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Students attending Engineering Technology Expo

To celebrate National Engineers Week, the Engineering Technology Department at Kent State University at Tuscarawas will host our annual Engineering Technology EXPO on Wed., Feb. 21, from 5 to 7:30 p.m. in the Performing Arts Center. The event is free and open to the public. The EXPO is an opportunity for companies to display their products, technology and manufacturing to students and the community. Participating companies will have representatives from engineering, management, personnel and human resources available to address questions regarding availability of jobs, skill requirements, e...

Gerontology - Graduate Certificate

Gerontology - Graduate Certificate

The Gerontology graduate certificate program provides students with the knowledge and skills needed to effectively serve the growing aging population. Kent State University and the University of Akron together offer a graduate-level Certificate in Gerontology, which may be received in conjunction with degrees from either institution at the Specialist’s, Master’s or Doctoral levels.

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Human Development and Family Science - M.A.

Master of Arts in Human Development and Family Science

The Master of Arts degree in Human Development and Family Science provides students with advanced knowledge in the fields of family sciences and human development and the opportunity to develop multidisciplinary research and community outreach skills. Coursework enables students to apply to become Certified Family Life Educators.

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Human Development and Family Science

Bachelor of Science in Human Development and Family Science

Students in Human Development and Family Science (HDFS) receive the knowledge and skills needed to help individuals and families across the lifespan to flourish in a global society. The degree prepares students for a wide range of careers in various settings including community-based social services, prevention, advocacy, family intervention, case management, program development and evaluation, and nonprofit management.

Kent State students at the Elect Her event.

On February 3, 2024, the Women’s Center will host the fourth annual Elect Her event from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the May 4 Visitors Center at Kent State University. The event is an interactive one-day training program that educates college students on the value of having women and marginalized voices in politics.Many students hesitate to get involved in student government because they feel unprepared or misunderstood. Through this program, students learn how to run for political office, have confidence in their voice, and trust themselves as leaders. Elect Her will discuss the present dispar...

Biology - M.A.

The Biology M.A. program is designed for students who want to deepen their knowledge in biology and prepare for advanced studies or careers in research, education or industry. With a focus on research and advanced coursework, you will gain the skills needed to tackle complex biological questions and make a meaningful impact in the field.

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Program Information for Biology - M.A.

Program Description

Program Description

Full Description

The Master of Arts degree in Biology is for students wishing to gain additional knowledge in any area of the biological sciences. This is a non-thesis master's degree designed for secondary school science teachers, individuals looking for additional background or preparation for professional school (e.g. medicine, dentistry or Ph.D. programs) and those seeking employment in life science industries in a non-research capacity.

The Biology major includes the following optional concentrations:

  • The Biological Data Analytics concentration combines required courses in data analytics and elective options in biology to provide students with the understanding of the type of data collected while conducting biological research and how to analyze it.
  • The Cellular and Molecular Biology concentration provides a heavy focus on cell-to-cell interactions and signaling pathways to give students a deep understanding of the cellular and molecular processes that occur within cells and physiological systems.
  • The Environmental Biology concentration provides students with a balance between better understanding the relationships between organisms and the environment and how this balance can be sustained through environmental management and conservation.
  • The Medical Biology concentration provides students with a deep understanding of physiological systems and the mechanisms that underlie various disorders and disease pathologies.

Students who declare the Biology major with no concentration will select their area of specialization in consultation with an academic faculty advisor.

Admissions for Biology - M.A.

Admissions

For more information about graduate admissions, visit the graduate admission website. For more information on international admissions, visit the international admission website.

Admission Requirements

  • Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university
  • Minimum 2.750 undergraduate GPA on a 4.000-point scale
  • Official transcript(s) - copies of official transcripts can be used for initial application
  • Goal statement
  • One letter of recommendation
  • English language proficiency - all international students must provide proof of English language proficiency (unless they meet specific exceptions to waive) by earning one of the following:1
    • Minimum 94 TOEFL iBT score
    • Minimum 7.0 IELTS score
    • Minimum 65 PTE score
    • Minimum 120 DET score
1

International applicants who do not meet the above test scores will not be considered for admission.

Application Deadlines

  • Fall Semester
    • Rolling admissions
  • Spring Semester
    • Rolling admissions
  • Summer Term
    • Rolling admissions

Learning Outcomes

Learning Outcomes

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

  1. Understand advanced biological concepts beyond the scope of the typical undergraduate degree and to increase the depth of their knowledge through coursework and hands-on experiences.
  2. Apply scientific principles and appreciate work outside of their particular field.
  3. Effectively communicate about science with colleagues as well as those outside of the student's area of expertise.
  4. Develop the necessary laboratory skills that will allow testing of hypotheses.

