The Master of Science in Botany

Course Requirements for the Master’s Degree: 30 units

Continuous enrollment is required. A maximum of 9 semester units of transfer credit may be applied toward the degree.
Graduate Time Limit: All requirements for the degree are to be completed within five years of the end of the semester of enrollment in the oldest course applied toward the degree. See “Graduate Education” in The University Catalog for complete details on general degree requirements.

Prerequisites for Admission to Conditionally Classified Status:

1. Satisfactory grade point average as specified in “Admission to Master’s Degree Programs” in The University Catalog.

2. Approval by the department and the Office of Graduate Programs.

Prerequisites are the same as for the Master’s degree in Biological Sciences.

Prerequisites for Admission to Classified Status:

In addition to any requirements listed above:

Prerequisites are the same as for the Master’s degree in Biological Sciences.

Advancement to Candidacy:

Prerequisites are the same as for the Master’s degree in Biological Sciences.

Requirements for the MS in Botany:

Requirements are the same as for the Master’s degree in Biological Sciences.

Graduate Literacy Requirement:

Writing proficiency is a graduation requirement.

Botany majors will demonstrate their writing competence through satisfactory completion of a designated portion of the qualifying examination required as a prerequisite for advancement to candidacy.

Graduate Grading Requirements:

All courses in the major (with the exceptions of Independent Study-398 and Master’s Study-399) must be taken for a letter grade, except those courses specified by the department as ABC/No Credit (200-level courses), AB/No Credit (300-level courses), or Credit/No Credit grading only. A maximum of 10 units combined of ABC/No Credit, AB/No Credit, and Credit/No Credit grades may be used on the approved program (including 398, 399, and courses outside the major). While grading standards are determined by individual programs and instructors, it is also the policy of the university that unsatisfactory grades may be given when work fails to reflect achievement of the high standards, including high writing standards, expected of students pursuing graduate study.

Students must maintain a 3.0 grade point average in all course work on the approved master’s degree program as well as in all course work taken subsequent to admission to conditionally classified status.

Graduate Advising Requirement:

Advising is mandatory each semester for all botany majors.
Consult the Graduate Coordinator for specifics.