Master of Science in Biology
Current Graduate Students | Graduate Research Fellowship Awardees | Graduate Student Teaching Award
Our M.S. graduate program is designed to prepare students for acceptance into Ph.D. programs and professional schools, or to directly enter careers as natural resource biologists or as research support personnel.
Our graduate program offers both a thesis and non-thesis option (see table below for comparison). All M.S. students complete a minimum of 30 credit hours of graduate-level courses. The specific courses you complete are determined in consultation with your graduate mentor. K-12 educators interested in earning a M.S. in Biology should pursue the non-thesis track. Currently, the M.S. in Biology is only available on-campus.
| Requirement | Thesis Track | Non-thesis track |
| BIOL 805 (Professional Scientific Communication) | Required 3 credit course | Required 3 credit course |
| Comprehensive Exam | Required | Required |
| BIOL 892 (Research in Biology) | Minimum 2 credits | Minimum 2 credits |
| BIOL 899 (Thesis in Biology) | Minimum 2 credits | None required |
| Other graduate-level courses | Minimum 23 hours | Minimum 25 hours |
| Final product | Thesis and Public presentation | Written report |
For more detailed information about our program please see our Graduate Student Guidelines. Prospective students are also encouraged to visit the FHSU Graduate School website. International students should visit International Graduate Applicants
Applying for Admission
Our priority deadline is February 1 for fall admission. We do occasionally accept students for spring admission; however, funding is very limited. A faculty member must be willing to serve as a student's advisor before they are accepted to the program. It is strongly recommended that you identify and contact a faculty member who you would like to work with prior to submitting your application. For a list of our faculty accepting graduate students please visit our faculty research page Faculty Research. GRE scores are not required.
Application Requirements:
- Personal statement that includes:
- the student's future goals, and how earning a M.S. in Biology will help them achieve those goals
- previous experiences that prepared the student for graduate school, and/or their future careers
- a statement of who the student would like as a mentor and why (it is recommended that applicants reach out to potential mentors prior to applying to the program)
- a statement that describes whether the student intends to pursue the thesis or non-thesis track
- Two letters of recommendation
- Transcripts
To apply for admission to the FHSU Graduate School and a graduate assistantship, check the Graduate School website for the application forms and other information. Applications are due in the Graduate School no later than March 15 for the following academic year. Visits to the FHSU campus are also encouraged for prospective students.
Graduate Student Support
Honoraria
The department has funding available to support who travel to professional meetings to present their research. Students may apply through the following link student honorarium. Costs eligible for reimbursement include lodging, registration, and some travel.
Graduate Assistantships
All graduate assistantships are considered half-time positions (19 hours per week).
Graduate Teaching Assistantships (GTAs)
Students assist faculty in teaching laboratory assistant to earn $5,000 each semester for up to four fall/spring semesters. GTAs received a tuition waiver for 6-9 credits of on-campus courses. GTAs are required to pay graduate student fees (e.g., student health fee, student activity fee), which vary each year (usually about $15-25 per credit hour). The Graduate School currently provides the Department of Biological Sciences with 10 Graduate Teaching Assistantships (GTAs).
Graduate Curatorial Assistantships (GCAs)
Two GCAs are offered through the Sternberg Museum of Natural History. Generally. One GCA assists with curation of the "dry" collections (mammals, birds, and insects), and one works in the "wet" collections (primarily fish and herps).
GCAs earn $12,000 per 12 months. These positions do not include a tuition waiver; however, out-of-state students who receive a GCA pay in-state tuition.
Graduate Wetlands Assistantships (GWAs)
Four GWAs are offered through the Kansas Wetlands Education Center (KWEC) at Cheyenne Bottoms State Wildlife Area. GWAs work at KWEC and may assist with research and educational activities.
GWAs earn $12,000 per 12 months. These positions do not include a tuition waiver; however, out-of-state students who receive a GWA pay in-state tuition.
Graduate Research Assistantships (GRAs)
Graduate Research Assistantships (GRAs) can be arranged if financial support is provided by a source outside the university. These funds are typically available if a faculty member has an external grant that includes support for graduate students. GRAs do not automatically include a tuition waiver. Students paid through a GRA that doesn't include a tuition waiver pay in-state tuition.
Graduate Research Fellowships (GRFs)
The department offers three endowed research assistantships of $10,000 for 9 months. These include a tuition waiver for 6-9 credits of on-campus courses. The GRFs are designed for second year M.S. students. For more information please visit the Graduate Research Fellowship.