The Master of Arts (MA) in Biological Sciences is a course-work only degree designed for individuals who wish to enhance their knowledge of foundational concepts in Biological Sciences and gain practical hands-on training in controlled laboratory exercises, data analysis and presentation as well as scientific pedagogical practices. This degree does not require the traditional intensive commitment to data-driven research that is the hallmark of the Master of Science (MS) degree in Biology.
Admission Requirements
See the Admission Criteria section of this catalog for more information.
Curricular Requirements
| Code and Title | Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| Courses Required for All M.A. Students | ||
| BSC 604 or | Sci Writing and Presentation | 3 |
| BSC 610 | Pedagogy in Biological Science | |
| BSC 505 | Intro to Grad Studies | 2 |
| BSC 601 | Biological Sciences Seminar (required each semester in residence at the Tuscaloosa campus) | 1 |
| At least one course designated as laboratory | 3-4 | |
| Phage Discovery Laboratory | ||
| Principles Of Systematics | ||
| Human Physiology Lab | ||
| Computational Biology Lab | ||
| Biology Of Fishes | ||
| Plant Systematics | ||
| Bch/Molecular Biology Lab | ||
| Integrated Genomics | ||
| Biochemistry Lab | ||
| Drug Discovery Laboratory | ||
| Biology Of Algae | ||
| Histology Of Vertebrates | ||
| General Entomology | ||
| Aquatic Insects | ||
| Microscopical Techniques | ||
| Biology Electives | 8-20 | |
| Limnology | ||
| Wetland Ecology | ||
| Disease Ecology | ||
| Environmental Modeling | ||
| Evolutionary Genomics | ||
| Pers Gen Med | ||
| Biology of Cancer | ||
| Human Physiology | ||
| Introduction to Pharmacology | ||
| Pathogenic Microbiology | ||
| Immunology | ||
| Developmental Biology | ||
| General Virology | ||
| Animal Behavior | ||
| Endocrinology | ||
| Fundamentals of Biochemistry | ||
| Bch/Molecular Biology II | ||
| Chemical Ecology | ||
| Microbial Ecology | ||
| Principles Of Toxicology | ||
| Prin Pop Genetics | ||
| Plant Physiology | ||
| Bioinformatics | ||
| Plant Ecology | ||
| Foundations in Advanced Biostatistics with Applications to R | ||
| Conservation Biology | ||
| Evolution | ||
| Found Forest Res and Conserv | ||
| Biogeography | ||
| Stream Ecology | ||
| Signal Transduction Neuroby | ||
| Disease Models and Mechanisms | ||
| Global Change Biology | ||
| Spec Topics Biolog Sci | ||
| Total Hours | 30 | |
| BSC 696 | Resident Study | 2-6 |
A minimum of 30 credit hours of graduate coursework is required including:
- At least 26 credit hours with a letter grade (i.e., not Pass/Fail)
- A maximum of 6 credit hours with a letter grade may be taken from BSC 696 Resident Study.
- At least one course designated as laboratory must be completed.
- Additionally, M.A. students must enroll in either BSC 505 Intro to Grad Studies (Scientific Writing and Presentation) or BSC 695 Spec Topics Biolog Sci (Pedagogy in Biological Sciences).
- NOTE: Up to 4 hours of Pass/Fail credit can be applied toward fulfillment of degree requirements. Only BSC 601 Biological Sciences Seminar may be applied as Pass/Fail credit for the M.A. degree.
- Of the 30 required credit hours, 18 must carry the BSC or MS designation.
All courses taken for MA graduate credit hours must be numbered 400 and above. A maximum of 6 semester hours of 400-level course credit may be accepted for a master's degree only if all the following apply:
- The 400-level courses taken are outside the Biological Sciences Department.
- The department offering the 400-level course offers a graduate degree.
- The 400-level course must carry appropriate extra work to be counted for graduate credit.
- The student must have the consent of his/her committee chair.
- Please contact the graduate program assistants to initiate this form through DocuSign.
Candidates for the M.A. degree must complete a culminating “Capstone” experience – a written review of a relevant topic in Biological Sciences and give a public presentation on the scope of this review (see Section 6, below).
BSC 598, BSC 599, BSC 507, BSC 607, or BSC 698may not be applied toward this degree.
