3.0 or higher, and no more than 6 credit hours of “C” grades may be applied to the total hours for graduation. Upon completion of course requirements and the thesis, MS candidates must pass an oral thesis defense.
Semester 1
| BIO 545 | Graduate Zoo Mammalogy | 3 |
| BIO 520 | Quantitative Biological Techniques | 3 |
Semester 2
Semester 3
| BIO 540 | Advanced Conservation Biology | 4 |
| BIO 543 | Graduate Zoo Herpetology & Herpetoculture | 3 |
| BIO 580 | Research | 1-9 |
Semester 4
MA in Biology (Traditional) Graduation Requirements
- Students who select the MA option must complete a minimum of 30 credit hours of graduate coursework. MA students must take BIO 525 Graduate Seminar (1 credit per semester) during each semester they are actively enrolled in the program. No more than 4 credit hours of seminar (BIO 525) may be used to complete the 30 MA in Biology credit hour requirement.
- MA students must complete a minimum of 26 credit hours of graded biology graduate coursework. No more than 6 credit hours of “C” grades may be applied to the total hours for graduation.
- MA candidates do not conduct thesis research. Successful completion of the graduate program in biology requires a GPA of 3.0 or higher and a comprehensive examination score of 75% or higher. Students may take the comprehensive examination a total of two times to achieve or surpass the minimum score.
Semester 1
| BIO 525 | Graduate Seminar | 1 |
| | BIO Graduate Electives (3-4) | 3-4 |
| | BIO Graduate Electives (3-4) | 3-4 |
Semester 2
| BIO 525 | Graduate Seminar | 1 |
| | BIO Graduate Electives (3-4) | 3-4 |
| | BIO Graduate Electives (3-4) | 3-4 |
Semester 3
| BIO 525 | Graduate Seminar | 1 |
| | BIO Graduate Electives (3-4) | 3-4 |
| | BIO Graduate Electives (3-4) | 3-4 |
Semester 4
| BIO 525 | Graduate Seminar | 1 |
| | BIO Graduate Electives (3-4) | 3-4 |
| | BIO Comprehensive Examination | |
MA in Biology, Zoo Science Graduation Requirements
- Students who select the MA option must complete a designated 30 credit hours of graduate coursework including the 20 credit hour Zoo Science core curriculum. All credit hours are graded biology graduate courses.
- No more than 6 credit hours of “C” grades may be applied to the total hours for graduation.
- MA candidates do not conduct thesis research.
- Successful completion of the graduate program in biology requires a GPA of 3.0 or higher and a comprehensive examination score of 75% or higher. Students may take the comprehensive examination a total of two times to achieve or surpass the minimum score.
Semester 1
| BIO 545 | Graduate Zoo Mammalogy | 3 |
| BIO 520 | Quantitative Biological Techniques | 3 |
| BIO 554 | Graduate Zoo Internship | 1-4 |
Semester 2
Semester 3
Semester 4
| BIO 552 | Zoo Conservation | 4 |
| BIO 558 | Advanced Animal Nutrition | 3 |
| BIO 554 | Graduate Zoo Internship | 1-4 |
| | BIO Comprehensive Examination | |
MS Biology Zoo Science Fellowship
- Students must complete at least 30 credit hours of biology graduate coursework, including 3 credit hours of BIO 598 Thesis.
- Candidates for the MS degree in Biology, Zoo Science, Fellowship concentration must successfully complete, grade of “C” or higher, the 26-credit hour Zoo Science core curriculum.
- Students may take up to 9 credit hours of BIO 580 Research per semester; however, no more than 1 credit hour in Research may be used to complete the 30-credit hour graduation requirement.
- Students may take BIO 500-level electives beyond the required coursework to reach the 30-graduate credit hours requirement for graduation; students taking additional elective coursework are still required to complete a minimum of 3 credit hours of BIO 598 Thesis.
- Successful completion of the graduate program in biology requires a GPA of 3.0 or higher, and no more than 6 credit hours of “C” grades may be applied to the total hours for graduation. Upon completion of course requirements and the thesis, MS candidates must pass an oral thesis defense.
Required Courses (30 credit hours)
Core Courses (26 credit hours)
Research and Thesis (4 credit hours)
MS/MA in Biology Electives
Graduate Biology Electives
MA in Biology, Biomedical Science (WVSOM Bridge Program) Graduation Requirements
The Master of Arts in Biology, with a major in Biomedical Sciences (MAB), is designed for students to demonstrate they can be successful at the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine (WVSOM). Students will take West Liberty University graduate-level courses in human biology and medicine to improve their overall academic credentials and prove they can handle the rigors of medical school.
Additional Application Requirements for MA in Biology, Biomedical Sciences Major
- Overall undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher with a science GPA of 2.8 or higher.
- MCAT score above 485 or GRE score above 300 on the verbal and quantitative reasoning sections, combined.
Guaranteed Admissions Requirements with WVSOM
- Overall undergraduate GPA of 3.2 with a 3.0 Science GPA.
- At least one letter of recommendation from an osteopathic physician and one from a pre-med advisor.
- Complete an acceptable interview with the WVOSM Admissions Office prior to matriculation at WLU (M.A. in Biology, Biomedical Sciences).
- Completion of the WLU M.A. in Biology, Biomedical Sciences within one year from date of matriculation.
- Graduate from the WLU M.A. in Biology, Biomedical Sciences with a GPA of 3.4 or higher.
- Have a current MCAT score of 498 or higher.
- Have no more than one C in their WLU M.A. in Biology, Biomedical Sciences coursework.
Course Schedule for MA Biomedical Sciences
Fall Semester Courses (14 or 15 credit hours):
| BIO 502 | Human Anatomy & Physiology I | 3 |
| BIO 503 | Human Anatomy & Phys I Lab | 1 |
| BIO 570 | Advanced Biological Chemistry | 3 |
| BIO 513 | MCAT Preparation | 1 |
| | Or | |
| BIO 514 | MCAT Prep Mentor | 1 |
| | Biomedical Science Graduate Electives | 6-7 |
Spring Semester Courses (16 credit hours):
| BIO 517 | Advanced Immunology | 3 |
| BIO 523 | Graduate Pathophysiology | 3 |
| BIO 528 | Human Anatomy & Physiology II | 3 |
| BIO 529 | Human Anatomy & Physiology II Lab | 1 |
| | Biomedical Science Graduate Electives | 6 |
Comprehensive Exam, attempt #1 __ (75% minimum score)
Comprehensive Exam, attempt #2 __ (75% minimum score)
Biomedical Science Electives