Biology, MS

Graduate Coordinator: Scott Harrison Email: scotth@ncat.edu Phone: 336-285-2179
Department Chair: Checo J. Rorie Email: cjrorie@ncat.edu Phone: 336-285-2160

The primary objective of the Masters of Science program in Biology is to prepare students to enter and complete doctoral and health professional programs in order to become productive teachers, researchers, and health professionals. To support this objective, this program will develop in all participants, through research experiences and other enrichment activities, independent thinking, creativity, critical judgment, and personal integrity. Specifically, this program is designed to enhance the student’s ability to design experiments, to analyze results, to become competent using state-of -the art research equipment, enhance manipulative skills, and to improve the student’s proficiency in oral and written communication. Students will have opportunity to conduct research in various areas, including cancer research, diabetes research, molecular genetics, microbiology/immunology, genomics/bioinformatics, physiology, evolution, toxicology, and health disparities research. An additional critical objective is to enable students to score at or above the 50th percentile on the GRE Subject Test in Biology after their first year in residency.

Additional Admission Requirements

• A Bachelor’s Degree in Biology or a related discipline from an accredited institution.
• Chemistry through Organic II
• One year of Calculus, One year of Physics and Cellular and Molecular Biology

Program Outcomes

• SLO 1: Knowledge of the Biological Discipline. During the course of study in the Master of Science Degree Program in Biology, students integrate biological concepts from a variety of sub-disciplines on the required comprehensive examination prepared by instructors of courses that students have taken in the first year.
• SLO 2: Communication. During the course of study in the Master of Science Degree Program in Biology, students will present research findings in standard formats used by biological scientists and the guidelines of the NC A&T Graduate College.
• SLO 3: Critical Thinking (Masters Level). During the course of study in the Master of Science Degree Program in Biology, students will conduct critical reviews of scientific papers according to guidelines of the instructor.
• SLO 4: Scientific Research. During the course of study in the Master of Science Degree Program in Biology, students will implement an original research project based on the standard guidelines for biological research and a proposal approved by a faculty research advisor and committee.