CSUB Biology Graduate Degree Programs

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Graduate Degree Programs

Greetings prospective, entering and current graduate students!

Thank you for your interest in our Master of Science in Biology graduate program. Our program offers graduate students the opportunity to continue their education in biology through two graduate program options, a thesis and non-thesis option. The Master of Science with a thesis option is intended to prepare students for professional positions in state and federal agencies, the environmental consulting industry, and for further graduate studies. The Master of Science with a non-thesis option is intended for working professionals, especially school teachers, and emphasizes course work.

A broad range of faculty research interests, easy access to diverse biological environments, and a range of modern research facilities permit our graduate students to select from a broad spectrum of research topics. Faculty interests include field biology, conservation biology, physiology, comparative morphology, plant ecophysiology, plant anatomy, micro- and molecular biology, vertebrate paleontology, molecular evolution, ecology, systematics, and behavioral ecology.

Some of the special features of our program include:

Close, individual guidance by highly skilled faculty
Incorporation of science pedagogy and teaching experience
Many late afternoon and evening course offerings, making the program accessible for persons who work during the day
Close partnerships with the private and public sector. With appropriate approval, students will be able to conduct their thesis research off campus in a partnership with a company or governmental agency.
Well-equipped, modern laboratory facilities and access to numerous field sites in the area including an on campus Environmental Studies Area (ESA).

Laboratory and/or field research is an integral component of the program, which emphasizes a "hands-on" approach with close faculty mentoring. Research experience also enables students to hone investigative skills relating to experimental design, implementation, data analysis, and interpretation. On-campus research facilities include an ~20 acre Environmental Studies Area, the Facility for Animal Care and Treatment where raptors are treated and rehabilitated (located within the ESA), and two modern greenhouses. In addition, faculty research labs within the department contain state-of-the-art research facilities for physiology, molecular, genetics, biotechnology, histology/anatomy, and morphology research. This includes several growth chambers, an ultracentrifuge, digital gel documentation systems, three -70°C freezers, several thermocyclers, a 2D protein analyzer, refrigerators, access to a shared scanning electron microscope (operated through the Department of Geology), several research grade light microscopes, two Li-Cor 6400 infra-red gas analyzers for studying plant physiology in the lab or field, pressure chambers and psychrometry equipment, dataloggers for micrometerology monitoring, and a combustion elemental analyzer for plant nutrition studies.

If you have any questions about our MS Biology program, please contact Dr. A. Jacobsen, the Graduate Coordinator, by telephone (661) 654-2572 or ajacobsen@csub.edu.

Additional information about CSUB's graduate programs and degrees can be found at the Graduate Student Center (www.csub.edu/graduatestudentcenter/) website.

Admission Requirements:

a bachelor's degree in biological or related sciences
an undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0 in the last 90 quarter (60 semester) units of course work
Graduate Records Examination (GRE) scores of 1000 or greater (verbal and quantitative).
International students are also required to submit TOEFL scores.

Students interested in pursuing the thesis-option are encouraged to contact individual faculty members to learn more about their research programs and/or to find out if space is available in their laboratories.

Application Process:

To apply the Master of Science Degree in Biology, please visit www.csumentor.com to initiate the application process. In addition to the online application form, prospective students must provide the following:

Completed Departmental Application Form
Official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended
Score reports for the GRE General Test (international students must also submit TOEFL scores)
Three (3) letters of recommendation from persons familiar with your performance in the classroom and potential for independent research.

APPLICATION DEADLINES:
Fall Quarter: March 15
Winter Quarter: September 15
Spring Quarter: January 15

Send all completed departmental application materials to:

Graduate Admissions
c/o Renee Rugnao
Office of Admissions & Records 47 SA
California State University, Bakersfield
9001 Stockdale Highway
Bakersfield, CA 93311-1022

If you have any questions, please contact Dr. Anna Jacobsen, the Graduate Coordinator, by telephone (661) 654-2572 or ajacobsen@csub.edu.

MS Biology Additional Information and Forms:

The following forms and documents are intended to provide additional information of our policies, procedures, and requirements. For current students, the following forms will help you/are required for your completion of our graduate program.