All applicants must have a minimum of eight semester hours of general chemistry, eight semester hours of organic chemistry, eight semester hours of general physics and one year of mathematics. Applicants not possessing the above requirements may be admitted to the program, but will be expected to make up the deficiencies on a collateral basis. A minimum of 30 semester hours including the thesis is required for the M.S. degree. Each student, with a faculty advisor, plans a tentative graduate program early in the first semester. Students are encouraged to begin their independent research in the second semester of their first year.
Every effort is made to plan the graduate program around the needs and interests of the students.
A non-thesis option is also available. All students pursuing the non-thesis option will also complete the requirements as set forth in the Licensure Regulations by the Virginia Department of Education to become endorsed to teach biology.