Master of Science in Biology - Environmental Science

The Master of Science in Biology provides many opportunities in teaching, research, and public service and provides excellent preparation for many other areas of basic and applied sciences. The program offers students the option of a traditional thesis and a non-thesis option that incorporates distance-learning. The non-thesis option is designed primarily for career-oriented students who are located off campus. WKU Biology faculty have interests in a variety of areas that we classify broadly as Biotechnology (and the associated area of Bioinformatics) and Biodiversity. Faculty are members of one or more of the WKU Research Centers but most relevant to most faculty are the Biotechnology, Bioinformatics and Biodiversity Centers. For a list of current faculty interests, please go to our faculty profiles pages. Our faculty are supported by research grants from federal (e.g., NSF, NIH, USDA, USFW) and state sources as well as from non-governmental organizations. Graduate students pursuing the thesis MS often write grant applications for funds to supplement their research needs. Such funds come from internal sources such as The Graduate School as well as numerous appropriate outside agencies, foundations, institutions and societies. Students pursuing the non-thesis option (in person or online) conduct a project as part of their degree requirement (Biology 516). Biology partners with the education program to offer a MA in Education Biology. Our in-residence graduate students come from all over globe, forming a dynamic group of future professionals in the biological sciences. For a list of current and some of our past graduate students, go to the Student Information, Research and Teaching page.

In addition to Graduate School requirements, the Department of Biology requires the following:
Bachelor's degree in biology or equivalent including supporting courses in science and mathematics
Undergraduate GPA 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale)
GRE general score (quantitative + verbal) 300 if taken on or after August 1, 2011 or 1050 if taken prior to August 1, 2011, and analytical writing score of 3.5. If the GRE has not been taken previously, exam scores from the MCAT ( 24) or DAT ( 16) may be substituted.
A biology graduate faculty member must be willing to serve as advisor before a student is admitted to the program.
Three letters of reference
Statement of purpose, in which the applicant must specify the program to which they are applying, indicate their academic and career interests, and summarize relevant experiences.
Exceptions to possessing a Biology degree may be made for students with undergraduate degrees in biology- related areas. Examples include, but are not limited to the following: agriculture, bioinformatics, biotechnology, botany, ecology, evolution, horticulture, microbiology, natural resource management, zoology. However, additional courses may be required and will be determined by the student's graduate advisory committee (or graduate advisor for online program students).
Official transcripts demonstrating completion of bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university & certified English translation
Any additional program requirements (writing samples, resume/vita, etc.)
Adequate academic preparation in the field of specialization
English proficiency requirements (one of the following):
TOEFL, IBT 79
IELTS 6.5