Transfer Credit
See information on transfer credit.
Comprehensive Exam/Capstone
Culminating “Capstone” Experience: In addition to earning a minimum of 30 semester hours of credit, candidates for the M.A. degree are required to complete the following Capstone Experience:
In-depth topical literature survey. Students must prepare a formal paper, publicly present and pass an oral exam on a literature topic approved by the M.A. Advisory Committee. During the semesterly committee meetings the student and committee members will establish specific timelines, due dates, a topic and parameters of the written review (page length, style, citation number etc…). The timelines will address when the topic must be selected and approved, when a first draft of the outline and citation list must be provided to the committee, as well as when the first and penultimate drafts of the document must be submitted to the committee and comments returned to the student. The general dates detailed in section 4 should serve as guides for establishing these deadlines.
Formal Departmental Presentation: In addition to participation in the departmental research symposiums, a publicly announced final formal departmental presentation on the topic of the student's literature review is required for M.A. students. The presentation is scheduled immediately preceding the final oral examination. All students are required to notify departmental office personnel of the date, time and room location of their formal presentation a minimum of 14 days prior. A title and an abstract must be submitted to the departmental office at the time of notification so that a public announcement can be made. In addition, a copy of the final draft of your review must be made available in the departmental office for those wishing to review it. The report copy will be kept at the front desk during the 2-week period. When you deliver your draft to the office, you will be required to enter it into a logbook that will be kept in the office. Failure to meet any of these requirements will result in a delay of the M.A. examination.
Final Oral Examination: All M.A. students must pass a final oral examination related to their literature survey topic. Final oral examination questions may also include subjects beyond the student's literature review and reflect material pertinent to graduate level coursework undertaken by the student. Final oral examinations must be taken not less than two weeks prior to the proposed graduation date. All committee members must attend and participate in the oral examination, either in-person or by electronic means (e.g., Skype). All students are required to notify the departmental office of their final oral examination 14 days prior to the exam.
All departmental faculty have the right to attend the oral examination 4,and have the right to ask questions of the student that are relevant to the goals of the examination. Only faculty on the student's committee may vote on whether the student has passed or failed the examination.
Each candidate for a master's degree must apply for graduation.
Time Limits for Degree Completion
See information on time limits for degree completion.
Student Progress Requirement
M.A. Advisory Committee: A student must form an M.A. Advisory Committee prior to their first committee meeting. The first committee meeting must be held no later than one month after completion of the first semester of studies (by January 31st for students entering in the fall semester and by June 30th for students entering in the spring semester) to evaluate progress toward a degree. Earlier meeting dates may be held at the student’s request. In subsequent Fall and Spring semesters of study, the committee will meet prior to April 15th or December 15th to review progress during the previous semester. It will also meet as needed to administer all final examinations, and to examine and approve the culmination Capstone Experience.
The M.A. Advisory Committee must consist of at least three members. All members of an M.A. Advisory Committee must be members of the Graduate Faculty. The Department Chair is a non-voting, ex officio member of all graduate student committees. The Chair of the M.A. advisory committee may be any tenure/tenure-track member of UA Biological Sciences faculty. By default, the Chair will be the director of the M.A. program, unless the student selects another faculty member who agrees to this responsibility.
Annual Progress Review: First year students must meet with their committee after completing the first semester of studies (by January 31st for students entering in the fall semester and by June 30th for students entering in the spring semester) Subsequently, Each graduate student will meet each semester prior to December 15th or April 15th with her/his M.A. Advisory Committee for the purpose of reviewing the student's progress toward a degree during the previous academic year. Earlier committee meetings may be held at the request of the student or the committee chair.
Additional Academic Requirements
All graduate students are required to register for and attend the weekly departmental seminar, enrolling in BSC 601 Biological Sciences Seminar each semester they are in residence at the Tuscaloosa campus.
Academic Misconduct Information
See information on academic misconduct.
Withdrawals and Leave of Absence Information
See information on withdrawals and leave of absence in the handbook.
Academic Grievances Information
See information on academic grievances.
Scholastic Requirements
See scholastic requirements in the handbook.
Graduate School Deadlines Information
See information on Graduate School deadlines.