M.S. in Biology
Overview
The Master of Science in Biology degree program at Tarleton offers a customized set of courses and experiences – unique to each student. This degree will enhance your biological knowledge and skill set, preparing you for leadership roles in a wide variety of careers. The Department of Biological Sciences offers the Master of Science in Biology degree with three concentrations:
- Thesis
- Non-thesis
- Non-thesis Life Science Education
Designed with You in Mind
Students pursuing an M.S. in Biology, especially those with the thesis option, work directly with a faculty mentor to design and complete a research project that fits their academic and personal needs.
Degree plans for both thesis and non-thesis students are flexible and can be tailored to meet specific student interests.
- Learn more about our biology faculty mentors
- View our course offerings
The non-thesis Life Science Education option is designed for students who want to teach Life Science at the secondary level. In partnership with the College of Education, students participate in the Tarleton Model for Accelerated/Alternative Education (TMATE) program. The result is a dual-credit certified teacher!
Why pursue a master’s degree in Biology?
Biology is a dynamic, ever-changing discipline, with discoveries being made every day. A master’s degree in Biology places you right where the action is, enabling you to learn about and understand new discoveries and even participate in making them. This degree is a portal to advanced career options such as:
- Environmental Scientist
- Field Biologist
- Biotechnologist
- Laboratory Supervisor
- Secondary or Post-secondary Educator
- Medical Professional
A master’s degree also prepares you for a Ph.D. in Biology or a related discipline.
Accreditations
Related Programs
Not what you were looking for? Tarleton State University offers over 100 different degrees and certifications that may be of interest to you, including:
Estimated Completion
32-36 credit hours (18+ months)
Application Process
- Admission to Tarleton State University – Graduate Studies
- Undergraduate major in Biology (Those lacking the desired background will be require to complete appropriate leveling work.)
- Additional Program Entrance Requirements
Cost
Locations of Course Delivery
Department
College
Learn more about graduate studies at Tarleton!
Plan Your Future
Students who earn an M.S. in Biology have a wide range of career options open to them, such as:
- Environmental Consultant
- High school Science Teacher
- Community College Instructor
- Biologist
- Research Scientist
- Environmental Scientist
- Microbiologist
And much more!
Our department strongly encourages students to get connected with like-minded peers and industry experts through organizations such as:
- Ecological Society of America
- American Society for Microbiology
- Texas Academy of Science
- Texas Society of Mammologists
- American Fisheries Society
- American Society of Parasitologists
And many more!
Beta Beta Beta (TriBeta) is a national organization whose purpose is:
- To honor biology students who have achieved scholastic standards
- To stimulate interest, scholarly attainment and investigation in the biological sciences
- To promote the dissemination of information and new interpretations among students of the life sciences
Participate beyond the classroom through opportunities such as:
- National Science Foundation
- Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
- Texas Oklahoma Regional Consortia of Herbaria (TORCH)
- Botanical Research Institute of Texas
- Fossil Rim Wildlife Center
And numerous others.
Request more information about this program in:
Program Objectives
- Provide small class sizes that will give students the benefit of individual attention from their professors.
- Provide students with hands-on experience in biological techniques and instrumentation that is used by biologists throughout the world.
- Students will actively engage in the research of scientific areas including Ecology, Evolutionary Biology, Genetics, Microbiology, Physiology, and Virology.
Coursework Highlights
| Class | Number | Class Name |
|---|---|---|
| BIOL | 5086 | Biological Problems |
| BIOL | 5302 | Ecological Plant Physiology |
| BIOL | 5309 | Cellular Biology |
| BIOL | 5320 | Environmental and Restoration Biology |
| BIOL | 5361 | Evolutionary Biology |
| BIOL | 5398 | Research, Design, and Analysis |
For more information on courses, please refer to the university catalog.
Facilities and Features
This organization is devoted to helping minimize the impact of human activities on the environment. The Society provide a platform to spread public awareness of contemporary issues and engages students in hands-on activities. Community service and educational outreach are significant components for the Tarleton Environmental Society as well.
Located on the banks of the Colorado River Timberlake Ranch provide an outdoor classroom for Tarleton students. This Biological Field Station supports a unique variety of species, diverse ecosystems and opportunities to explore ecosystem interactions as well as ecological and environmental impacts of changes in land use practices. For more information about the Timberlake Ranch, check out their website.
Highly motivated individuals with a bachelor's degree can join the TMATE program and become certified teachers at all levels. Through the TMATE program, students can work toward their master's degree while earning their Teacher Certification. Learn more about the TMATE requirements.
The Student Wildlife Society is the Tarleton student chapter of The Wildlife Society (TWS). TWS is an international, nonprofit, scientific, and educational organization comprised of nearly 9,600 member from 60 countries. TWS represents professionals and students dedicated to the sustainable management of wildlife resources and their habits. Check out our student chapter page to learn more.
Alpha Epsilon Delta (AED) is an honor society for health pre-professionals. AED is dedicated to the encouragement and recognition of excellence in scholarship, including, but not limited to:
- Medicine
- Veterinary Medicine
- Dentistry
- Podiatry
- Optometry
- Physical Therapy
- Clinical Psychology
- Nursing
In this lab, students use thermal cyclers and DNA sequencing to compare genetic relationships between a variety of organisms. This facility provide students with several opportunities to gain hands-on experience that will not only be applicable to coursework, but to their future career.
In the Tarleton Herbarium, students are able to gain hands-on experience by adding dried plants to the university's collection of over 7,000 specimens, as well as by observing and documenting the distribution of existing samples.
In our Animal Collection Lab, students document distributions of mammals and birds using the university's collection, which is utilized for teaching, hands-on experience for students, and as vouchers for student research.
Our most recent study abroad trip took students to beautiful and tropical Puerto Rico. Through this program, students are introduced to diverse ecosystems, where they gain hands-on experience in Ecology field techniques, as well as learn how to maintain the sustainable use of important ecological systems.