The University of North Carolina at Charlotte Department of Biology offers programs leading to the Master of Science degree, which requires research, and the non-research Master of Arts degree. Most traditional areas of biology are available for study. Both teaching and research assistantships are available to provide financial support for graduate students.

THE PROGRAM

The graduate program in biology at UNCC provides broad training in a variety of biological areas as well as specialization in areas of particular interest to the student. Administered by the Department of Biology in the College of Arts and Sciences, the program offers students the opportunity to pursue either the Master of Science or Master of Arts in Biology. The major areas of emphasis within the department are Biomedicine/Biotechnology and Environmental Biology. However, the department is organized into three divisions that reflect the strengths and research activities of the faculty:

Although the program is organized into three areas, students, in consultation with their Thesis Committee, have the flexibility to design a course of study to meet the student's interests. Also, an arrangement with the Carolinas Medical Center (CMC) in Charlotte allows students to conduct their graduate research at this facility under the direction of  hospital staff. At UNC Charlotte, students have access to a wide array of educational facilities, including extensive library holdings, computing services and various research laboratories. The department also provides students the opportunity for research in natural environments. These include the UNC Charlotte Botanical Gardens , located on campus; the UNC Charlotte Experimental Ecological Reserve, a 100-acre tract of land set aside on campus; the UNC Charlotte Rocky River Wildlife Refuge, a 46-acre natural preserve located east of Charlotte ; and Chimney Rock  Park, an 800-acre park located in the Blue Ridge Mountains .

ADMISSION

In addition to the general requirements for admission to graduate study at UNC Charlotte, the following requirements are specific to the Department of Biology:  Evidence of sufficient undergraduate preparation in biology with a minimum of 24 semester hours in biology and 24 semester hours of related study. A satisfactory score on the general sections of the Graduate Record Examination.

DEGREE REQUIREMENTS

The Master of Science degree is specifically designed for students who desire to pursue advanced studies in professional and graduate schools or various vocational opportunities in biology and related areas. The program leading to the M.S. degree in biology requires the successful completion of 30 semester hours of course work approved by a supervisory committee. At least 16 of these hours must be in courses open to graduate students only, including two hours of seminar and no more than eight hours of thesis research. In addition to course work, each candidate for a degree must pass an oral candidacy examination. The candidate must also prepare, present and defend a thesis based upon original research acceptable to the Supervisory Committee and the Dean of the Graduate School. Students who choose to pursue the Master of Arts degree in biology at UNCC must complete the above requirements for the M.S. degree with the following exceptions: a maximum of 4 hours of credit for thesis research may be included in the required 32 hours, and three courses of the 32 hours submitted for the degree must include a formal laboratory. The thesis for the M.A. degree is based upon a directed study (typically library) project rather than upon laboratory or field research. Each student in the biology graduate program will have a faculty adviser whose area of expertise matches the student's area of interest.