The Master's Program in Biology is designed primarily to accommodate the individual
who wishes to pursue a research based Master of Science degree. This program provides
for a broad range of student needs and interests. Such a program will serve those
who wish to pursue a Ph.D., prepare for teaching positions at the college level,
or for careers as technical personnel in research diagnostic laboratories, in
hospitals, universities, government or industry.
1. The student must meet all requirements for graduate admission as described
in the Alcorn State University General Catalog. This program requires the completion
of a major body of course work of at least 30 semester hours; 9 hours will be
from generally required courses (see below), 15 hours will be graduate courses
from biology or related areas, and 6 hours will be thesis and research (BI-600,
601).
2. The elective courses will be approved by the student's faculty advisor
and will be selected from graduate courses in biology as may be offered during
the time the student is in residence.
By the end of a student's first semester, the student should indicate his/her
preference for a faculty advisor. The advisor must be a member of the Graduate
Faculty and possess a terminal degree, and shall have the option to accept or
reject the student.
After the faculty advisor has been selected, the faculty advisor (in consultation
with the student) will determine the course work for that student and select
the members of the advisory committee.
The membership of the student's advisory committee will consist of the following:
a major professor (the student's faculty advisor) and two other faculty members.
Two members of the advisory committee must be full members of the graduate faculty.
3. A written statement of planned research (i.e. research proposal) must be
given to the advisory committee. The document should be carefully prepared in
consultation with the student's faculty advisor. It should set forth in a concise
and literate manner, the student's summary of the state of existing knowledge
on the problem the individual proposes to investigate. Key references should
be cited to indicate a knowledge of the pertinent literature. The problem to
be attached and the methods to be employed should be clearly but concisely stated.
The written statement should be one or two, but no more than five pages, typewritten
and double spaced, including references which may be single-spaced.
The student will be required to prepare a Master's thesis based on original
laboratory research. The thesis should develop competencies in conceptualizing
research, designing experiments, selecting appropriate methodology, processing
and analyzing the data, interpreting results and arriving at conclusions. It
is expected that this research will lead to publication in a nationally recognized
scientific journal although such publication will not be a requirement for completion
of the degree.
Prior to thesis approval, the student must defend his/her thesis via oral
presentation before the advisory committee. The advisory committee may invite
other faculty members to attend the defense at their option.
4. There is no required competency in foreign languages.
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