Biology
ECU’s Master of Science (MS) in biology is a 30-semester-hour program that develops highly marketable skills in communication, problem-solving, critical thinking, and integrating information from multiple sources.
Biology Program Overview
ECU's MS in biology is a 30-semester-hour program offering both thesis and non-thesis tracks. Students in the thesis track conduct original research under faculty supervision, while the non-thesis track provides advanced training without a formal research project.
Our faculty, and our graduate students, conduct research in a wide range of areas, including cell and molecular biology, genetics, physiology, developmental biology, microbiology, ecology, evolution, discipline-based science education, biotechnology and environmental science.
The program develops highly marketable skills in communication, problem-solving, critical thinking, and integrating information from multiple sources. Graduates are prepared for careers in education, research, business, government agencies or health sciences, with more than 90% securing employment in their field or continuing doctoral-level study.
ECU Advantage
We believe our students and faculty make the department exceptional. Our faculty are widely recognized at ECU, across the UNC System and internationally through awards, competitive grants and publications in leading journals. Many are supported by highly competitive grants, such as those from the National Institutes of Health, National Science Foundation and USDA, reflecting the breadth and impact of their research. United by a passion for research, service and teaching, they bring energy and expertise into every classroom and lab.
Graduate students gain hands-on experience in modern, fully equipped research laboratories, including state-of-the-art spaces in the Life Sciences and Biotechnology Building and other well-established or recently renovated facilities. Many of our graduates publish their research and present findings at regional, national or international conferences - preparing them for advanced study or professional careers. Nearly all thesis-based students are supported through either a teaching or graduate research assistant.
MS graduates frequently pursue doctoral or professional health programs, while many others secure positions in industry, government agencies, education or other life-science-related fields.
What You Will Study
Program Coordinator: Michael Brewer (2503 Life Sciences and Biotechnology Building; 252-328-1833; brewermi14@ecu.edu)
Program participants are trained in various disciplines in the biological sciences. Fields of study comprise the expertise of the faculty in the Department of Biology. Thesis and non-thesis options are available.
The degree requires a minimum of 30 s.h. as follows:
Core Requirements:
Thesis option requirements:
Students must complete a minimum of 30 s.h. of course work (15 s.h. must be at the 6000-7000 level), and a research-based thesis, comprehensive defense of a thesis proposal, seminar based on thesis research, thesis defense, and show competence in teaching. Up to 9 s.h. of graduate courses from other departments may be used to meet curriculum requirements upon approval by the department's director of graduate studies.
1. Core - 8 s.h.
- BIOL 6880 - Introduction to Research
- BIOL 7000 - Thesis *
- BIOL 7900 - Ecological Statistics
2. Electives - 22 s.h.
Choose a minimum of 22 s.h. from the following courses:
- BIOL 6280 - Marine Community Ecology
- BIOL 5450 - Histology
- BIOL 5451 - Histology Laboratory
- BIOL 5550 - Ichthyology
- BIOL 5551 - Ichthyology Laboratory
- BIOL 5600 - Fisheries Techniques
- BIOL 5601 - Fisheries Techniques Laboratory
- BIOL 5680 - Current Topics in Coastal Biology
- BIOL 5890 - Virology
- BIOL 5900 - Biotechniques
- BIOL 5901 - Biotechniques Laboratory
- BIOL 6100 - Advances in Molecular Biology
- BIOL 6120 - Advances in Molecular Biology
- BIOL 6130 - Advances in Developmental Biology
- BIOL 6220 - Evolution: Topics for Advanced Students
- BIOL 6240 - Principles of Biochemistry I
- BIOL 6242 - Principles of Biochemistry II
- BIOL 6244 - Principles of Biochemistry Laboratory
- BIOL 6300 - Neurophysiology
- BIOL 6504 - Research Problems in Biology
- BIOL 6514 - Research Problems in Biology
- BIOL 6560 - Microbial Ecology
- BIOL 6770 - Ornithology
- BIOL 6771 - Ornithology Laboratory
- BIOL 6850 - Advances in Ecology
- BIOL 6860 - Advances in Ecology
- BIOL 7010 - Estuarine Ecology
- BIOL 7090 - Experimental Embryology
- BIOL 7091 - Experimental Embryology Laboratory
- BIOL 7310 - Ecological Modeling and Simulation
- BIOL 7350 - Current Literature in Fish Ecology
- BIOL 7360 - Fisheries Management
- BIOL 7781 - Bioinformatics
- BIOL 7870 - Molecular Genetics
- BIOL 7880 - Bioinformatics
- BIOL 7890 - Current Literature in Molecular Biology
- BIOL 7895 - Current Literature in Cell Biology
- BIOL 7920 - Conservation Biology
Note:
*A minimum of three credits of BIOL 7000 is required. BIOL 7000 may be repeated for registration status, but only 6 s. h. may count toward graduation. Additional courses may be selected as electives upon approval of the graduate program director and the candidate's advisor.
