Students will take the normal course load for a B.S. degree in biology and 30 credit hours for the M.S. degree.
M.S. Credit and Research Requirements
After fulfilling the normal course load for a B.S. degree in biology, BS MS students need to take 30 credit hours for the M.S. degree. The M.S. biology degree requires a minimum of 19 credit hours of biology graduate level courses, which must differ from credits taken for the B.S. degree. As many as six of these graduate credits may be completed while in their fourth year of undergraduate study (and are not counted towards the B.S. degree).
- Biology 7810 (Research in Progress) - 2 credits
- Biology 6950 (Independent study) - up to 3 credits
- Students are strongly encouraged to take Biology 6500 (Advanced Statistical Modeling for Biologists), as well as one course from the Business School relevant to career goals and in consultation with the faculty advisor and supervisory committee.
- Students are required to take at least six credits of biology 6970 (Thesis Research) with a faculty member in Biology. Research Interest Areas can be found here.
- Students will present and defend a thesis project, typically near the end of their 5th year.
- Students will submit/publish a thesis through the University of Utah Thesis Office, room 302 Park Building. An additional electronic copy is required by the School of Biological Sciences.
Warning: requirements can change without notice. Please check with an advisor for up to date information.
The Science Core (30 cr)
- CHEM 1210 or CHEM 1211, Gen Chem I or Honors Gen Chem I (4 cr)
- CHEM 1215 or CHEM 1240, Gen Chem Lab I or Honors Gen Chem Lab I (1 cr)
- CHEM 1220 or CHEM 1221, Gen Chem II or Honors Gen Chem I (4 cr)
- CHEM 1215 or CHEM 1241, Gen Chem Lab II or Honors Gen Chem Lab II (1 cr)
- CHEM 2310 or CHEM 2311, Organic Chem I or Honors Organic Chem I (4 cr)
- MATH 1170 or MATH 1210, Calculus for Biologists I or Calculus I (4 cr)
- MATH 1180 or MATH 1220, Statistics with Calculus for Biologists or Calculus II (4 cr)
- PHYS 2010 or PHYS 2210, Gen Physics I or Physics for Scientists and Engineers I (4 cr)
- PHYS 2020 or PHYS 2220, Gen Physics II or Physics for Scientists and Engineers II (4 cr)
The Biology Core (16–17 cr)
- BIOL 1610, Fundamental Principles of Biology I (4 cr)
- BIOL 1615, Fundamental Principles of Biology Lab I (1 cr)
- BIOL 1620, Fundamental Principles of Biology II (4 cr)
- BIOL 1625, Fundamental Principles of Biology Lab II (1 cr)
- BIOL 2020 or BIOL 2021, Principles of Cell Biology (3 cr) or Principles of Cell Science (4 cr)
- BIOL 2030, Genetics (3 cr)
Required Courses (9 cr)
- BIOL 3410, Ecology and Evolution (3 cr)
- BIOL 3510 or CHEM 3510, Biological Chemistry I (3 cr)
- One form-and-function course from the following list:
- BIOL 3310, Comparative Vertebrate Morphology (3 cr)
- BIOL 3320, Comparative Physiology (3 cr)
- BIOL 3330, Behavioral Neurobiology (3 cr)
- BIOL 3340, Introduction to Plant Biology (3 cr)
- Biol 3370, Microbial Biology (3 cr)
- BIOL 3665, Form, Function and Adaptation in Animals (3 cr, 2 lab units)
- BIOL 5555 or 5570, Ecology and Evolution of Parasites and Pathogens (3 cr)
Electives (for a total of 36 biology credits)
In addition to the biology core courses, all biology majors must choose from a list of electives to satisfy the following requirements- two 5000-level biology courses
- two biology lab courses totaling three units
- minimum of 40 upper division hours (3000+).
- 21 Biology credit hours must be taken at the U