| Degrees: |
Master of Science,
Master of Science in Teaching |
| Department: |
Department: Biology
Building 58, Room 79
(850) 474-2748
biology@uwf.edu |
| College: |
Arts and Sciences |
The Department of Biology offers the M.S. degree program with two areas of
specialization. The first is traditional Biology which requires a research
thesis. The second is the Coastal Zone Studies area, for which a thesis is
optional. The department also offers a program leading to the M.S.T. degree.
Course descriptions are listed alphabetically by prefix in the back of this
catalog.
ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
In addition to the general University requirements, students seeking the M.S.
degree in biology must submit the following materials and meet departmental
requirements:
- Three letters of recommendation from individuals who can evaluate the
student's academic ability.
- Successful completion of the five biology core courses (or the
equivalents) required of UWF biology undergraduates.
- Official scores from the GRE will be used, in part, for diagnostic
purposes.
- A letter describing the student's area of interest within biology and/or
coastal zone studies, relevant past experience, and future objectives.
The completed application will be reviewed by the graduate program committee
and by the faculty member(s) whose research interests most closely coincide with
those of the applicant. Upon admission, the student will be assigned an advisor.
Conditional admission may require the student to complete the appropriate
foundation courses with grades of "B" or better.
THESIS SPECIALIZATION
The thesis program is designed for students seeking advanced studies in areas
of modern biology and biotechnology with training in the fields of aquaculture,
ecology, environmental studies, fisheries biology, genetics, immunology, marine
biology, microbiology, molecular biology, plant science, and physiology.
In addition to the general university academic requirements, students seeking
the M.S. degree in biology must meet the following departmental requirements:
- Select a thesis advisory committee composed of a chairperson and at least
two additional faculty members.
- Meet with the thesis advisory committee and complete a written plan of
study that specifies courses and other work necessary for the program.
- Submit a written research proposal acceptable to the thesis supervisory
committee and demonstrate by oral examination that the proposed research is
feasible.
- Complete a minimum of 32 semester hours of credit approved by the thesis
committee. Fifteen of these hours must be at the 6000 level and these may
include 6 semester hours of thesis. 8 semester hours of credit in undergraduate
courses outside of biology may be approved as part of the program.
- Submit an acceptable thesis and successfully defend it in an oral public
presentation.
COASTAL ZONE STUDIES SPECIALIZATION
A student will learn methods to identify and solve problems, management
practices, and procedures for policy-making as they pertain to a coastal zone.
Students with bachelor's degrees in the physical sciences, geography, and
resource management are encouraged to apply. Departmental requirements are as
follows:
- Prior to registration and in consultation with the department chairperson,
select a faculty advisor and help form a supervisory committee.
- Meet with the committee and complete a plan of study that specifies
courses and practical experience necessary for the program. The plan must be
approved by the supervisory committee.
- Complete 36 semester hours composed of the required selections from the
course groups specified below and from graduate electives in biology.
| BSC 6329 |
Coastal Studies Seminar |
1 |
| PCB 6446 |
Wetlands Ecology |
4 |
|
Choose two courses:
|
| GEO 4131 |
Photo Interpretation & Remote Sensing |
4 |
| GEO 4151 |
Geographic Information Systems |
3 |
| GEO 5225 |
Coastal Morphology & Processes |
3 |
|
Choose one course:
|
| EVR 4023 |
Coastal & Marine Environment |
3 |
| EVR 4035 |
Environmental Law |
3 |
- Complete a practical experience at the end of the program. The design and
scope of the practicum must receive prior approval of the supervisory committee.
The student must submit an acceptable written report summarizing the experience
and must successfully defend it in an oral public presentation.
- A biology CZS student has the option of pursuing original research and
producing a traditional thesis in lieu of a practical experience. Under such a
circumstance, the student is expected to submit a written thesis proposal which
must be approved by the advisory committee, chaired by the major professor. The
student must then submit an acceptable thesis and successfully defend it in an
oral presentation.
This non-thesis M.S.T. program allows competent teachers to carry out
advanced studies in the many exciting areas of the biological sciences.
Applicants should hold Florida teacher certification and have received a
bachelor's degree in some subdiscipline of biological science from an accredited
institution. Applicants holding the bachelor's degree in some other discipline
will be considered using criteria appropriate to their backgrounds. Admission to
the program may be granted to individuals who lack Florida teacher
certification. However, completion of the teacher certification is an exit
requirement for the M.S.T. program.
Departmental requirements are as follows:
- Form and meet with a supervisory committee within one semester after
matriculation in the M.S.T. program. The committee must consist of a major
advisor, a biology education coordinator, and a College of Education
representative.
- Complete a minimum of 36 semester hours of credit approved by the
supervisory committee. Fifteen of these hours must be at the 6000 level. The
student must complete at least 19 semester hours of biology graduate credit in
formal courses, including at least 8 semester hours in each of two broad areas.
Completion of a formal college-level course in evolution is required. Up to 8
semester hours of credit in undergraduate courses outside of biology may be
approved as part of the program. A committee-approved 2 semester hours directed
study must be taken, involving exposure to experimental or sampling design, data
collection and analysis, and presentation of results.
- Complete the Professional Education Common Core (must be taken in
sequence):
| EDF 6602 |
Trends and Issues in Education: Social,
Multicultural, Historical, & Philosophical
Analysis |
3 |
| EDF 6218 |
Current Issues in Student Development
& Learning |
3 |
| EDF 6481 |
Educational Research |
3 |
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