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Biology at NMU
The Biology Department offers two master of science degrees, Biology and Integrated Biosciences. Students create individual programs of study that are designed to meet specific needs.
Biology
The thesis program in Biology may be broadly based and include course work in several areas of biology, or it may provide for concentration within a specific area of biology. One of the strengths of these master’s degree programs is that they provide the opportunity for students to participate in an in‐depth graduate research project. Many of these projects utilize field-oriented research because of the unique geographical setting of the university. Laboratory research is also supported in such areas as neurobiology, genetics, virology, immunology and physiology. Department facilities include a green house, aquatics laboratory, herbarium, Lake Superior research boat, the Longyear Forest, confocal microscope, molecular biology labs, a small‐animal colony, and a zoological collection. The members of the Biology Department faculty all have doctoral degrees, and most are actively involved in the department’s graduate program. Thesis advisors for students in this program are drawn from the Biology Department faculty who maintain graduate faculty Level 3 status.
Biology Program Mission
The graduate program in Biology provides quality graduate education through student-faculty collaboration in biological research and scholarly activity. Graduates will have a strong understanding of biology and the principles that guide the design and execution of high-quality research. Graduates will have substantial research experience and will be able to successfully communicate scientific information to the public and the scientific community.
Integrated Biosciences
The Master of Science degree program in Integrated Biosciences is designed to meet the needs of students with an interests in the intersection of biology and the other sciences, technology and engineering fields such as chemistry, physics, geology, atmospherics, climatology, mathematics and computer science. Student thesis projects in this program emphasize the interdisciplinary nature of natural sciences and biology, drawing on diverse knowledge bases and skill sets. Projects are developed at the discretion of the student and the student’s interdisciplinary graduate advisory committee. The advisory committee will review the student’s background and determine what training and/or coursework will be required.
Integrated Biosciences Mission
The program in Integrated Biosciences provides quality graduate education through student‐faculty collaboration in interdisciplinary natural science research and scholarly activity with links to biology. Graduates will have a strong understanding of interdisciplinary natural sciences and the principles that guide the design and execution of high‐quality research. Graduates will have substantial research experience and will be able to successfully communicate scientific information to the public and the scientific community.
Programs
Bulletin Year: 2023 - 2024 Graduate Bulletin