Graduate Program

The primary objective of the Masters of Science program in Biology is to prepare students to enter and complete doctoral and health professional programs in order to become productive teachers, researchers, and health professionals. To support this objective, this program will develop in all participants, through research experiences and other enrichment activities, independent thinking, creativity, critical judgment, and personal integrity. Specifically, this program is designed to enhance the student's ability to design experiments, to analyze results, to become competent using state-of-the-art research equipment, to enhance manipulative skills, and to improve the student's proficiency in oral and written communication. Students will have the opportunity to conduct research in various areas, including cancer research, diabetes research, molecular genetics, microbiology/immunology, genomics/bioinformatics, physiology, evolution, toxicology, and health disparities research.

The primary objective of the Professional Science Master’s (P.S.M.) concentration in Industrial Biosciences is to provide students with advanced technical skills, industry-guided knowledge, and business training to prepare them for work in the commercial sector. To support this objective, this program will develop in all participants, through training experiences and other enrichment activities, scientific understanding, understanding of the commercialization process, critical judgment, and personal integrity. Specifically, this program is designed to enhance the student's ability to manage scientific projects, to understand regulatory, ethical and legal dimensions of science-based work, to become competent using state-of-the-art research equipment, and to improve the student's proficiency in oral and written communication.

Situated within the College of Education’s conceptual framework of "Professional Educator: A Catalyst for Learning," the M.A.T in Biology Education program is designed for college graduates who have decided to enter the teaching profession, many of whom will already be lateral entry teachers, teachers changing fields and perspective candidates who are taking coursework before entering the classroom. It is another way of addressing the critical teacher shortage, since post baccalaureate students accepted into this program will have the academic credentials and maturity necessary to complete both introductory and advanced work in teacher education in a graduate level program. The Masters of Art in Teaching will enable prospective teachers, who bring content knowledge to the graduate degree, the opportunity to develop the knowledge, skills, and dispositions to become excellent teachers.

Teacher Education Licensure: Degree completion and obtaining a teaching license in the State of North Carolina or any other state are separate processes. Admission to this program does not guarantee admission to the Teacher Education Licensure program. To be recommended for licensure, candidates must first be formally admitted to the Teacher Education Licensure Program. Failure to complete the Teacher Education admission requirements during the first semester of enrollment may result in the student’s inability register for professional core courses. Candidates should review licensure requirements at the Educator Preparation page or visit the College of Education for guidance on specific requirements.