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Biological Science

Link to a list of faculty for this program.

Contact Information—Master of Biological Science, Professional Program, College of Biological Sciences, 123 Snyder Hall, 1475 Gortner Avenue, Saint Paul, MN 55108 (612-625-3133; fax 612-624-2785; biolink@umn.edu; www.cbs.umn.edu/biolink/mbs).

Along with the program-specific requirements listed below, please read the General Information section of this catalog for Graduate School requirements that apply to all major fields.

Curriculum—A professional master of biological science (M.B.S.) degree is offered with concentrations in areas such as biochemistry, basic biology (animal, plant, cell, applied, and general), biotechnology, biophysics, ecology, environment, evolution, food science and nutrition, genetics, microbiology, molecular biology, and neuroscience. This is a multicollege, cooperative degree program among the Colleges of Biological Sciences; Veterinary Medicine; and Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences. The program is administered by the College of Biological Sciences and the degree is conferred by the Graduate School.

The M.B.S. is a highly flexible graduate-level, practitioner-based program offered to meet the needs of a substantial portion of the working community who wish or need to increase their knowledge in areas related to modern biology. The program provides educational opportunities beyond those that aim at maintaining and improving productivity within the professions. It fills a gap in the present educational system for those who have neither the time nor the flexibility to earn a graduate degree through more traditional channels. It also provides this population with the most current information and advanced skills in their areas of professional interest, and gives them acknowledgment for their achievement. The degree enables recipients to learn new job skills, change professional emphasis, or provide added value to their present job.

Key to test abbreviations (GRE, TOEFL, GMAT, MELAB).

For an online application or for more information about Graduate School admissions, see the General Information section in this catalog, or visit the Graduate School Web site.

Courses—Contact the program office for information on relevant coursework.

Use of 4xxx Courses—Inclusion of 4xxx courses on Degree Program Forms is subject to adviser and director of graduate studies approval.

M.B.S. Coursework Only Degree Requirements

The program includes coursework, seminars, independent study, workshops, and a capstone project. With guidance from faculty advisers, students complete 30 credits. M.B.S. candidates may transfer up to 8 credits into the program. Core credits may be waived or substituted if the student can show proficiency in the subject area, pending advisory committee approval. If a core credit is waived, the credits must still be earned in an elective course. Coursework is taken from the regular curriculum in the participating colleges, as well as from other approved credit-bearing courses (e.g., intensive short courses and Internet courses). An overall GPA of 3.00 is preferred for the degree to be awarded. A student with 8 or more credits of incomplete (I) coursework will not be allowed to register for additional courses until the coursework marked with I is completed.

Language Requirements—None.

Final Exam—A capstone project is required.

Faculty

For latest graduate faculty listings, see <www.grad.umn.edu/faculty_rosters/faculty.html>.

Key to membership categories (abbreviations after faculty names).

Professor
Karen Ashe, AM2
Henry H. Balfour Jr., Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, AM2
Gregory J. Beilman, Surgery, AM2
Jay Bell, Soil, Water, and Climate, AM2
Judith G. Berman, Molecular, Cellular, Developmental Biology and Genetics, M2
David A. Bernlohr, Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, and Biophysics, M2
Linda J. Brady, Food Science and Nutrition, AM2
Robert M. Brambl, Plant Biology, M2
Paul P. Cleary, Microbiology, AM2
Gary M. Dunny, Microbiology, AM2
Leonard C. Ferrington, Entomology, AM2
James A. Fuchs, Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, and Biophysics, M2
Susan M. Galatowitsch, Horticultural Science, AM2
Daniel D. Gallaher, Food Science and Nutrition, AM
Marc A. Hillmyer, Chemistry, AM2
Ralph W. Holzenthal, Entomology, AM
Christopher N. Honda, Neuroscience. AM2
Paul A. Iaizzo, Surgery, AM2
Stephen Jameson, Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, AM2
Ronald R. Jemmerson, Microbiology, AM2
Ross G. Johnson, Molecular, Cellular, Developmental Biology and Genetics, AM2
Romas J. Kazlauskas, Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biophysics, M2
John H. Kersey, Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, AM2
Youngki Kim, Pediatrics, AM2
Richard King, Pediatrics, AM2
Mindy S. Kurzer, Food Science and Nutrition, AM2
David A. Largaespada, Molecular, Cellular, Developmental Biology and Genetics, AM2
Jack L. Lewis, Orthopedic Surgery, AM
Michael Mauer, Pediatrics, M2
Gary L. Nelsestuen, Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, and Biophysics, AM2
Harry T. Orr, Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, M2
Lisa A. Peterson, Environmental Health Sciences, AM2
Laura P. W. Ranum, Molecular, Cellular, Developmental Biology and Genetics, M2
Gary A. Reineccius, Food Science and Nutrition, AM2
Michael J. Sadowsky, Soil, Water, and Climate, AM2
Leslie A. Schiff, Microbiology, AM2
Patrick M. Schlievert, Microbiology, AM2
Janet L. Schottel, Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biophysics, M2
Michael J. Simmons, Molecular, Cellular, Developmental Biology and Genetics, M2
Joanne L. Slavin, Food Science and Nutrition, AM2
D. Peter Snustad, Plant Biology, M2
George R. Spangler, Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology, AM
Friedrich Srienc, Biotechnology Institute, AM2
Clifford J. Steer, Medicine, SM
David Thomas, Biochemistry, Molecular Bology, and Biophysics, M2
Howard Towle, Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, and Biophysics, M2
Daniel A. Vallera, Therapeutic Radiology, AM2
Brian G. Van Ness, Molecular, Cellular, Developmental Biology and Genetics, M2
Lawrence P. Wackett, BioTechnology Institute, M2
Chester B. Whitley, Pediatrics, AM2

Adjunct Professor
Bruce Vondracek, Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology, AM2

Associate Professor
Vivian J. Bardwell, Genetics, Cell Biology and Development, M2
Richard W. Bianco, Surgery, AM
Anja K. Bielinsky, Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, and Biophysics, AM
Wei Chen, Pediatrics, AM2
Kathleen F. Conklin, Molecular, Cellular, Developmental Biology and Genetics, M2
Joellen Feirtag, Food Science and Nutrition, AM2
Cheryl A. Gale, Pediatrics, AM2
Craig A. Hassel, Food Science and Nutrition, AM2
Sharon Jansa, Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, M2
Stephen A. Katz, Integrative Biology/Physiology, AM2
Karen S. Oberhauser, Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology, AM2
Christopher A. Pennell, Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, AM2
Anna Petryk, Pediatrics, AM2
Mark S. Rutherford, Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, AM2
Nikunj V. Somia, Molecular, Cellular, Developmental Biology and Genetics, AM2
Peter Southern, Microbiology, AM2
John M. Ward, Plant Biology, M2

Adjunct Associate Professor
Frank H. Burton, Pharmacology, AM2
David C. Fulton, Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology, AM2
Robert C. Venette, Entomology, AM2

Assistant Professor
Vincent A. Barnett, Physiology, AM2
Daniel R. Bond, BioTechmology Institute,M2
Susan E. Marino, Experimental/Clinical Pharmacology, AM2
Daniel A. Saltzman, Pediatrics, AM
Sangwon Suh, Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering, AM2
Lucy Vulchanova, Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences AM2

Adjunct Assistant Professor
Nicole Kirchhof, Veterinary Population Medicine, AM2

Research Associate
Kevin A. Silverstein, Plant Biology, M2

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