Non-thesis option requirements:
Students must complete a minimum of 30 s.h. of course work (17 s.h. must be at the 6000-7000 level), a final project, an oral defense of the final project, and show competence in teaching. The final project may take many forms (e. g., review paper, symposium, and internship) and requires approval of the Director of Graduate Programs. Up to 10 s.h. of graduate courses from other departments may be used to meet curriculum requirements upon approval by the department's director of graduate studies.
1. Core - 5 s.h.
- BIOL 6880 - Introduction to Research
2. Electives - 25 s.h.
The non-thesis option electives will be tailored to the individual's interests, career goals, and educational background in consultation with the student's faculty advisor and the director of graduate studies. A maximum of 5 s.h. of directed research courses (BIOL 6504, BIOL 6514) and /or internship (BIOL 6992, BIOL 6993) may be applied toward meeting the electives requirement.
- BIOL 6280 - Marine Community Ecology
- BIOL 5450 - Histology
- BIOL 5451 - Histology Laboratory
- BIOL 5550 - Ichthyology
- BIOL 5551 - Ichthyology Laboratory
- BIOL 5600 - Fisheries Techniques
- BIOL 5601 - Fisheries Techniques Laboratory
- BIOL 5680 - Current Topics in Coastal Biology
- BIOL 5870 - Molecular Biology of the Gene
- BIOL 5890 - Virology
- BIOL 5900 - Biotechniques
- BIOL 5901 - Biotechniques Laboratory
- BIOL 6030 - Topics in Cell Biology
- BIOL 6100 - Advances in Molecular Biology
- BIOL 6120 - Advances in Molecular Biology
- BIOL 6130 - Advances in Developmental Biology
- BIOL 6220 - Evolution: Topics for Advanced Students
- BIOL 6240 - Principles of Biochemistry I
- BIOL 6242 - Principles of Biochemistry II
- BIOL 6244 - Principles of Biochemistry Laboratory
- BIOL 6300 - Neurophysiology
- BIOL 6504 - Research Problems in Biology
- BIOL 6514 - Research Problems in Biology
- BIOL 6560 - Microbial Ecology
- BIOL 6770 - Ornithology
- BIOL 6771 - Ornithology Laboratory
- BIOL 6850 - Advances in Ecology
- BIOL 6860 - Advances in Ecology
- BIOL 7010 - Estuarine Ecology
- BIOL 7090 - Experimental Embryology
- BIOL 7091 - Experimental Embryology Laboratory
- BIOL 7310 - Ecological Modeling and Simulation
- BIOL 7350 - Current Literature in Fish Ecology
- BIOL 7781 - Bioinformatics
- BIOL 7880 - Bioinformatics
- BIOL 7890 - Current Literature in Molecular Biology
- BIOL 7895 - Current Literature in Cell Biology
- BIOL 7920 - Conservation Biology
Comprehensive Assessment Requirement
All graduate programs at ECU require students to successfully complete a comprehensive assessment. The Biology, MS requires the following: • Thesis option: Successful completion of the thesis (BIOL 7000) and oral defense to satisfy this requirement. • Nonthesis option: Successful completion of a project and oral defense to satisfy this requirement.
For more information about this degree visit the university's academic catalogs.
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