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CSH 2024 Biological Sciences

A program of study leading to the Master of Science degree in Biology designed for students who: 

  • Have a strong desire to increase their understanding of the life sciences. 
  • Plan additional education at the master’s level for increased proficiency in teaching and/or research.
  • Plan to continue study toward the PhD.
Program Requirements Quarter Hours
Degree Requirements 50
Total hours required 50

Learning Outcomes

Students will be able to:

  • ​Apply biology knowledge to design a scientific study to test an original hypothesis.
  • Distinguish among the diversity of fields and approaches within Biology.
  • Critically analyze and evaluate the validity of scientific findings.
  • Effectively communicate scientific information in both written and oral form.
  • Conduct a novel research study using the scientific method with qualitative and/or quantitative data analysis and explain its relevance and contribution to science.​

Degree Requirements

Course Requirements

50 hours of graduate credit including:

Course Title Quarter Hours
BIO 402INTRODUCTION TO GRADUATE STUDIES2
BIO 403DEVELOPMENT OF TOPICS FOR RESEARCH4
BIO 494COMMUNICATING SCIENCE4
BIO 499THESIS RESEARCH (20 quarter hours)20
Select at least one course from the Ecology, Evolution, and Population biology core area4
Select at least one course from the Genetics, Cell and Molecular biology core area4
Select at least one course from the Physiology and Neurobiology core area4
Select two additional courses from any of the core areas8

Graduate students are also required to attend all of the seminars presented in the department’s Seminar Series.

Core Areas of Study

Ecology, Evolution, and Population Biology

Course Title Quarter Hours
TOPICS IN ECOLOGY
AQUATIC BIOLOGY
TOPICS IN BEHAVIORAL PARASITOLOGY
MOLECULAR METHODS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
POPULATION ECOLOGY
CONCEPTS IN EVOLUTION
TOPICS IN PALEOBIOLOGY
RESEARCH IN FIELD BIOLOGY

Genetics, Cell and Molecular Biology

Course Title Quarter Hours
PLANT PHYSIOLOGY
ADVANCED MICROBIOLOGY
MOLECULAR METHODS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
CELLULAR EVENTS IN THE IMMUNE RESPONSE
DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
CELLULAR NEUROBIOLOGY
TOPICS IN MEDICAL BACTERIOLOGY
THE BIOLOGY OF INFECTION
TOPICS IN MICROBIOLOGY AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
GENETIC TOXICOLOGY
MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
TOPICS IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
ADVANCED GENETIC ANALYSIS
IMMUNOBIOLOGY
INTRODUCTION TO PHARMACOLOGY
CANCER BIOLOGY
TOPICS IN CANCER
ENDOCRINOLOGY

Physiology and Neurobiology

Course Title Quarter Hours
PLANT PHYSIOLOGY
TOPICS IN EXERCISE PHYSIOLOGY
CELLULAR NEUROBIOLOGY
BEHAVIORAL NEUROSCIENCE
TOPICS IN NEUROBIOLOGY
COGNITIVE NEUROSCIENCE
ADVANCED COMPARATIVE PHYSIOLOGY
PRINCIPLES OF TOXICOLOGY
INTRODUCTION TO PHARMACOLOGY
MAMMALIAN REPRODUCTION
ENDOCRINOLOGY
RESEARCH IN FIELD BIOLOGY

BIO 490, as appropriate, may also be approved in one of the three core areas.

BIO 406 can be taken as an elective.

Advancement to Candidacy

Based upon the results of a qualifying examination taken near the end of the third quarter of the student’s first full year and earning grades of B or better on graduate courses taken during the first year. Participation in undergraduate laboratory instruction is strongly encouraged.

Thesis Requirement

Results based upon an independent laboratory investigation.

Final Examination Requirement

An oral examination, including presentation of a seminar based on the MS thesis research, and a period of questioning on the thesis, the area of research which the thesis addresses, and basic biology as it relates to the thesis area.

Program Graduate Academic Student Handbook

​Academic Probation

Students are expected to maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.00.  If a student’s cumulative GPA falls below this minimum the student will be put on academic probation and will have one quarter of coursework to raise their cumulative GPA up to at least a 3.00 or face dismissal from the program. If the student’s cumulative GPA falls below the minimum a second time, they will be dismissed from the program.

Academic Dismissal

Students may be dismissed for breaches of academic integrity, breaches of the code of student responsibility, or violations of satisfactory progress, including but not limited to, failing a retake of the oral qualifying exam, not maintaining at least a 3.00 cumulative GPA, or lack of progress towards degree completion. Students who have completed their coursework, but who are still working on their  thesis (MS) must be enrolled in candidacy continuation during the three quarters of the academic school year. Failure to enroll in candidacy continuation will result in dismissal from the program.

Readmission

If a student leaves the program for any reason they must reapply to the program unless prior agreement for readmission has been granted by the Director of Graduate Studies in Biology (hereafter, Program Director). A specific timeline for readmission must be specified and agreed to by the Program Director prior to the student leaving the program.

Transfer Credit

Two semester courses or three quarter courses from another institution or program may be accepted as transfer credit upon approval of the Program Director and Associate Dean for Graduate Studies. Credit will only be transferred for courses that have equivalents in the DePaul curriculum as determined by the Program Director. Transfer credit can only be awarded for graduate level coursework which has not counted toward the completion of a degree at DePaul or any other institution.

Undergraduate Courses

No undergraduate courses will be counted towards the graduate degree.

Graduation Requirements

In order to graduate, students must satisfy the degree requirements as specified in the course catalog for MS degrees, including but not limited to maintaining a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00.

Graduation with Distinction

This program does not offer the "With Distinction" designation at the time of graduation.

Time Limitation 

Students pursuing a master's degree must complete all requirements for the master's degree within a maximum of six years from their first term of enrollment in the program.​​