Integrative Biology, MS

Contact: Joseph Dirnberger, Ph.D., Graduate Program Coordinator
Office: Science Building, Room 338
Phone: (770) 423-6546
Fax: (770) 423-6625
Email: jdirnber@kennesaw.edu
Web address: http://science.kennesaw.edu/biophys/ms-integrative-bio

Program Description

Integrative biology is an emerging scientific paradigm that assembles concepts and information from different disciplines (e.g. genetics, physiology, and behavior) and from different scales (e.g. molecules, cells, populations, ecosystems) to produce a more complete understanding of biological systems and to better answer some of the great scientific questions of our day. The Master of Science in Integrative Biology (MSIB) is a 36 credit hour graduate program requiring that each graduate student generate a thesis based on original research. While students center their research within a particular area of biology based on faculty expertise, students are trained in an integrative paradigm through required coursework and by the structure of thesis committees where at least one of the three members is from outside the supervising professor’s subdiscipline.

In addition to a thesis generated by original research, the degree will require 36 credit hours total: 10-14 credit hours of Thesis Research, 12 credit hours of required graduate courses (including two Graduate Seminar experiences), and another 10-14 credit hours of graduate-level electives (maximum of two 6000-level courses can be applied toward the degree). Maximum credit as “Research for Master’s Thesis” applicable toward degree is fourteen credit hours. The student’s thesis committee may require additional remedial course work (these will not count toward the degree, nor will they be counted as hours needed to qualify for teaching assistantships).

General Requirements for Admission

1. Successful candidates will typically have completed requirements for the bachelor degree at an institution accredited in a manner accepted by Kennesaw State University. Adequately prepared applicants should demonstrate core competency as reflected by the record of undergraduate coursework in biology, chemistry, physics and mathematics, with a degree focus in one of these areas. An applicant who is deemed deficient by the admissions committee may be admitted into the program under the condition that the missing undergraduate courses be taken in addition to the graduate program requirements.
2. Successful candidates will typically have scores on the Quantitative Reasoning and Verbal Reasoning sections on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) above the 50% rank.
3. Successful candidates will typically have a grade point average of at least 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale).
4. Applicants must submit two letters of recommendation from persons familiar with the applicant’s potential to complete successful graduate work.
5. Applicants must submit a cover letter (Statement of Interest) indicating research area of interest, KSU faculty that could potentially supervise within the area of interest, career goals, and background information that may be relevant to succeeding in the MSIB program.
6. Prior to final submission of materials for application, successful candidates will typically have conversed with (via email, telephone, or in person) at least one tenure-track faculty member in the Department of Biology and Physics concerning potential thesis research projects and the willingness of the faculty member to accept graduate students.

Grades

Expectations for satisfactory graduate level student performance are detailed in the Academic Policies section of this catalog.

Petition to Graduate

Candidates of the MSIB program must petition to graduate at least one semester prior to completion of their degree requirements.

Program of Study