To qualify for admission to the graduate program in biology, an applicant must meet the general graduate admission requirements described above. Additionally, the applicant must have completed at least 17 semester hours of biology course work at the undergraduate level, as well as one year each of organic chemistry, mathematics, and physics with a grade of "C" or better in each course. Students who are admitted but have not completed a course in biochemistry and a course in statistics are required to complete these courses in addition to the work required for the master's degree. The Graduate Record Examination, including the advanced test in biology, is required for admission to this program. Qualified applicants will be granted full graduate standing upon admission. Students who have deficiencies in one or more of the categories described, may be admitted conditionally or may seek graduate special student status.

 

The M.A. program in biology is designed to:
1. prepare students for the Ph.D. level training in the biological sciences;
2. train students in modern research methodology and techniques;
3. enhance the ability of students to obtain employment in research organizations; and
4. improve the competency level of teachers whose prior training includes prerequisites for graduate courses offered.

Students who complete the M.A. program in biology will be able to:
1. independently search the literature to become aware of advances in subject matter;
2. develop independent inquiry and demonstrate the ability to seek resolution to debatable issues in science;
3. develop skills to test, interpret and analyze critically data presented in the literature and that which is obtained in the laboratory; and
4. prepare manuscripts for publication.

A progressive plan that describes courses and other requirements for graduation will be developed by the student and the advisor during the first semester of enrollment. Full-time graduate students are expected to complete their course work by the end of the third semester in residence. Required course work includes a minimum of 31 semester credits, which may include 3 to 6 credits for thesis research. At least 17 of the required 31 semester credits must be completed at Fisk. A maximum of 14 semester credits may be taken in cross-registration at Vanderbilt or Meharry Medical College. Courses taken at one of these neighboring educational institutions must be approved by the advisor and other representative graduate faculty in the department. All graduate students are required to participate in BIOL 590, Graduate Biology Seminar, each semester; however, only one credit can be counted toward fulfillment of graduate requirements.

In addition to completion of course work, each candidate must write an acceptable thesis base don research completed; present a public seminar based on the thesis research, and successfully defend the thesis before an advisory committee.