Biology Multi-Award Program - B.S./M.S. Degree

Department of Biology
Office: 221 Science Center

(716) 673-3282

Scott Medler, Chairperson

Email: biology@fredonia.edu

Website: http://home.fredonia.edu/biology

Application Criteria/Eligibility

Only students who will complete both a Bachelor’s and a Master’s in Biology at Fredonia are eligible to enroll in the program. Students need to be a current, continuing undergraduate in Biology at the time of application. Students may declare intent to enter the BS/MS program as an incoming freshman. They will do so in writing with Biology Department advisors.

Students with an overall GPA of at least 3.00 may apply to the BS/MS program after:

• Completion of the lower division core requirements: BIOL 131/132, 133/134, 237/238, 243/244, 330/331, 333/334; CHEM 115/125, 116/126, 215/225, 216/226; STAT 250 OR MATH 120 OR MATH 122

• 74 hours of academic credit have been completed or are in progress (typically Fall semester Junior year);

• Declaration of capstone BIOL 491 OR BIOL 492 OR BIOL 493

Students who are accepted into the program may be granted probation for one semester following an overall GPA below 3.00. If a student does not achieve an overall 3.00 GPA after one probation semester, a student will not be allowed to continue in this program.

Application Procedure

Students will normally apply directly to the Department of Biology for the BS/MS Biology Multi-Award program during their Fall semester of the third academic year. Students should apply when they declare their capstone during advising week.

Application requirements include:

• GPA of 3.00 or greater

• Two letters of recommendation (for MS Thesis option one letter should be from the faculty research mentor)

• For MS Thesis option agreement of a faculty member to mentor the student in their research lab if accepted

• Academic transcripts (unofficial transcripts are OK)

• Letter of intent

• CV/resume

Admission decisions will be made by the Biology Department Graduate Committee and based on the student's previous academic success in the department, as indicated by GPA and grades in the core curriculum, as well as potential success in the graduate program as indicated by the letters of recommendation and the student's letter of intent.

Decisions will normally be communicated to students within four weeks of submitting a complete application to the BS/MS Biology Multi-Award Program.

Requirements During Undergraduate Studies (first 8 semesters)

All university requirements, including general education courses, must be completed before the final (graduate) year of the BS/MS Biology Multi-Award Program. In the final undergraduate year, students will take 10 credits of graduate-level courses. If any courses are dual-listed, students in the BS/MS Biology Multi-Award Program must complete all assignments expected of graduate students and they will be evaluated in the same way as graduate students.

• Students will earn 10 graduate credits during their undergraduate program.

• Students will be considered undergraduates for tuition, academic requirements and financial aid purposes until all requirements for the undergraduate degree are completed. Following this they will be considered graduate students, will pay graduate tuition, and will be eligible for graduate financial aid.

• During the undergraduate program the student will typically take BIOL 491 Capstone Research in order to enter the BS/MS program with the Thesis option. Any Capstone will be taken in order to enter the BS/MS program with the Comprehensive Exam option.

Summer between Year 4 & Year 5

• Program students are eligible to apply for the Biology Department summer research fellowship which includes a stipend and research supply funds. Interested students should look for advertisement of the application due date in Spring semester of their 4th year.

Requirements During Graduate Studies

• After successful completion of their undergraduate program, students will be eligible to take the second year of the MS curriculum. At this point students will be treated as graduate students for purposes of tuition and fees, financial aid, etc.

• Students must complete all graduate requirements. For Thesis option students this includes oral presentation and defense of a proposal and thesis. For Comprehensive Exam option students this includes a comprehensive examination.

Graduation Without Completion of the BS/MS Biology Multi-Award Program

If a student decides at some point to pursue only the undergraduate portion of the degree, the Department Biology will recognize the graduate courses taken in lieu of undergraduate courses. Credit from the undergraduate degree cannot be used toward a graduate degree at a later date.