Offered at: San Luis Obispo Campus
The M.S. Biological Sciences degree program provides students with the training needed for biological work that requires advanced research-based skills beyond a bachelor's degree. The degree program is designed to prepare students for careers in industry, civil service agencies, or further graduate work leading to a Ph.D. Graduates of the M.S. program have gone on to careers in private companies, environmental consulting, federal and state government agencies, or Ph.D. graduate work.
Requirements for Admission
Students apply via Cal State Apply and must submit a transcript, three (3) letters of recommendation from persons familiar with the recent academic or work performance of the applicant, a Curriculum Vitae (CV), and a Personal Statement that describes the following: the applicant’s research interests, motivation for pursuing a M.S. in Biological Sciences, and how their experience has prepared them for M.S. graduate-level research and study.
International Students must meet all the standard eligibility criteria and demonstrate proficiency in English (English Proficiency Exam Requirements)
Prerequisites: One year of coursework in biology and one course in each of the following areas: 1) general chemistry, 2) calculus, statistics, or data science, 3) genetics or molecular biology, and 4) evolution.
Minimum GPA: 3.0
Application due date: Please see Graduate Student Dates and Deadlines for application deadlines.
Advancement to candidacy
Completion of at least 6 units of graduate coursework with cumulative and higher ed GPA of 3.0 or higher and an approved culminating experience proposal.
Culminating Experience
Written M.S. thesis and oral M.S. thesis defense. With guidance from a faculty advisor, students will design and complete an original research project, prepare a written M.S. thesis describing that project, and present a public oral defense of that research, after which a faculty committee will have the opportunity to privately ask related questions to the student about that research project.
Specializations
Regenerative Medicine
Offered at: San Luis Obispo Campus
The Specialization in Regenerative Medicine prepares students for research-based careers in regenerative medicine and related fields. Specifically, graduates are prepared for immediate employment in regenerative medicine, biotechnology, or medical technology companies, or as research specialists/laboratory managers at universities or research institutes. Program graduates are also well-prepared to matriculate into biological sciences doctoral programs or graduate programs in the health professions.
Culminating Experience
Students who obtain a degree in M.S. in Biological Sciences with a Specialization in Regenerative Medicine are not required to complete an original research M.S. thesis. In place of the thesis as a culminating experience, students complete a Project during a 10-month internship at a company or academic research laboratory. The Project Report and Project Presentation are evaluated by the student's Cal Poly and Internship Mentors. In addition, the Presentation is evaluated by the Program Director.
Program Learning Objectives
- Demonstrate a thorough understanding and competency in a subdiscipline of specialization within the biological sciences.
- Communicate scientific ideas effectively in both oral and written formats.
- Demonstrate an ability to think critically and evaluate, design, conduct, and quantitatively analyze or assess research in a biological discipline.
- Demonstrate the skills and knowledge needed for employment or advanced graduate or professional study in discipline-related areas.
Specialization in Regenerative Medicine
- Perform fundamental laboratory skills involved in regenerative medicine research & development.
- Discuss and critically evaluate biomedical primary literature.
- Effectively communicate technical topics to both peer and lay audiences.
- Explain the process of biotechnology development & commercialization.
- Describe how research & development efforts are motivated by and impact physician & patient experiences.
- Design and execute independent research projects.
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| REQUIRED COURSES | ||
| BIO 5501 | Molecular and Cellular Biology | 4 |
| or BIO 5502 | Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology | |
| Select from the following: | 2-3 | |
| Research Career and Proposal Development | ||
| Research and Professional Development for Regenerative Medicine Students | ||
| Select from the following: | 1-2 | |
| Biology Colloquium | ||
| Biomedical Engineering Graduate Seminar | ||
| Select from the following: | 3 | |
| Communicating Biology to Various Audiences | ||
| Principles of Stem Cell Biology | ||
| Advanced Behavioral Ecology | ||
| Advances in Organismal Physiology | ||
| Seminar in Biology | ||
| Select from the following: | 6 | |
| Project 1 | ||
| Thesis | ||
| Approved Electives | ||
| Select from the following: | 12-13 | |
| Individual Study | ||
| Scientific Writing and Communication | ||
| Data Management and Visualization in Biology | ||
| Communicating Biology to Various Audiences | ||
| Advanced Cell Culture Techniques | ||
| Advanced Behavioral Ecology | ||
| Advances in Organismal Physiology | ||
| Special Advanced Topics | ||
| Special Advanced Laboratory | ||
| Teaching Strategies for College Biology Laboratories | ||
| College Biology Teaching Practicum | ||
| Cooperative Education Experience | ||
| Seminar in Biology | ||
| Biology Colloquium | ||
| Cooperative Education Experience | ||
| Drug Discovery and Development | ||
| Principles of Tissue Engineering | ||
| Biomedical Imaging | ||
| Cell Transplantation and Biotherapeutics | ||
| Cell Transplantation and Biotherapeutics Laboratory | ||
| Intermediate Statistics for Graduate Students | ||
| Applied Regression Analysis for Graduate Students | ||
| Statistical Methods for Study Design and Analysis | ||
| Statistical Learning with R | ||
| Total Units | 30 | |
- 1
BIO 5598 is only an option for students in the Regenerative Medicine Specialization.
Specializations
Regenerative Medicine
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| REQUIRED COURSES | ||
| BIO 5501 | Molecular and Cellular Biology | 4 |
| BIO 5509 | Communicating Biology to Various Audiences | 1 |
| BIO 5511 | Advanced Cell Culture Techniques | 1 |
| BIO 5528 | Principles of Stem Cell Biology | 2 |
| BIO 5583 | Research and Professional Development for Regenerative Medicine Students | 2 |
| BIO 5598 | Project | 6 |
| BMED 5510 | Principles of Tissue Engineering | 3 |
| BMED 5515 | Biomedical Imaging | 3 |
| BMED 5563 | Biomedical Engineering Graduate Seminar | 1 |
| STAT 5120 | Intermediate Statistics for Graduate Students | 3 |
| Approved Electives | ||
| Select from the following: | 4 | |
| Applied Biotechnology in Animal Science | ||
| Neuroscience | ||
| Bioinformatics Applications | ||
| Developmental Biology | ||
| Immunology | ||
| Molecular Biology Laboratory | ||
| Individual Study | ||
| Data Management and Visualization in Biology | ||
| Special Advanced Topics | ||
| Special Advanced Laboratory | ||
| Teaching Strategies for College Biology Laboratories | ||
| College Biology Teaching Practicum | ||
| Seminar in Biology | ||
| Biology Colloquium | ||
| Drug Discovery and Development | ||
| Cell Transplantation and Biotherapeutics | ||
| Cell Transplantation and Biotherapeutics Laboratory | ||
| Applied Regression Analysis for Graduate Students | ||
| Statistical Methods for Study Design and Analysis | ||
| Statistical Learning with R | ||
| Total Units | 30 | |