M.S. Admission Requirements
Applicants to the M.S. program must submit completed application and personal  data forms, three letters of recommendation from undergraduate faculty, and transcripts of all previous work. Submission of Graduate Record Examination scores, although not required, is highly recommended and will be helpful for positive consideration of admittance. Admission as a regular graduate student requires graduation from an accredited college with an overall minimum grade point average of 2.75 and minimum grade average of 3.0 in the applicant's undergraduate  major.

All foreign applicants, except those from countries where English is the primary  language, must take the TOEFL. Ordinarily, a score of 550 or better is required.

In addition to the Graduate School admission requirements, applicants should have completed advanced undergraduate biology courses including genetics, biochemistry,  and evolution. Courses in organic chemistry, college physics, and calculus are also expected, and a course in statistics is highly recommended. Students admitted  to the degree program who have not met some of the prerequisites may be asked to pass appropriate courses before graduating. These courses will be agreed upon by the student's adviser, the student, and the Director of Graduate Studies during the first semester of enrollment. In particular, undergraduate deficiencies in genetics and either biochemistry or evolution shall be made up by taking the appropriate course(s).

Three credits of B392(4920) Selected Topics can be given to graduate students  for B224(2012) or B246(3302), if they receive a grade of B or better for all undergraduate course work and complete a graduate level paper assigned by the instructor. Instructor consent is required.

M.S. Degree Requirements

Advisers
All incoming thesis and non-thesis students will be assigned an academic adviser by the Director of Graduate Studies upon admission to the graduate program.

In the event that a student's interest changes or the faculty adviser feels the student's direction no longer falls within his/her area of expertise, the student and adviser should discuss whether a change of adviser is warranted. The graduate director must be notified in writing of any change in advisers. If a student or adviser is uncomfortable discussing the issue directly with each other, he/she is encouraged to meet with the director or associate director of the graduate program.

General Requirements
All students are required to take at least 4 but not more than 8 hours of Biology  489(6889), Graduate Seminar.

Non-thesis Option
Including the general requirements, students must take at least 36 credit hours, of which at least half must be at the 400-level. Students are encouraged to take a laboratory course (300 or 400 level) or 2 credit hours of Biology 490(6905), Graduate Research. A maximum of 5 credit hours of Biology 490(6905) will be counted toward the 36-credit- hour total. This research may be conducted in the laboratory, field, or library.

Thesis Option
Including the general requirement, students must take at least 30 graduate credit  hours, of which at least half must be at the 400-level. No more than 13 hours of Biology 490(6905), Graduate Research, may be counted toward the degree.

Ph.D. Admission Requirements
Applicants to the Ph.D. program must submit a formal application to the Graduate  Admissions Office. In addition, the applicant should arrange to have sent: three letters of recommendation from faculty members at previously attended colleges or universities, GRE scores (Verbal, Quantitative, and Analytical), and transcripts of all postsecondary academic work. Admission to the Ph.D. program normally requires a minimum grade point average overall and in biology courses of 3.0  (where A=4.0). Applicants from countries where English is not a primary language  are required to take the TOEFL examination.

Scores must be submitted before admission can be decided. Ordinarily, a score of 550 or better is required. Applicants should have a bachelor's or M.S. degree from an accredited United States college or university or evidence of equivalent training at an accredited institution outside the United States.

Applicants should have the appropriate background for graduate work in biology,  including courses in genetics, biochemistry, and evolution. Courses in organic chemistry, college physics, and calculus are expected. A course in statistics is recommended. Students admitted to the Ph.D. program who have not met all the prerequisites may be required to make up deficiencies before admission to candidacy. The deficiencies will be decided during orientation meetings prior  to the start of the second semester. Three credits of B392(4920)  Selected Topics can be given to graduate students for B224(2012) or B246(3302) if they receive a grade of B or better for all undergraduate course work and complete a graduate-level  paper assigned by the instructor. Instructor consent is required.

