University of Michigan - Flint

University of Michigan-Flint

Biology (MS) - Degree Requirements

A. Graduate Core Curriculum (12 credits)

BIO 501: Current Topics in Cellular and Molecular Biology
BIO 502: Current Topics in Organismal Biology
BIO 503: Current Topics in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology


B. Completion of Plan A (thesis option) or Plan B (non-thesis option) below.

Plan A – Thesis Option (30 credits)

  1. An original research project report (thesis) designed and completed in cooperation with the student’s advisor, including an oral defense of the thesis (6 credits). The thesis design must be approved by the student’s individual thesis committee.
  2. Additional graduate-level courses in biology to complete a minimum total of 30 credit hours. Course elections must be approved by the Biology Graduate Committee. With permission of that committee, any core curriculum course may be reelected once for credit, and up to two courses (8 credits maximum) of graduate level courses in non-biological science may be applied toward the degree.


Plan B – Non-Thesis Option (32 credits)

  1. Non-thesis research (2 credits)
  2. Additional graduate-level courses in biology to complete a minimum total of 32 credit hours. Course elections must be approved by the Biology Graduate Committee. With permission of that committee, any core curriculum course may be reelected once for credit, and up to two courses (8 credits maximum) of graduate level courses in non-biological science may be applied toward the degree.


MS in Biology Courses
BIO 501: Current Topics in Cellular and Molecular Biology (4)
BIO 502: Current Topics in Organismal Biology (4)
BIO 503: Current Topics in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (4)
BIO 504: Biostatistics (4)
BIO 507: Human Macroscopic Anatomy
BIO 508: Comparative Anatomy
BIO 520: Invertebrate Biology (4)
BIO 521: Mammalogy (4)
BIO 523: Wildlife Ecology and Management
BIO 524: Wetland Management (4)
BIO 526: Wildlife Policy and Law
BIO 531: Comparative Animal Physiology (3)
BIO 532: Mammalian Physiology (4)
BIO 533: Evolution and Adaptation
BIO 534: Human Anatomy (6)
BIO 539: Mycology (4)
BIO 540: Mycology Laboratory
BIO 541: Renal Physiology
BIO 542: Endocrine Physiology
BIO 543: Limnology (4)
BIO 544: Neuroanatomy and Physiology (3)
BIO 550: Parasitology (4)
BIO 553: Evolution and Adaptation (3)
BIO 560: Conservation Biology (4)
BIO 562: Molecular Biology of Plants
BIO 563: Molecular Biology of Plants Laboratory
BIO 567: Molecular Biology of Procaryotes (4)
BIO 568: Molecular Biology of Eucaryotes (4)
BIO 580: Field Biology (4)
BIO 581: Field Studies in Biology (4)
BIO 582: Neuroscience (4)
BIO 583: Special Topics (1-4)
BIO 584: Biology of Birds (4)
BIO 588: Plant Systematics (4)
BIO 596: Seminar (1)
BIO 597: Non-Thesis Research (1-2)
BIO 598: Graduate Thesis (1)
BIO 599: Thesis Research (1-5)

Additional courses may be added. Consult the Biology Program Director regarding any course additions.

Transfer of Credit

With approval of the Biology Graduate Committee, students may transfer in, or elect as a graduate non-candidate for degree (NCFD) or "Lifelong Learning" student, up to two graduate level courses (8 maximum credits) in biological sciences. No more than two courses(8 maximum credits) of transfer, NCFD, or cognate graduate credits may be applied toward completion of the MS in Biology degree.

Graduate Programs