Program of Study for the Master of Science in Biology

Admission Requirements: Baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university; complete application to the Graduate School ; official general GRE exam scores, unless waived; letter of intent; commitment from a Biology faculty member to chair the applicant’s thesis committee.

Additional Admission Requirements: Recommendations for the application should be written by persons familiar with the applicant’s academic performance. At least one letter must be from a faculty member at the applicant’s undergraduate degree-granting institution. Applicants are encouraged to contact the program director as early as possible regarding thesis research interests. 

To be considered for admission, applicants must meet the criteria for admission to the Graduate School . Meeting these criteria does not guarantee admission.

Standardized Exam Waiver Eligibility: The standardized exam (GRE) requirement may be waived for applicants who earned a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher and who complete an interview (on-campus preferred, although video interview is acceptable) with the potential faculty adviser(s) and the graduate program director.

Location: On Campus

Additional Standardized Exam Waiver Eligibility Information

Standardized exam (GRE, GMAT, MAT) waiver eligibility for graduate degree programs at Appalachian State varies by program, but requires that applicants hold a minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher in their last earned bachelor’s degree or 3.3 or higher in an earned graduate degree. No exam waiver is automatic but will require review and approval by the program and by the Graduate School upon submission of a complete application. An approved waiver request does not guarantee acceptance into the program. A denied waiver request does not mean that a candidate is denied admission to the program, only that a standardized exam score is needed to more fully evaluate the application.  More complete information about standardized exam waivers can be found in the Admissions Requirements section of this Bulletin .

Accelerated Master’s Program

This program offers an Accelerated Master’s  option for undergraduate students currently enrolled at Appalachian State University.

Course Requirements for the Master of Science in Biology

Concentration Requirements (21 or 25 Hours)

• BIO 5250 - Current Topics in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (3)
• BIO 5777 - Biostatistics (4)
• 14-18 hours of graduate elective courses, 9 hours of which must be taken in ecology and evolutionary biology, chosen in consultation with the major advisor

Other Requirements for the MS in Biology

• Thesis: Required
• Proficiency: Not required
• Candidacy: Required; awarded upon approval of thesis committee and prospectus
• Comprehensive: A written comprehensive examination and an oral defense of the thesis
• Product of Learning: Not required