About the course

The Biological Sciences graduate program is designed flexibly to allow students, with their advisors, to mold and focus their program of study on professional interests and specific needs. To do this, students can draw from a broad range of graduate courses and select from a diverse and well-trained faculty for direction in research.

　　The Department of Biological Sciences is located in Trafton Science Center, one of the best science buildings in the state university system. Trafton Science Center presents an open, collaborative atmosphere for graduate study and research, and includes well-equipped research and classroom laboratories. Another attractive feature is Biology's proximity to other science departments, whose faculty members provide opportunities for multidisciplinary study in chemistry, mathematics, computer science, physics and electrical engineering.

　　The department's modern facilities provide opportunities for research and teaching, with 18 research laboratories, plus support areas. Among those are a media kitchen, environmental chambers, animal complex, greenhouse, dishwashing facility, herbarium, museum and a garage for field equipment. The department's equipment is suitable for biological investigations ranging from ecosystem analysis to subcellular physiology.

　　Instrumentation available includes transmission and scanning electron microscopes, ultracentrifuges, diode array spectrophotometers, graphite furnace AA, scintillation counter, gas chromatographs with FID, ECD and MSD, ultrafreezers, computer-controlled physiology data acquisition, Coulter counter, fermentation facility, freeze dryers, thermocyclers (PCR), high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), UV/Vis/NIR spectrophotometers, chlorophyll fluorometers, infrared gas analyzer, flow cytometer, and other equipment necessary for modern biological research opportunities.

　　All members of the department's graduate faculty hold doctorates and have extensive research experience. Areas of concentration in research and teaching are Biology Education, Microbiology, Biomedical Sciences, Environmental Science, Toxicology, Ecology, Zoology, and Plant Science. Sub areas of teaching specialization include physiology, cellular biology, developmental biology, plant and animal ecology, genetics and evolutionary biology, parasitology, immunology, entomology, and aquatic biology. Scholarships - View all scholarships Internships

　　

Start dates and prices

Course fees are indicative and should be used as a guide. Speak to a counsellor to get an accurate price.

　　Duration: 3 Semester(s)Fees: Not available

Intake	Location
Spring (January), 2024	Mankato
Fall (August), 2024	Mankato
Spring (January), 2025	Mankato
Fall (August), 2025	Mankato
Spring (January), 2026	Mankato

　　

How to apply

Entry requirements for Minnesota State University - Mankato

Admission to the Biology MS Program and Biology Education MS Program requires that applicants satisfy the minimum requirements for admission to the College of Graduate Studies and Research. In addition, qualified applicants should satisfy the following three requirements for acceptance in the Biology MS Program. It is highly recommended that applicants identify and contact a potential research mentor prior to applying.

　　Demonstrate proof of meeting the academic requirements for the program by satisfying ONE of the following criteria:

　　Submit an official transcript signifying that you received a bachelor's degree in Biology or a ly related discipline with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 AND minimum Biology GPA of 3.0, OR

　　Submit official transcripts showing that you possess a bachelor's degree in a discipline other than Biology but have satisfactorily completed one year of general biology for majors and one course at the 200-level or above in three of the following areas: Genetics, Ecology, Cell Biology, Microbiology, and Physiology (5 courses total). The minimum average GPA for these classes is 3.00, OR

　　Submit your official scores for the Biology Subject GRE with an overall ranking in the 70th percentile, as a minimum, OR

　　The graduate committee may consider applicants, who do not meet criteria a-c, on an individual basis with the support of a member of the Graduate Faculty in the Department of Biological Sciences.

　　Submit a letter describing your interest in our Biology MS program. This letter should succinctly identify your career goals, your research interests, and identify the faculty member(s) with whom you are most interested in pursuing a thesis research project.

　　International students from a country where English is not the primary language must submit an official internet-based TOEFL (iBT) score with minimum scores of:

　　• 26 in the speaking component, and

　　• 24 in the writing component, and

　　• 22 in the reading component, and

　　• 22 in the listening component.

　　Similar scores from an equivalent English-language competency exam can also be considered.

　　

English language requirements

　　6.0

　　Overall IELTS band score

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　　Practice and prepare

　　TOEFL Internet based overall score: 61.0

　　The next application deadline is 16 November 2024

Further information

Career outcomes

　　

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