Program Description

The Master of Science degree in Biology is designed to provide qualified students the opportunity to further their knowledge in generalized and specialized areas of biology, as indicated by course offerings and research interests of the faculty. A student may also concurrently pursue a Class A Professional Teaching Certificate (through cooperative agreement with the College of Education and Professional Studies).  The Department of Biology at the University of South Alabama is a flagship department in the College of Arts and Sciences, with one of the highest student enrollments on campus.  The department offers a Bachelor of Science in Biology, and undergraduates can pursue a concentration in Marine Biology or Environmental Sciences.  Additionally, South offers a Master of Science in Biology and students can choose to be mentored by one of the department’s faculty members, which includes renowned experts in a range of biology-related disciplines.  

Courses are taught primarily by full-time faculty, and students are provided with research opportunities each semester. Through mentorship, teaching and research, biology faculty foster an environment for active learning where students acquire knowledge in all areas of the field, including ecology, evolution, genetics, physiology, microbiology, conservation and global change.  South strives for excellence and provides students with the analytical and technical skills necessary to work on microbes, marine mammals, and everything in between.  Students from this program graduate as well-rounded alumni capable of pursuing professional, governmental and academic careers to tackle challenges facing our planet.

Admission Requirements

The candidate is expected to satisfy the following minimum requirements:

1. Undergraduate major in Biology, Botany, Zoology, or Environmental Biology with a minimum GPA of 2.8 (on a 4-point scale) in all undergraduate courses taken.
2. One year of Freshman Chemistry and at least one semester of Organic Chemistry.
3. One year of physics or geology.
4. Mathematics at least through calculus or statistics.
5. A 750-word letter from the student indicating their research interests is required for students seeking to pursue the Thesis option.
6. A willing mentor from Biology (in this regard the student should contact the Graduate Coordinator before applying to the program) in required for students seeking to pursue the Thesis option

IELTS Requirements

Listening	Reading	Writing	Speaking	Overall
6.5	6.5	6.5	6.5	6.5

Remarks:

• Yearly tuition fee is given.
• Per credit cost USD $936.
• I20(Visa Letter) can be obtained only after submitting a bank statement with a balance of USD $22,640.
• Official transcript required.