The Biology Department offers two programs leading to the Master of Arts
degree at Queens College. One is course-based, and the other is
research-based. Refer to the Bulletin of the Graduate School for application,
financial aid, and course information for the PhD program. Opportunities for
specialization in applied and basic research are included below in
the listing of the supervising faculty. The Biology Department offers a variety of
graduate courses appropriate for master’s-level students in Education.
Students should meet with the Biology Graduate Advisor for guidance in the se-
lection of Biology courses.
In addition to the program of courses described below, students are
encouraged to participate in the extensive research programs of the Biology faculty.
Their research activities have recently been funded by various agencies,
including the National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health, Howard
Hughes Medical Institute, and a number of private foundations, including the
American Cancer Society and American Heart Association. Participation in
research is one of the best ways for students to learn biology first-hand, and
to appreciate how scientific methodology is used to answer important biological
questions. A description of current faculty research can be found at
www.qc.cuny.edu/biology/faculty. The department has excellent research
facilities for ecology, evolutionary, cell and molecular biology, as well as well-equipped
research laboratories and core facilities. Opportunities are enhanced by affiliation
with other city institutions and cooperative efforts with other divisions of the City
University and the American Museum of Nat-
ural History.
Requirements for Matriculation
These requirements are in addition to the general requirements for admission.
1.Students are expected to have a minimum of 20 credits in biology be-
yond the introductory level. Undergraduate courses in physics, chemistry, and
mathematics are required. A course in statistics is highly recommended.
2. The credentials of each applicant will be examined by the departmental
admissions committee. This committee may request an interview with a candidate
for admission.
Requirements for the Master of Arts
Degree
These requirements are in addition to the general requirements for the Master of
Arts degree.
1. Each student’s program will be approved by a supervising professor chosen
by the student with the approval of the Graduate Advisor.
2. A minimum of either 24 graduate course credits and 6 thesis credits, or 32
graduate course credits, is required. Students who have taken a 300-level
Queens College biology course that is also offered at the 600-level may not
take that 600-level course for credit. All graduate students must take at least 10
credits of 700-level lecture courses. Furthermore, the combination of 788 (Co-
operative Education Placement), 799 (Research), 791 (Colloquium), and 792
(Tutorial) may not exceed 12 credits.
3. Students may participate in two semesters of Biology 791 (Colloquium), one
credit each semester.
4. Programs: Students must choose one of the following degree options be-
fore completing 15 credits of 49 graduate courses.
A. Course Oriented. 32 course credits chosen in consultation with the Graduate
Advisor. Students in this track are eligible to take Biology 788 (Cooperative Education
Placement) and participate in the Graduate Cooperative Education Pro-
gram. A student who takes the 32 course-credit option will be given a
written or oral comprehensive examination based on the core courses and the
student’s area of concentration after at least 24 course credits have been com-
pleted. Each student will be limited to two attempts to pass this examination.
B. Research Oriented. Participation in thesis research is subject to the approval
of a thesis advisor. An oral examination shall be a requirement of the research-oriented
Biology MA degree and shall be conducted by an Examination Committee estab-
lished for each candidate. The Chair of the Examination Committee shall be a
member of the Biology Department, chosen by the candidate in consultation with
the Biology Department MA Advisor. The remaining members of the Commit-
tee shall be chosen by the Committee Chair in consultation with the candidate.
The content and nature of the oral examination shall be determined by the Chair
of the Examination Committee in consultation with the student to be exam-
ined. Each student will be limited to two attempts to pass this examination.
Cellular, Molecular, and Develop-
mental Biology. 24 credits chosen in consultation with the thesis advisor, plus 6
credits of research under the direction of athesis supervisor.
Evolution, Ecology, and Behavior.
24 course credits chosen in consultation with the thesis advisor, plus 6 credits of
research under the direction of a thesis supervisor.
Other Information
Arrangements may be made for students to take courses for graduate credit in
other departments at Queens College or within CUNY in order to fulfill particular career
requirements (i.e., resource management, environmental impact assays, etc.). Faculty
in the Department of Biology at Queens College participate actively in
the CUNY PhD Program in Biology. Arrangements can be made to transfer
graduate credits earned at Queens College to the PhD Program at CUNY. Students
are encouraged to discuss their long-range goals with the Master’s Program Graduate
Advisor as soon as possible. The CUNY doctoral program in biology
is described in theBulletin of the Graduate School.