MS Biology at Arizona State University

Programme overview

The Master of Science program in biology is a flexible degree program based around your individual interests, enabling you to explore areas of biology that exist outside of traditional boundaries. This degree complements other, more specialized life sciences programs, allowing both interdisciplinary and traditional approaches. This program currently admits you to a thesis-based pathway, an applied project pathway, or a coursework and capstone option.

What you will study

30 credit hours - course-based master's, or 30 credit hours and a thesis, or 30 credit hours including a written comprehensive exam, or 30 credit hours including the required applied project course (BIO 593), or 30 credit hours including the required capstone course (BIO 597) COURSE-BASED OPTION Required Core (1 credit hour) BIO 610 Introduction to Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) in Life Sciences (1) or BIO 611 Current Topics in Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) in the Life Sciences (1) Other Requirements (2 credit hours) BIO 541 SOLS Seminar Series (1) BIO 542 SOLS Current Topics in the Life Sciences (1) Electives (27 credit hours) OPTIONS WITH CULMINATING EXPERIENCE Required Core (1 credit hour) BIO 610 Introduction to Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) in Life Sciences (1) or BIO 611 Current Topics in Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) in the Life Sciences (1) Other Requirements (2 credit hours) BIO 541 SOLS Seminar Series (1) BIO 542 SOLS Current Topics in the Life Sciences (1) Electives (21, 24 or 27 credit hours) Culminating Experience (0, 3 or 6 credit hours) BIO 593 Applied Project (3) BIO 597 Capstone (3) BIO 599 Thesis (6) written comprehensive exam (0) Additional Curriculum Information This master's degree offers a course-based option.

Career pathways

Graduates are prepared for life sciences careers in educational, medical, industrial and governmental institutions. The thesis pathway is ideal for those pursuing research-intensive careers in academic or business settings. Career examples: instructor at a community college, researcher or technician in a government lab or at a nonprofit organization, science teacher at an elementary or high school, science writer, wildlife, animal or conservation scientist.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

Applicants must fulfill the requirements of both the Graduate College and The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Applicants must have earned a bachelor's or master's degree in biology or a related discipline from a regionally accredited institution. Applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in the last 60 hours of their first bachelor's degree program or a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in an applicable master's degree program. Applicants must submit the following: graduate admission application and application fee official transcripts academic record form personal statement curriculum vitae or resume three letters of recommendation proof of English proficiency Additional Application Information An applicant whose native language is not English must provide proof of English proficiency regardless of their current residency. It is desired that applicants have research experience.

Domestic applicants: USD 13,327 a year (2026-27). Arizona resident tuition. Tuition only for the graduate on-campus (Tempe/Downtown Phoenix/Polytechnic/West Valley) rate band in the ASU tuition estimator, 2026-27: Fall 2026 plus Spring 2027 term tuition summed (full-time flat rate; part-time credit loads Source

International applicants: USD 24,780 a year (2026-27). International tuition. Tuition only for the graduate on-campus (Tempe/Downtown Phoenix/Polytechnic/West Valley) rate band in the ASU tuition estimator, 2026-27: Fall 2026 plus Spring 2027 term tuition summed (full-time flat rate; part-time credit loads ar Source

Entry terms: Fall, Spring and Summer; the terms available for each programme are listed in Degree Search.

Graduate application deadlines are set by each programme office and listed in Degree Search; the application opens almost a year before the start term. The nonrefundable application fee is $75 for U.S. citizens, permanent residents, DACA and international online students outside the U.S., and $120 for international students on a nonimmigrant visa studying in the U.S. Apply with ASU's graduate application (Law applicants use the law college's site); GRE/GMAT requirements vary by programme.

Apply through the official page: https://admission.asu.edu/apply/graduate/admission

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