Ph.D. Degree Requirements
In addition to the general requirements of the Graduate School, the basic requirements  for the Ph.D. degree in Biology include 60 credit hours of course work which  must be taken beyond the bachelor's degree. At least 30 of the 60 hours must  be taken at the 400 level. With the explicit consent of the advisory committee, students may take for graduate credit up to 3 credit hours of 200-level courses in allied departments. Courses in biology at the 200 level and below are not available for graduate credit. At least 31 of the 60 hours must be taken while in residence at the University of Missouri-St. Louis. Graduate credit for course work transferred from another program is subject to approval by the graduate committee and by the Graduate School. Graduate courses taken elsewhere will be considered for transfer credit during orientation meetings conducted prior to the start of the second semester of enrollment.

Specific courses shall be completed as follows:

• Biology 388(4122), (3 hours), Biometry, or equivalent course in statistics.
• Biology 489(6889), (2 hours), Graduate Seminar Three semesters required  (6 credits total).
• 12 hours of formal course work required by the student's emphasis area at the time a student is admitted to the Ph.D. program.

The maximum number of credit hours that may be applied toward the 60-hour requirement  is limited as stated below:

• Biology 489(6889), Graduate Seminar: 10 hours
• Biology 490(6905), Graduate Research: 30 hours

A combination of 6 total credit hours of the following:

• Biology 405(5059), Topics in Ecology, Evolution, and Systematics
• Biology 406(5069), Topics in Molecular, Cellular and Developmental  Biology
• Biology 407(5079), Topics in Floristic Taxonomy

First-Year Experience
Graduate students are expected to become involved in a research experience during their first-year program, usually winter semester or summer session.

Qualifying Examination and Dissertation
Students must pass a qualifying examination (which consists of a written and oral component), based on fundamental principles presented in formal courses and in papers of special importance in the field. The exam will be given in January of each year, at the beginning of the winter semester. Students beginning studies in the fall semester would normally take the qualifying examination prior to their fourth semester of full-time study. Doctoral students who have earned an M.S. degree previously are encouraged to take the examination in their first year.

Admission to Candidacy
To be admitted to candidacy, students must satisfy the requirements of the Graduate School, which includes passing all qualifying examinations and completing all required course work (which is a minimum of 24 credit hours as specified above).

Dissertation Proposal
All students must defend orally a written dissertation proposal to their dissertation  committee. The approved proposal must be submitted to the director of graduate  studies in biology. Doctoral students may not enroll in more than 4 credits of graduate research (Biology 490(6905) before they have received approval for their dissertation proposal.

Dissertation
A dissertation embodying the results of original research shall be submitted to and approved by the Department of Biology and the Graduate School. The general  regulations of the Graduate School concerning the preparation of the dissertation must be met. These rules include a public oral defense of the written dissertation.  Dissertations are to be presented in a style appropriate for one or more publications in scientific journals.

Admission
Students who wish to earn a Graduate Certificate in Biotechnology must apply  to the Biotechnology Certificate Program for admission to the program. Students must be enrolled in the graduate program at the University of Missouri-St. Louis  either as non-degree students or as master's students. 

Students who wish to obtain a master's degree with a Biotechnology Certificate  must be accepted into the Master's degree program in Biology as well as into the Biotechnology Certificate Program. Students who apply to the certificate  program as non-degree students will earn only the certificate.

Students must have at least a 3.0 GPA for undergraduate course work to be accepted  into the program. The minimum course prerequisites for admission to the program  are undergraduate courses in genetics, cell biology, and biochemistry.

Requirements
Students must maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0 to remain in the certificate program.  The certificate is awarded after completion of the courses listed below. Students  enrolled in the Master's program may simultaneously earn a graduate degree and  count the appropriate courses from the list below toward the Biotechnology Certificate.

The biotechnology certificate requires 18 credit hours of course work.

