Biological Sciences MS: Info and Application

Mission Statement
The Master’s Degree Program offered by the Department of Biological Sciences at Chico State is designed to help students prepare for a professional career in science. Training in research expertise is emphasized through a field- or laboratory-based thesis project.

Program Goals
Following the course of training in the M.S. in Biological Sciences, students should be able to:

1. Demonstrate, orally and in writing, knowledge of historical and current literature within their chosen field of study (e.g., ecology, cell & molecular biology, botany, microbiology, etc.) including foundational material as well as current directions within the larger field. Students should be able to articulate how their contributions fit within a larger framework of scientific knowledge and investigation.
2. Demonstrate, orally and in writing, a basic understanding of experimental design, methods, and data analyses pertinent to their research area, including hypothesis construction and relevant experimental controls.
3. Develop and execute a scientific investigation that represents a substantive contribution to their discipline.
4. Communicate the results of their investigation orally and in writing using an appropriate professional style.

MS Program Overview

Progress through the program

First semester:

• Enroll in Biology 600
• Form your advisory committee (see the Guide to Graduate Studies for committee member requirements)
• Arrange a committee meeting to discuss your research proposal (written in Biol 600)
• Complete and submit your program plan form 
• Complete and submit a research progress form 

Second semester:

• Take your qualifying exam:
  DBS guidelines regarding graduate student progress and the qualifying exam 
• Arrange a committee meeting to discuss research progress
• Complete and submit a research progress form 

Upon successful completion of the above, students may be advanced to candidacy for the degree. Students must be advanced to candidacy before applications for graduation can be accepted by Graduate Studies.

Next to last semester:

• File for graduation in the Graduate School Office
• Submit near final draft of thesis to advisory committee (allow ample time for multiple revisions)
• Oral thesis defense - attended by advisory committee and other interested faculty
• Public Seminar - Presentation of thesis project
• Graduate Studies approval of final thesis draft
• Final Progress Form (obtain from Office of Graduate Studies) - Represents final committee approval
• Submit the following forms to the Graduate Coordinator, Biological Sciences
  • Thesis Assessment Form
  • Defense Assessment Form
  • Student Exit Survey Form

All these must meet university deadlines for the semester.

Specific Requirements for the MS in Biological Sciences

Continuous enrollment is required. A maximum of 9 semester units of transfer and/or CSU Chico Open University course work may be applied toward the degree.

Completion of all requirements as established by the department graduate committee, the Graduate Advisory Committee, and the Office of Graduate Studies, to include:

1. Completion of an approved program consisting of at least 30 units of 400/600-level courses as follows:

a) At least 18 units in the discipline of biological sciences, including at least one course of 3 or more units outside the sub-discipline (i.e., botany, zoology, microbiology).

b) BIOL 600, Research in the Biological Sciences, to be completed during the first fall semester.

c) At least one unit of graduate seminar (BIOL 605), completed during the first year.

e) At least 18 of the 30 units required for the degree must be 600-level courses. For programs consisting of more than 30 units, 60% of the total units of the approved Master’s Degree Program Plan must be 600-level.  No courses lower than 400-level can be credited toward a M.S.

f) Not more than 9 semester units of transfer and/or extension credit (correspondence courses and U.C. extension course work are not acceptable).

g) Not more than 15 units taken before admission to classified status.

h) Not more than 4 units of Independent Study (697) and 6 units of Master's Thesis (699).

2.  Pass a comprehensive exam within a sub-discipline related to the area of research by the end of the second semester of the program.

3. Completion and final approval of an independent research project resulting in an acceptable thesis as specified by the student's Graduate Advisory Committee (thesis defense).

4. Presentation of a seminar based on the student's master's thesis research. This seminar will usually be given during the semester in which the student plans to complete the degree requirements.

Graduate Requirement in Writing Proficiency:

Writing proficiency is a graduation requirement. Biological sciences majors will demonstrate their writing competence through satisfactory completion of BIOL 600.

Graduate Grading Requirements:

All courses in the major (with the exceptions of Independent Study - 697, Master's Project - 699P, and Master's Thesis - 699T) must be taken for a letter grade, except those courses specified by the department as ABC/No Credit (400/500-level courses), AB/No Credit (600-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 697, 699P, 699T 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 minimum 3.0 grade point average in each of the following three categories: all course work taken at any accredited institution subsequent to admission to the master's program; all course work taken at CSU, Chico subsequent to admission to the program; and all courses on the approved master's degree program.

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.

Graduate Advising Requirement:

Advising is mandatory each semester for biological sciences majors. Consult the Graduate Coordinator for specifics.

General Policies and Guidelines

• Biology Graduate Program Policies and Guidelines
• University Graduate Policies, Procedures, and Format
• Qualifying Exam Guidelines

Graduate Student Forms

• Research Progress Form (to be completed every semester)
• Program Plan (Completed First Semester Only)
• Graduate Student Exit Survey

Thesis Forms for Committees

• Master's Thesis Rubric 
• Master's Defense Rubric

Faculty/mentors are responsible for the quality of the graduate education for each of their students. The relationship begins even before a student sets foot on campus. A very important part of the graduate application process involves contacting potential faculty/major professors to work with. Students are accepted into the program only if they have been accepted by a faculty mentor.

