Chatham University
Master of Science in Biology

In many professions, the master’s degree is now the minimum requirement for either employment or advancement. To meet this need, Chatham has developed a Master of Science in Biology program with two degree options. Students may apply at any time of year and are admitted on a rolling basis until classes fill. The GRE is not required, but students must have a 3.0 GPA, an undergraduate degree in biology, or an equivalent program, and supporting letters of recommendation. Neither degree option requires a capstone comprehensive exam. If a grade lower than a B– is earned in any graduate course, that course must be repeated. A limited number of hourly paid positions are available as Supplemental Instructors (SI) or tutors to assist with undergraduate courses, but these do not include tuition remission.

The MS Biology-non-thesis track is available as a one–year, accelerated degree, primarily for students heading to medical school, dental school, pharmacy school, physician assistant programs, etc., who wish to improve their credentials and/or complete requirements. Students must complete a total of ten courses (33-34 credits), five of which are electives, allowing the program to be adapted to meet the needs of many different career goals. Final selection of electives requires approval of the student’s academic advisor. Students may enroll in the program part-time, but should be aware that the majority of courses are not available evenings or weekends. One option allows students to take two undergraduate courses in place of one of the graduate electives, allowing students to finish prerequisites (such as physics) required by other programs.

The MS Biology-thesis track typically takes 4-5 semesters to complete and provides the research experience needed for students who wish to apply to Ph.D. programs or who wish to teach or look for research positions. Students must complete a total of ten courses (33-35 credits), three of which are electives, allowing the program to be adapted to meet the needs of many different career goals. Students register over the summer for a single Continuing Graduate Credit (CGC) while they work on their theses (does not count toward the required ten courses). Final selection of electives requires approval of the student’s academic advisor. A final, written thesis is required as well as a public presentation of the research work and a final meeting with a board of Chatham faculty.

Students prepare for the thesis by taking a required research methods course in the fall semester and working with faculty to develop an appropriate topic. Examples of recent thesis titles include:

• “Diagnosing Alzheimer’s Disease Using Fluorescent Genetic analysis of the Amyloid Precursor Protein (APP)”
• “A Structural and Evolutionary Analysis of the Transferrin Protein Superfamily”
• “Using Geographical Information Systems as a Tool for Wildlife Conservation in Western Pennsylvania”