| Graduate
Programs > M.S. in Biology
The
Master of Science in Biology is a research-oriented degree that
may be pursued on a full-time or part-time basis.
To
be considered for admission to the Master of Science program, a
student must have a bachelor’s degree, preferably in a biological
science. Individuals with degrees in other natural sciences may
be considered, depending on their interests and background.
In addition to the requirements of the Graduate School of Arts and
Sciences, applicants should have a background that includes one
year each of general biology and general chemistry; organic chemistry;
physics; and mathematics, including calculus. Deficiencies in such
required back-ground courses should be resolved by the first 15
semester hours of courses taken in the graduate program. Transcripts
of academic work and three letters of recommendation are required.
GRE general test scores (within the last five years) are required.
Subject test scores in biology, biochemistry, cell and molecular
biology, chemistry, or physics are recommended. Admission
decisions are made by the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences after
the receipt of recommendations by the department's Graduate Committee.
Applications for the Fall semester must be received by January 1st in order to receive full consideration for financial aid. The general
Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) are required and applicants whose
first language is not English must have a minimum TOEFL score of
250 computer (600 paper, or 100 internet). To receive an application fill out this form:
http://www.cas.neu.edu/graduate/feedback.html
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Students entering with a bachelor’s degree are required to
complete 30 semester hours of graduate course work. Of these, 20
semester hours must be Biology Department courses, with an option
to petition substitution of courses from other departments. Two
2-semester-hour seminars are required: 1) Research Problem Solving
(BIO G382) or Topics in Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology
(BIO G383) or Topics in Integrative Biology (BIO G384) and 2) Ethics
in Biological Research (BIO G381). The 2-semester-hour Supervised
Experience in College Teaching (BIO G380) is required for all teaching
assistants; it should be taken in the same semester as the first
teaching assignment.
A minimum GPA of 3.000 for all graduate work is required for the
award of the MS degree. All regulations of the Graduate School of
Arts and Sciences regarding maintenance of academic standing apply.
This program involves laboratory or field research leading to the
written and oral defense of a thesis. Students are directed by an
adviser and two other committee members. The adviser and at least
one other member must be Biology department faculty members.
Students
also have the option of completing a literature thesis, a critical
review of an important biological problem. The regulations
for the structure of the thesis committee, the organization and
submission of the thesis proposal, and the requirements of the
thesis
defense are the same as for the research thesis.
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A candidate for the MS degree may apply to the PhD program after
completing 15 semester hours of course work in the master’s
program. The application must include an up-to-date transcript of
courses taken since admission to the master’s program and
letters of reference from two Northeastern faculty members, including
a letter of commitment from the student’s proposed doctoral
dissertation adviser. Students applying to the PhD program must
meet all course requirements for the PhD.
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All full-time
students enrolled in the Biology department’s doctoral or
master’s degree programs are eligible to be considered for
departmental financial aid. As noted in the general University policies,
all students who hold assistantships are expected to devote full
time to their studies and the duties of the award.
Graduate
assistantships in the Department of Biology are available for full-time
students and provide remission of tuition, waiver of the student health insurance charge, and annual stipends of
up to $27,427.50. Assistantships are in the form of either teaching
assistantships, research assistantships, and on a voluntary basis,
summer internships with one of several local biotechnology companies.
Other
Financial Aid Sources
For
the latest information on costs please contact student financial
services. Graduate
Tuition and Other Fees
Ms.
Janeen Greene
Department of Biology
134 Mugar Life Sciences
Northeastern University
Boston, MA 02115
Phone: (617) 373-2262
Fax: (617) 373-3724
gradbio@neu.edu
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