Faculty/mentors work closely with their students to design quality/original research projects. Faculty mentors and students usually meet periodically (every several weeks) to discuss research progress and to work through project difficulties. The faculty mentor helps the student pick a thesis advisory committee that meets at least once per semester with the student and faculty mentor.

• Summary of faculty/mentor responsibilities

Written thesis: The capstone (and majority of the work) of the MS degree is a written thesis. The thesis is a professional documentation of the student's research project written in scientific format. There is no set length for a thesis, although most range from 50 to 200 pages in length. Students often write parts of their thesis for publication in refereed scientific journals.

Thesis defense: The thesis defense is a final gathering of the advisory committee and student. The thesis advisor, advisory committee, and student should plan for the defense to last 1 - 2 hours. It is open to other biology faculty, but NOT to the public. The major advisor is responsible for scheduling the defense time and location. The advisor should reserve a room and have the department secretary send an email inviting all biology faculty to the defense (approx 1 week prior to the defense date). The thesis committee should have had the near final copy of the thesis available to them 4 weeks before the defense. At the defense the student may be questioned about anything regarding the thesis. Questions may involve discussion of the validity of data interpretation, comparison with other similar studies, problems with the written thesis, or discussion of possible future studies. At the completion of questioning the student is asked to leave the room while the committee discusses how well the thesis was defended. If the committee agrees to the quality of the research and the defense of it, the committee will complete the process and collect the assessment data below. The major thesis advisor should bring the following forms to the thesis defense.:

• Thesis Assessment Form
• Defense Assessment Form
• Final Program Completion Form
• Thesis Verification Form
• Student Exit Survey Form

The committee is responsible for completing the above forms and turning them in to the Graduate Coordinator at the completion of the defense.

Public seminar: The major advisor is responsible for scheduling a room and time for a public presentation of the student's thesis research, and have the department secretary send an email inviting all biology faculty and the graduate coordinator invite all graduate students to the presentation.

Teaching Associates (TA's) are hired as part-time instructors. The responsibilities involve teaching in one or more laboratory sections of introductory classes. The TA will be responsible to the professor directing the lecture sections and may also be expected to aid the lecture class operation. TA's will receive office space and be expected to maintain regular office hours. 

Graduate Assistants (GA's) are hired as part of the departmental staff on an hourly basis with 20 hours a week considered a full-time position. GA's work in a large variety of roles including support for the Media Room, Stockroom, Herbarium, Museum, and Greenhouses.

Information on salary schedules may be obtained from the departmental chair. Excessive outside employment or class overloads that interfere with assistantship responsibilities are considered inappropriate.

1. Teach up to 8 weighted teaching units per semester (12 hours of laboratory teaching per week) including exam set-ups, grading, and additional duties as assigned by the course supervisor.
2. Hold 5 office hours per week.
3. At the discretion of the professor, attend lectures of the courses in which they will assist.

1. Work 20 hours per week during fall and spring semesters. Work schedule will be arranged in consultation with their supervisor.
2. Work 20 hours during registration week.
3. Work a total of 30 - 40 hours during final examination week and the following week. Work schedules will be arranged in consultation with the supervisor.
4. Weekend and holiday work may be required of GA's and will be considered part of the normal 20 hour work week.

To qualify for TA or GA positions, students must be classified or candidates in good standing and enrolled in the biology or botany master's degree programs. The department is particularly interested in hiring students who will obtain a master's degree and continue to contribute as professional biologists after leaving Chico.

Application for GA or TA positions includes:

1. A formal letter addressed to the departmental chair two weeks prior to the end of the semester. Any comments about appropriate background, training, or interests in a specific TA or GA position should be included in the letter.
2. A resume.
3. Three letters of recommendation from faculty or qualified individuals should also be sent to the biology department chair to support your application.
4. Progress sheet signed by the major advisor or graduate coordinator. New students will, of course, not have a progress sheet.

Graduate students who are not already TAs need to do the following to apply for a TA position:

1. Complete a Teaching Associate Application for Employment 2.  Submit a letter stating your desire to be a TA. Please indicate course preference(s) and the number of labs you are willing to teach, and include a brief statement of your qualifications to teach labs in specific classes.
2. Submit your curriculum vitae.
3. Submit three letters of recommendation from faculty or qualified individuals.
4. Please include your CSU Chico ID number on your letter or CV.

All applicants are screened and ranked by the graduate committee of the biology department. Graduate student applicants for TA and GA positions will be placed by the graduate committee into the following groups:

• Highly recommended
• Recommended
• Recommended with reservation
• Not Recommended

The department chair shall hire individuals in the highest group as TA's with the next highest applicants hired as GA's. Any deviation from this procedure must be approved by the graduate committee.

Although all students will be re-evaluated every semester, currently employed students who are performing satisfactory work and are maintaining appropriate progress on the degree programs will typically be given preferential standing.

Basic information used in the ranking process includes GPA, GRE scores, progress report, letter of application, letters of recommendation, and written performance review statements of supervisors for reapplicants. The ranking is provided as advice to the department chair. The department chair uses this ranking, departmental needs, personal interviews and advice from individual course instructors in offering the positions. The hiring and rehiring is the complete responsibility of the department chair.