Biology (MS)

Master of Science in Biology 
Unit: College of Arts and Sciences (GA)
Department: Biology
Academic Plan Code(s): BIOLMS_THE, BIOLMS_NTH, BIOLMS_TAC, BIOLMS_NAC

Program Information

The degree program is available to qualified individuals possessing a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university. A biology undergraduate major is preferred. However, other majors containing sufficient biology, chemistry and math may be acceptable.

The Department of Biology offers master's degrees with programs of study tailored to the needs and interests of a diverse student population. Students may enroll on a full or part-time basis. The Department of Biology offers both thesis and non-thesis options. The thesis option is generally chosen by students with career goals which include a research emphasis. Students choosing this option take coursework and carry out an intensive independent research project under the supervision of a member of the Graduate Faculty, culminating in a written thesis based upon the research project. The non-thesis option is usually chosen by those who wish to advance their knowledge of biology but are not sure of a specific career goal or do not anticipate a research emphasis in their future.

Soaring Scholars (Accelerated) BA-BS/MS in Biology 

Undergraduate students interested in the program's accelerated options for the MS degree should visit the catalog pages for the BA in Biology or the BS in Biology for more information.

Admission Requirements

Program admission requirements and application requirements can be viewed on the Department of Biology website.  All applications are completed through the Graduate School at https://graduate.louisville.edu. There is no separate Department of Biology application.

The following requirements/standards apply to applicants to the MS program in the Department of Biology:

1. The applicant must have a baccalaureate degree with a major in Biology or an acceptable sub-discipline, with an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher.
2. Submission of GRE scores is optional; you may also submit MCAT or DAT scores. We suggest only submitting scores if they will help provide a more holistic perspective to your application. GRE scores are not used for funding decisions.
3. For foreign students, a TOEFL score of 83 on the internet-based exam, at least 6.5 on the IELTS exam is required or Duolingo score of 105 (students holding a baccalaureate or advanced degree from an accredited institution in the United States or other English-speaking country are exempt from this requirement).

Deadline for Completed Applications

• December 1 for Fall admission
•  July 1 for Spring admission

Application Materials

Applications will be complete when the following materials have been received (final action on applications will not be taken until complete):

• A completed graduate application form and fee
• Official transcripts of all previous undergraduate and graduate coursework. All academic credentials not in English must be accompanied with a notarized verbatim English translation in addition to official transcripts.
• Official GRE, MCAT or DAT exam scores (optional)
• Two or more letters of recommendation from persons familiar with your academic performance and capabilities
• Official TOEFL, IELTS or Duolingo scores if required.​

Send to:

Official documentation should be sent to the Graduate School.

Program Requirements

MS with Thesis

Thesis option students will be required to complete a minimum of 30 credit hours at the 600 level (unless a 500 level graduate student-only section is available). 

Thesis Option

Non-Thesis Option (including the Accelerated Option)

Non-thesis option students will be required to complete a minimum of 30 credit hours in courses at the 600 level (or if a 500 level graduate students-only section is available).