Master's students may select either a thesis or a non-thesis option of study. All students must maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher to remain in the program.
Thesis Option
A minimum of 30 credits must be earned: 24 in coursework and seminars and 6 in research at 700-level. No more than 12 of the 24 credits can be taken at the 300 or 400 advanced undergraduate level.
A maximum of 6 credits of Laboratory Rotation in Biology may be applied as part of the coursework requirement for this degree option. A research thesis must be submitted for review by a thesis committee and should demonstrate (1) familiarity with the research literature in a specific area, (2) understanding of the research methodology of that area, and (3) the ability to organize research results in a coherent and meaningful manner.
*See MS Curriculum for required coursework.
Non-Thesis Option
A minimum of 30 credits must be earned in courses and seminars (not research). Upon approval by the Program Director, up to 2 credits may be taken of Advanced Problems in Biology while the student's library research project is in progress. To fulfill the requirements for this option, the candidate must write a critical review, usually consisting of at least 40-60 pages of some subject under the direction of a faculty member, and demonstrate a good command of the scientific literature in that specific subject area.
Students pursuing the Non-Thesis option may count a total of 6 credits from the lab rotation and Independent Study toward their degree.
*See MS Curriculum for required coursework.
candidacy, committee, and thesis GUIDELINES
Candidacy forms for the Master's Degree must be submitted to the Program Director one semester prior to the final oral comprehensive exam for admission to candidacy to be considered. Final review of degree eligibility is undertaken by the Director of the Graduate Program, who will certify completion of all program requirements.
Please see the required forms and instructions on the Academic Forms page.
COMMITTEE COMPOSITION:
The final committees for both Thesis and Non-Thesis must consist of at least 3 members or associate members of the student’s program, including the student's advisor. Non-program members are permitted by special request to the Program Director. The committee will evaluate the research thesis or literature review and administer a final oral comprehensive examination covering the thesis/review and general subject matter. (See also the section headed General Academic Guidelines below).
Note: A student must have a cumulative grade point average of 3.00 or better to take the final oral examination.
FINAL REQUIREMENTS:
Students must follow the checklist and complete all forms by the designated deadlines in accordance with the School of Graduate Studies submitted to the Program Director for the candidate to be granted the Master of Science degree. You may also find the required forms, style guides, and checklists on the Academics Forms page.
- Master’s Degree with Thesis Deadlines, Checklist and Forms (Research)
- Master’s Degree Non-Thesis Deadlines, Checklist and Forms (No research)
- Submit all completed forms to the School of Graduate Studies (SGS) Administrator at
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , as instructed on the SGS website, and the respective Graduate Program Administrator atThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
GENERAL ACADEMIC GUIDELINES
Academic Standards: A student is required to earn a B grade or better in the required courses described in MS Curriculum. Students must earn a 3.00 grade point average as a condition for being permitted to take the final examination for the Master's degree. This same requirement applies to a change from non-matriculated to matriculated status. For Master's with Thesis: It is also expected that the student will receive a grade of “Satisfactory” (S) for research credits.
Termination: Students failing to achieve these grade point averages for two consecutive semesters will be requested to leave the Program. The procedure for termination is as follows: When a student’s grade point average falls below the required level, he/she (and the student’s advisor) will receive a letter of warning. Students will be expected to remedy their deficiencies in the next semester. Should the student not improve in the next semester, he/she will be requested to leave the Program. A notice of termination will be sent to the Dean of the Graduate School – New Brunswick.
Note: The general academic status of the student is monitored by the student’s advisor and also the Student Affairs and Standards Committee. The student’s advisor must make sure that each student maintains good progress toward his/her degree.
Final Examination for Master of Science Candidates: Students who fail the final oral exam for the Master's degree are permitted to request a second examination be administered. Further examinations are prohibited in the event the student fails twice. Appeals should be directed to the Student Affairs and Standards Committee.
Transfer of Credits: Up to 12 credits may be transferred from another institution. A student wanting to transfer credit should present a written rationale and justification for each course requested for transfer to the Program Director, along with the appropriate form. Justification should include academic need and relevance of each course, evidence of academic level (text used, examination questions), and an indication of the equivalency to existing program's courses. It is strongly recommended that students seeking to transfer credits first submit a draft of the justification statement to their advisor prior to its submission to the Student Affairs and Standards Committee. A student must take a minimum of 12 credits of matriculated graduate work in the Cell and Developmental Biology Graduate Program before application for transfer can be considered.
Transcript Problems: All unresolved problems with a student’s transcript must be corrected prior to admission to candidacy. Students may be required to submit an updated transcript copy prior to final candidacy form review.
Registration Requirement: All students are required to maintain continuous registration until the completion of the final degree. A minimum registration of 1 credit is required for M.S. thesis option candidates. M.S. non-thesis option candidates may register for matriculation continued with the approval of the Director. Contact the Program office for exceptions to this registration requirement.
Time Requirement: The M.S. degree should normally be completed in less than 3 years of full-time study.
Residency Requirement: There is no residency requirement for M.S. candidates.
Guidelines for Transfer to the Ph.D. Program: M.S. students interested in pursuing a Ph.D. should consult the Director regarding the guidelines for transfer. To be considered for the Ph.D. track the student should 1.) have completed at least 12 credits of Core PhD courses or equivalent at Rutgers/RBHS, 2.) provide evidence of excellent academic potential – usually a 3.0 GPA or better, and 3.) obtain a letter from a faculty member addressing the applicant’s research potential and agreeing to support the student for their Ph.D. research. Students who qualify and are approved for transfer must then take and pass the written Ph.D. qualifying examination given in June.