Biology, Master of Science (M.S.)
Degree Requirements
A student may elect one of two routes to the M.S. Degree in Biology: either writing a thesis or passing a Comprehensive Examination.
Thesis Option
Required Courses
Elective Courses
| | Graduate courses in an approved area of specialization | 12 |
| | Additional elective courses | 10 |
Additional elective courses: may include up to 6 credits of BIO V9200: Tutorial, or BIO V9201: Advanced Study
Doctoral Courses Open to Master's Students Qualified students may take or substitute, with the approval of the Graduate Committee, courses available in the doctoral program in Biology. Those courses are described in the Bulletin of The Graduate Center of The City University of New York.
Total Credit Hours: 30
Comprehensive Exam Option
Required Courses
Elective Courses
| | Graduate courses in an approved area of specialization | 12 |
| | Additional elective courses | 20 |
Additional elective courses: may include up to 6 credits of BIO V9200: Tutorial, or BIO V9201: Advanced Study
Additional Requirements
Elective courses are to be chosen in consultation with the advisor and are subject to the approval of the Departmental Graduate Studies Committee. No more than 12 credits may be taken with any one faculty member.
Thesis: Candidates must complete a thesis based on independent laboratory or field investigation and pass an oral defense of the thesis. The faculty member selected by the student as research sponsor subsequently will serve as advisor and chairman of an Advisory Committee of at least three faculty members, three of whom must be from the Biology Department. This committee will serve in the preparation and approval of the thesis proposal, the thesis, and defense of the thesis.
Comprehensive Exam: Candidates not offering a thesis must pass a written and oral comprehensive examination during the final semester of study. With the approval of the Master's Advisor and the appropriate doctoral subprogram, students are permitted to take the first doctoral examination in lieu of the Comprehensive Exam. An advisory committee of three faculty members from the Biology Department will serve to advise the student.
Residency Requirements: Some elective courses offered by other departments at CCNY or CUNY can be credited toward the M.S. degree. However, students are cautioned that a minimum of 60% of the credits required for the M.S. degree (i.e., 18 or 20 credits for the thesis or comprehensive exam options, respectively) must be taken from courses offered directly by the faculty in the Biology Department at CCNY.
TOEFL Requirements: Foreign students must have a minimal TOEFL score of 60% percentile.
Foreign Language Proficiency: Not required.
Application Deadlines: Completed applications must be received by the CCNY Graduate Admissions deadlines (May 1 for the Fall semester, and Nov 15 for the Spring semester).
Affiliated Programs
City College has a long-standing affiliation with curators at the American Museum of Natural History. Admission to the AMNH programs requires approval by AMNH curators as well as CCNY faculty. Interested students are encouraged to contact curators directly to discuss potential research projects. City College also has an affiliation with Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center for performing research. Interested students are encouraged to contact Professor Karen Hubbard to discuss potential research mentors.