M.S. in Biology

Prepare for a job in biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, and other related industry sectors.

A master's degree in Biology from Rensselaer prepares students for jobs in biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, and other related industry sectors. It is also well suited to students wishing to upgrade their skills while employed in industry, or to obtain additional training prior to proceeding to professional study in medicine, veterinary science, dentistry, law, business, etc. Those with a B.S. degree in a field not closely related to modern biological science may also benefit from the program.

Thirty credit hours of course work are necessary to complete the M.S. program. A minimum of 2 credits and a maximum of 9 credits must be in research. A total of 15 or more credits (including thesis or project) must be at 6000 level with the rest at 4000 or above, and 15 or more must have the BIOL or BCBP prefix. A thesis or project based on an original research project is required.

Outcomes of the Graduate Curriculum

Students who successfully complete this program will be able to:

  • explain general principles and concepts from a variety of sub-disciplines within the broader field of biology.
  • demonstrate extensive knowledge of a specialized field of biology and be able to answer challenging questions in that field.
  • critically analyze and interpret the scientific literature and scientific presentations.
  • discuss issues related to scientific ethics and scientific misconduct and apply ethical standards to their own research and/or professional conduct.
  • for students doing laboratory research—design, prepare, and execute experiments, using appropriate research techniques.
  • critically interpret research data and evaluate findings using appropriate statistical analyses.
  • effectively communicate their scientific research and findings in a variety of written and oral formats.
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