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MS in Biology/Biotechnology

Chapter 6 Graduate Program Reguations/Course Description
College of Sciences

COLLEGE OF SCIENCES

DEPARTMENT OF BIOLOGY

Master of Science Degree in Biology

The graduate program offers opportunities for advanced study and research leading to the Master of Science degree in Biology. A thesis option is offered to students who want an opportunity to develop expertise in research techniques and data analysis; a nonthesis option is offered for those who want the opportunity to earn the Master of Science degree primarily through organized coursework. The thesis option is recommended for students who plan a career in research or contemplate pursuing a doctorate in one of the life sciences. The nonthesis option might be suitable for students interested in secondary school teaching in the life sciences.

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Graduate faculty research interests include biochemistry, cellular biology, developmental biology, ecology, genetics, microbiology, neurobiology, physiology, and plant sciences. The multidisciplinary nature of the program also allows students the opportunity to broaden their educational background at the graduate level. Individual programs are organized around each student’s interests in consultation with the student’s graduate advisor.

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Qualified students are encouraged to apply for teaching assistantships and fellowships. Requests should be sent to the Chair of the Department of Biology when application is made for admission to UTSA.

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Program Admission Requirements. In addition to satisfying the University-wide graduate admission requirements, applicants are expected to have completed an undergraduate major in one of the biological sciences, with coursework comparable to that required for the Bachelor of Science degree in Biology at UTSA. Students whose undergraduate preparation is deficient in certain areas but who meet the minimum University standards for admission may be conditionally admitted and required to complete specific undergraduate or graduate courses as conditions of admission. In such cases, students should anticipate that additional time will be required to complete the degree. To be considered for degree-seeking status, applicants must submit two letters of recommendation to the Graduate Program Committee Chair in the Department of Biology; they must also submit scores from the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) with their application.

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Degree Requirements. Degree candidates are required to complete a minimum of 36 semester credit hours approved by the student’s Graduate Advisor of Record. These hours are subject to the following conditions:

  • A minimum of 18 semester hours of graduate credit in organized classes must be earned within the department. This may include up to 6 semester credit hours of approved upper-division undergraduate coursework and a maximum of 3 semester credit hours in a graduate seminar (BIO 7051).
  • An additional 18 semester hours of graduate credit as approved by the Graduate Advisor of Record. This may include a maximum of 6 hours of BIO 5973 Directed Research. For students electing the nonthesis option, a minimum of 3 semester credit hours of BIO 5973 must be included. Students electing the thesis option must complete 6 semester credit hours of BIO 6983 Master’s Thesis as part of this total.

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Comprehensive Examination. As specified by University regulations, candidates must pass a comprehensive examination administered by their graduate committee. This examination is normally given in the semester before the semester during which degree requirements are to be completed. Certain rules must be adhered to concerning the composition of the Master’s Thesis Committee and the Master’s Comprehensive Examination Committee. Only tenured or tenure-track faculty members can chair these committees, and no more than one member of either committee can be a nontenured or nontenure-track faculty member, or be from another university. Students electing the thesis option must successfully defend their thesis research before their graduate committee prior to the submission of the thesis to the Dean of Graduate Studies for approval.

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Master of Science Degree in Biotechnology

The Master of Science degree in Biotechnology offers opportunities for advanced study and research related to the rapidly developing field of applied biology. A broad common base of knowledge for biotechnology is provided in the Master’s degree by a comprehensive core curriculum that encompasses key areas in biology, computer science, and statistics. Additional coursework is selected from one of two concentrations, from which specialized courses may be chosen. These concentrations are molecular neurobiology and bioprocessing technology. The opportunity to develop additional technical expertise is also available through directed research.

Program Admission Requirements. In addition to satisfying the University-wide graduate requirements, applicants are expected to have completed an undergraduate major in the sciences with coursework comparable to the core required for the Bachelor of Science degree in Biology at UTSA. Students must also have completed courses equivalent to BIO 3713, 3722 Microbiology and Laboratory and CS 1073 Introductory Computer Programming for Scientific Applications. Students whose undergraduate preparation is deficient in certain areas but who meet the minimum University standards for admission may be conditionally admitted and required to complete specific undergraduate or graduate courses as conditions of admission. Courses listed as deficiencies do not count toward the graduate degree. In such cases, students should anticipate that additional time will be required to complete the degree. To be considered for degree-seeking status, applicants must submit two letters of recommendation to the Graduate Program Committee Chair in the Department of Biology; they must also submit scores from the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) with their application.

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Degree Requirements . Degree candidates are required to complete a minimum of 36 semester credit hours approved by the student’s Graduate Advisor of Record. These hours are subject to the following conditions:

Program of Study

A. Biotechnology core curriculum (15 semester credit hours):

BIO 5353 Molecular and Biochemical Genetics
BIO 6803 Advanced Immunology and Immunochemistry
BIO 7513 Advanced Biochemistry
BIO 7643 Cellular and Molecular Biology
STA 5073 Methods of Statistics I

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B. Biotechnology electives. Each student must complete 21 semester credit hours of biotechnology electives, at least 9 of

which must be selected from a single concentration:

Concentration 1: Molecular Neurobiology

BIO 5423 Neuroanatomy
BIO 5433 Neurophysiology
BIO 5443 Neurochemistry
BIO 5523 Enzymes
BIO 5563 Biochemical Macromolecules
BIO 5833 Membrane Structure and Function
BIO 7571-3 Experimental Techniques in the Life Sciences

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Concentration 2: Bioprocessing Technology

BIO 5363 Microbial Genetics
BIO 5523 Enzymes
BIO 5563 Biochemical Macromolecules
BIO 6553 Fermentation Science
BIO 6563 Food Science and Technology
BIO 6873 Microbial Physiology and Energetics
BIO 7571-3 Experimental Techniques in the Life Sciences–Monoclonal Antibodies and Flow Cytometry
BIO 7571-3 Experimental Techniques in the Life Sciences–Recombinant DNA
BIO 7571-3 Experimental Techniques in the Life Sciences–Tissue Culture and Somatic Cell Genetics

C. Directed research. Students may elect to develop expertise in research techniques in a selected emphasis on biotechnology through BIO 5973 Directed Research

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D. Master’s thesis option. Students electing the thesis option must complete 6 semester credit hours of BIO 6983 Master’s Thesis

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Comprehensive Examination. As specified by University regulations, degree candidates must pass a comprehensive examination administered by their graduate committee. This examination is normally given in the semester before the semester during which degree requirements are to be completed. Certain rules must be adhered to concerning the composition of the Master’s Thesis Committee and the Master’s Comprehensive Examination Committee. Only tenured or tenure-track faculty members can chair these committees, and no more than one member of either committee can be a nontenured or nontenure-track faculty member, or be from another university. The examination is normally given in the semester before the semester during which the degree requirements are to be completed. Students electing the thesis option must successfully defend their thesis research before their graduate committee before the submission of the thesis to the Dean of Graduate Studies for approval.

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