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**Review** Graduate Catalog 2025-2026

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Biological Sciences M.S. – Thesis Concentration

 

Program Overview

College of Natural and Health Sciences

General Master's Degree Admission Requirements

View delivery options, start terms and admission requirements.

Director: Mitchell E. McGlaughlin, Ph.D.
Location: Ross Hall 2480
Telephone: 970-351-2921
Website: www.unco.edu/nhs/biology/ 

This concentration is designed for students wishing to broaden their background in the biological sciences and to develop research skills in preparation for a doctoral program, or technical or research career. Students will gain background in biology content and in research to allow them to enter professional fields of biology requiring advanced training or to pursue advanced studies. Results of the thesis research must be presented orally in a seminar to the faculty in the School of Biological Sciences during the last semester prior to graduation.

Degree Requirements — 30 Credits

Research Core — 4 hours

BIO 594Foundations of Biological Research

2
BIO 691Seminar in Biological Sciences

1

BIO 691: Two required hours

Content Elective Credits — 15-17 hours

BIO 512TA Development Seminar

1
BIO 511Field Techniques in Biology

2
BIO 521Advanced Genetics

3
BIO 525Molecular Genetics

3
BIO 528Developmental Biology

3
BIO 530Plant Systematics

4
BIO 533General Parasitology

4
BIO 534Mammalogy

4
BIO 535Survey of Fishes, Amphibians and Reptiles

4
BIO 537Morphogenesis of Algae and Fungi

4
BIO 538Ornithology

4
BIO 539Molecular Ecology

3
BIO 539LMolecular Ecology Lab

1
BIO 541Advanced Human Anatomy

3
BIO 542Molecular and Cellular Laboratory

2
BIO 544Comparative Vertebrate Adaptations

4
BIO 545Pathogenic Microbiology

3
BIO 546Pathogenic Microbiology Laboratory

1
BIO 547Immunology and Disease

3
BIO 548Virology

3
BIO 549Virology Laboratory

1
BIO 550Cell Physiology

3
BIO 552Advanced Systemic Physiology: Homeostats

3
BIO 553Advanced Systemic Physiology: Control Systems

3
BIO 554General Plant Physiology

4
BIO 555Reproductive Biology

3
BIO 556Current Topics in Biomedical Research

2
BIO 560Behavioral Ecology

3
BIO 561Plant Ecology

3
BIO 562Conservation Biology

3
BIO 563Animal Communication

3
BIO 564Plant Ecology Lab

1
BIO 565Current Topics in Ecology and Evolutionary Research

2
BIO 566Animal Physiological Ecology

3
BIO 568Disturbance Ecology

3
BIO 570Coevolution in Ecological Systems

3
BIO 572Species and Speciation

3
BIO 576Pharmacology

3
BIO 578Pathobiology

3
BIO 580Mammalian Endocrinology

3
BIO 581Neurobiology

3
BIO 582Cancer Biology

3
CHEM 581General Biochemistry I

4
CHEM 582General Biochemistry II

4
GEOG 507Geographic Information Science

3
GEOG 540Biogeography

3

NOTE: A student can count a maximum of 8 credits from the following list of double-numbered courses: BIO 530, BIO 533, BIO 534, BIO 535, BIO 537, BIO 538, BIO 554, BIO 562, BIO 566, BIO 576

Enrichment and Non-Scheduled Electives — 3-5 hours

BIO 508Workshop

1- 3
BIO 513Professional Renewal

1- 3
BIO 585Topics in Field Biology

1-10
BIO 591Biology Roundtable

1
BIO 592Internship in Biological Sciences

1- 3
BIO 595Special Topics in Biology

1- 6
BIO 622Directed Studies

1- 4
SCED 513Professional Renewal

1-12

BIO 591: Limit 2 hours

BIO 508, BIO 513, BIO 622, and SCED 513: See “Variable Topic Courses”.

NOTES: Students must complete a minimum of 50 semester hours in biological science of combined undergraduate and graduate courses.

Thesis Concentration — 6 hours

BIO 699Thesis

1- 6

BIO 699: Research Elective, Take 6 hours

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