Brockport / Catalogs / 2013-14 / Programs / Biology BS/MS Combined Degree Program

Biology BS/MS Combined Degree Program

Description

The Department of Biology's combined degree program allows students to earn both Bachelor and Master of Science degrees in five years of full-time study. During the first three years, students will complete a core of Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Math courses totaling 52 credits. Additionally, by the end of the seventh semester students will have fulfilled their General Education requirements, will be granted the BS after completing 120 credits, and will hold graduate student status.

Students will apply to the combined degree program during the spring semester of their junior year. Once admitted to the combined degree program, students will earn the MS after successfully completing all graduate requirements, including a minimum of 30 graduate credits.

Admission to the Program

Students must submit the combined degree application, available from Graduate Admissions, by the middle of the second semester of their junior year. Admission to the combined program is selective, restricted to students with exceptional records, and depends on the availability of a faculty member to serve a s a thesis advisor. Students must have a cumulative GPA of 3.25 or better through the end of the junior year to be accepted into the program. Transfer students will be considered for the BS/MS program after taking 30 credits of course work at Brockport, 18 of which must be upper-division courses in biology. Qualified applicants will be interviewed by the Department of Biology, which will make the final decision on admissions. Achievement of the minimum standards for admission does not guarantee acceptance. The combined program will be limited to a maximum of 10 students per year.

Students admitted to the combined program who fail to meet this academic standard will have a fall-back position, which is to complete all requirements for the BS in Biology. After completing the combined program, students will have earned a BS and an MS in Biology.

Program Requirements

Biology Requirements

• BIO 201
• BIO 202
• BIO 301
• BIO 302
• BIO 424
• BIO 498
• BIO 692
• BIO 704

Chemistry Requirements (16 credits)

• CHM 205
• CHM 206
• CHM 305
• One of the following courses:
  • CHM 306
  • CHM 313

Physics Requirements (8 credits)

One of the following two-course sequences is required:

• Option 1
  • PHS 205
  • PHS 210
• Option 2
  • PHS 235
  • PHS 240

Math Requirement (3-4 credits)

One of the following courses:

• MTH 201
• MTH 243
• ENV 437

Elective Courses

• one 400-level BIO course with a laboratory requirement. The following list reflects course offerings at the date of publication. Other courses may satisfy this requirement by advisement.
  • BIO 404
  • BIO 413
  • BIO 417
  • BIO 423
  • BIO 424
  • BIO 456
  • BIO 480
  • Students may count one of the following lecture courses toward this requirement if they also take the laboratory component
    • Lecture:
      • BIO 467
      • BIO 468
    • Lab:
      • BIO 470
• 15 credits of 500-level BIO courses
• 8 credits of 600-level BIO courses

Other Requirements

1. Completion of General Education requirements at Brockport.
2. Completion of the Plan of Graduate Study as determined by the Thesis Advisory Committee in consultation with the candidate by the end of the seventh semester.
3. Successful completion of an oral comprehensive exam administered by the Graduate Advisory Committee by the end of the eighth semester of matriculation (normally the last semester of the senior year).
4. Completion of a minimum of 15 credits at the 600/700 level.
5. Completion of a minimum of 30 credits with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher in the courses listed in the Plan of Graduate Study.
6. Completion of a thesis proposal written by the candidate, approved by the Advisory Committee.
7. Completion of a written thesis, approved by the Advisory Committee.
8. Completion of an oral thesis defense of a written thesis administered by the Advisory Committee.
9. Submission of five copies of the defended thesis to the department secretary.

Students in the Combined Program who successfully complete all requirements will be awarded a baccalaureate degree after completion of 120 credits, and the Master's degree after completion of all program requirements, including those at the graduate level.

Department of Biology

Department Chair: Rey Antonio Sia
Location: Lennon 103
Visit Website
Email: biodept@brockport.edu
Phone: (585) 395-2193
Fax: (585) 395-2741

Related Programs

Other Undergraduate Programs

• Biology Major
• Biology Minor
• Medical Technology Major

Graduate Programs

• Master of Science in Biology

Faculty & Staff

Sarah L Austin BS
(SUNY At Buffalo)
Teaching Assistant

William Bigham BS
(SUNY College At Brockport)
Teaching Assistant

Thomas P Bonner Ph.D
(University Of Cincinnati-Main Campus)
Professor Emeritus

Laurie B Cook Ph.D
(University Of Rochester)
Associate Professor

Lori L Cornell
Secretary 1

Amanda L Courtney BS
(SUNY College At Brockport)
Teaching Assistant

Huey K Hing Ph.D
(Yale University)
Associate Professor

Christina M Hoh BS
(Rochester Institute Of Technology)
Teaching Assistant

Craig R Lending Ph.D
(University Of Wisconsin-Madison)
Associate Professor

Kachana N Mendes Ph.D
(Oklahoma State University-Main Campus)
Lab Instructor

Dawn Newman BS
(Florida Institute Of Technology-Melbourne)
Senr Lab Tech

Bernardo Ortega Ph.D
(University of Sheffield)
Assistant Professor

Michel Pelletier Ph.D
(Universite Laval)
Assistant Professor

Christopher Prevost BS
(SUNY College At Brockport)
Teaching Assistant

Adam J Rich Ph.D
(SUNY At Stony Brook)
Associate Professor

Rey Antonio L Sia Ph.D
(Columbia University)
Associate Professor + Chair

Brandon Skawienski BS
(University Of Pittsburgh-Bradford)
Teaching Assistant

Stuart I Tsubota Ph.D
(University Of California-Berkeley)
Professor