Natural Science, M.S.

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Natural Science Program

Master of Science
Curriculum 8020 Requirements

Course Requirements

Core Courses: (6 cr.)

SCI 510 - Research Methods (3 cr.) Must be completed by the end of the second semester.
SCI 505 - Graduate Seminar in Natural Science (1 to 2 cr.) (1 cr.) This course may be taken more than once with different topics. A total of 3 credits of SCI 505 must be completed in Seminar coursework.

Program Study Options: (15-18 cr.)

Each student will concentrate in one natural science area or a clearly defined interdisciplinary topic. The specific course of study must be approved by the student’s graduate advisory committee in the first semester.

Biology

BIO 510 - Plant Diversity and Evolution (4 cr.) (3 cr.)
BIO 533 - Biostatistics (3 cr.)
BIO 545 - Graduate Field Botany (3 cr.)
BIO 582 - Recent advances in Biology (3 cr.)
BIO 587 - Topics in Biology III (3 cr.)
BIO 590 - Cellular Biochemistry Research Experience (15 cr.)
BIO 599 - Graduate Independent Study (1 to 7 cr.) (2-6 cr.)
Other graduate courses by advisement.

Chemistry

CHE 501 - Biochemistry I (3 cr.)
CHE 502 - Biochemistry II (3 cr.)
CHE 505 - Mini-Topics in Chemistry (1 to 2 cr.) (1 cr.)
CHE 521 - Advanced Analytical Chemistry (4 cr.)
CHE 542 - Advanced Organic Chemistry (3 cr.)
CHE 576 - Topics in Biochemistry (3 cr.)
CHE 591 - Graduate Seminar (1 cr.)
CHE 599 - Graduate Independent Study (1-6 cr.)
Other graduate courses by advisement.

Environmental Science

ENV 521 - Environmental Law and Policy (3 cr.)
ENV 531 - Freshwater Ecology (4 cr.)
ENV 533 - River Ecology (4 cr.) (3 cr.)
ENV 536 - Advanced Population and Community Ecology (3 cr.)
ENV 562 - Ecosystem Ecology (3 cr.)
ENV 580 - Advanced Topics in Ecology (1 to 4 cr.) (1-3 cr.)
ENV 581 - Sustainability (3 cr.)
ENV 599 - Independent Study (1 to 15 cr.) (1-6 cr.)
Other graduate courses by advisement.

Research Thesis or Project: (6-9 cr.)

Complete either a final written thesis based upon independent research (6-9 credits) or a final non-thesis project (6 credits) as approved by the student’s graduate committee.

Thesis Option

Complete a research project and a written thesis under the supervision of a faculty member. The student’s Graduate Advisory Committee and research advisor will determine the specific requirements. Thesis credits should be taken as one of the following courses:

BIO 595 - Graduate Research (2 to 7 cr.) (6-9 cr.)
CHE 595 - Graduate Research (1 to 6 cr.) (6-9 cr.)
ENV 595 - Graduate Research (1 to 6 cr.) (6-9 cr.)

Project Option

Conduct and/or apply research in a practicum or internship setting, under the direction of a site supervisor and/or a faculty supervisor. A written report describing the research, its applicability, and the internship site will be required. The student’s Graduate Advisory Committee and research advisor will determine the specific requirements. Project credits should be taken as the following course:

SCI 594 - Applied Graduate Research (6 cr.)

Total Credit Hours 30

Additional Degree Requirements

An oral defense/evaluation of the thesis or the project must be completed no later than 30 days before the date for graduation. The evaluation format will be determined by the student’s Graduate Advisory Committee. The oral defense normally includes an oral seminar presentation open to the public followed by a private committee meeting with the student’s Graduate Advisory Committees.