Core Requirements

I. Biology 428(6615), Advanced Biotechnology Laboratory II

II.Biology 426(6602), Advanced Molecular Biology or

Biology 438(6612), Advanced Molecular Genetics of Bacteria

 (If both Group II courses are taken, one may be used as elective credit)

III. The remaining 11 credit hours must be taken from the following electives:

Biology
317(4842), Immunobiology
319(4843), Immunobiology Laboratory
371(4712), Biochemistry
376(5712), Topics in Biochemistry
406(5069), Topics in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology
417(5842), Advanced Immunology
431(6699), Graduate Internship in Biotechnology
433(6632), Advanced Nucleic Acid Structure and Function
434(6652), Advanced Virology
435(6622), Advanced Molecular Cell Biology
439(6642), Advanced Plant Molecular Biology and Genetic Engineering
489(6889), Graduate Seminar, when relevant

Graduate Certificate in Tropical Biology and Conservation
The certificate is awarded after completion of 18 credit hours of core courses and electives with a minimum of 12 credits at the 400 level. Up to 3 credits may be taken at the 200 level upon permission of the Graduate Committee. Electives must include a minimum of 3 credits outside biology with a maximum of 7 outside biology. A maximum of 3 credits may be taken elsewhere than UM-St. Louis. Students may simultaneously earn a graduate degree and count credits earned in their degree program toward the certificate when appropriate.

Required Core Courses:
Biology 445(6250), Public Policy of Conservation and Sustainable Development
Biology 447(6299), Internship in Conservation Biology (May be replaced  with a biology elective for individuals with applied conservation or environmental  agency experience upon consent of the Graduate Committee).

Choice of:
Biology 446(6212), Theory and Application of Conservation Biology
Biology 487(6222), Advanced Tropical Ecology and Conservation

Electives:
Biology
341(4182), Population Biology
351(4501), Flowering Plant Families Phylogeny and Diversification
364(4402), Ornithology
367(4422), Entomology
385(4202), Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
396(3182), Introduction to Marine Science
423(5122), Advanced Tropical Resource Ecology
424(5123), Advanced Tropical Resource Ecology Field  Studies
425(5145), Advanced Tropical Vertebrate Ecology
441(6182), Advanced Population Biology
442(5192), Population and Community Ecology
446(6212), Theory and Application of Conservation Biology
448(6112), Advanced Evolution of Animal Sociality
480(6102), Advanced Behavioral Ecology
483(6192), Applications of Geographic Information Systems
487(6222), Advanced Tropical Ecology and Conservation
489(6889), Graduate Seminar, when relevant

Economics

230(3300), International Economic Analysis
251(3001), Intermediate Economic Theory: Microeconomics
360(4550), Natural Resource Economics

History
300(3000), Selected Topics in History, when relevant
371(3201), History of Latin America: to 1808
372(3202), History of Latin America: Since 1808
381(3302), West Africa Since 1800
425(6114), Readings in Latin American History, when relevant
430(6115), Readings in African History, when relevant

Political Science
248(3480), Environmental Politics
253(2530), Political Systems of South America
254(2540), Political Systems of Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean
258(2580), African Politics
283(3830), International Political Economy
285(3850), International Organizations and Global Problem Solving
347(4470), Introduction to Environmental Law and Policy
351(4510), Comparative Public Policy and Administration
359(3590), Studies in Comparative Politics, when relevant
385(4850), International law
388(3890), Studies in International Relations
394(4940), Leadership and Management in Nonprofit Organizations
414(6414), Topics in Public Policy Analysis, when relevant
448(6448), Political Economy and Public Policy
459(6459), Seminar in Latin American Politics, when relevant
462(6462), Political Theory and Public Policy
481(6490), Seminar in International Relations

Social Work
390(4950), Seminar in Social Work Issues, when relevant

Sociology
342(4342), World Population and Ecology
346(4646), Demographic Techniques
426(5426), Community and Regional Conflict Resolution