Coursework

Program Requirements

Major Requirements

Major Requirements
BSCI 60104BIOLOGICAL STATISTICS 4
BSCI 60110CAREER AND PROFESSIONAL SKILLS FOR LIFE SCIENTISTS 2
BSCI 60184RESPONSIBLE CONDUCT IN RESEARCH AND TEACHING-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES 2
BSCI 60191SEMINAR IN BIOLOGY (repeated for 2 credit hours total) 22
BSCI 60196INDIVIDUAL INVESTIGATION 6
Additional Requirements or Concentration
Choose from the following:15
Minimum Total Credit Hours:31
1

Students must enroll for 1-3 credit hours of BSCI 60196 each semester.

2

Students must enroll for 1 credit hour of BSCI 60191 each semester.

Additional Requirements for Students Not Declaring a Concentration

Major Requirements
Courses selected in consultation with academic faculty advisor 115-16
Students interested in cell-/molecular-/biomedical-/biotechnology-related areas are encouraged to choose from the following:
BSCI 50142
BIOENERGETICS
BSCI 50143
BSCI 60144
EUKARYOTIC CELL BIOLOGY
and SELECTED READINGS IN EUKARYOTIC CELL BIOLOGY
BSCI 50158
MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
BSCI 50174
IMMUNOLOGY
BSCI 50432
ENDOCRINOLOGY
Students interested in ecology are encouraged to choose from the following:
BSCI 50163
EVOLUTION
BSCI 50363
MICROBIAL ECOLOGY
BSCI 50364
LIMNOLOGY
BSCI 50368
WETLAND ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
BSCI 50374
CONSERVATION BIOLOGY
BSCI 50556
VERTEBRATE ZOOLOGY
BSCI 60371
EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY
Teachers holding or pursuing K-12 licensure are encourged to choose from the following:
BSCI 50141
EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN AND ANALYSIS IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
BSCI 50163
EVOLUTION
Minimum Total Credit Hours:15
1

Students may not use BSCI 50104 to fulfill degree requirements.

Biological Data Analytics Concentration Requirements

Concentration Requirements
BSCI 50218INTRODUCTION TO GENOMICS 3-4
or BSCI 50220 BIOINFORMATICS
or BSCI 60107 REPRODUCIBLE QUANTITATIVE METHODS FOR ECOLOGICAL DATA
Concentration Electives, choose from the following:12-13
BSCI 50141
EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN AND ANALYSIS IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
BSCI 50158
MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
BSCI 50159
MOLECULAR BIOLOGY LABORATORY
BSCI 50218
INTRODUCTION TO GENOMICS
BSCI 50220
BIOINFORMATICS
BSCI 60107
REPRODUCIBLE QUANTITATIVE METHODS FOR ECOLOGICAL DATA
BSCI 60145
MEDICAL GENOMICS
BSCI 60371
EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY
BSCI 60372
COMMUNITIES AND ECOSYSTEMS
BSCI 60373
POPULATION AND COMMUNITY ECOLOGY
CS 54202
MACHINE LEARNING AND DEEP LEARNING
CS 63015
DATA MINING TECHNIQUES
CS 63016
BIG DATA ANALYTICS
CS 63017
BIG DATA MANAGEMENT
CS 63018
PROBABILISTIC DATA MANAGEMENT
LIS 60030
PEOPLE IN THE INFORMATION ECOLOGY
Minimum Total Credit Hours:15

Cellular and Molecular Biology Concentration Requirements

Concentration Requirements
BSCI 50143EUKARYOTIC CELL BIOLOGY 3
BSCI 50158MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 3
Concentration Electives, choose from the following:9-10
BMS 60729
CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR NEUROSCIENCE
BSCI 50141
EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN AND ANALYSIS IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
BSCI 50148
PRINCIPLES OF INFECTIOUS DISEASE
BSCI 50150
MOLECULAR MECHANISMS OF DISEASE: CANCER
BSCI 50151
MECHANISMS OF DISEASE: OBESITY AND RELATED METABOLIC DISEASES
BSCI 50152
MOLECULAR MECHANISMS OF DISEASE: NEUROLOGICAL DISORDERS
BSCI 50154
DIABETES AND CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE
BSCI 50159
MOLECULAR BIOLOGY LABORATORY
BSCI 50174
IMMUNOLOGY
BSCI 50220
BIOINFORMATICS
BSCI 60145
MEDICAL GENOMICS
BSCI 60200
FOUNDATIONS OF NEUROSCIENCE
Minimum Total Credit Hours:15

Environmental Biology Concentration Requirements

Concentration Requirements
BSCI 50374CONSERVATION BIOLOGY 4
or BSCI 50375 ENVIRONMENTAL BIOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
Concentration Requirements, choose from the following:11-12
BSCI 50160
MARINE BIOLOGY
BSCI 50162
SOIL BIOLOGY
BSCI 50163
EVOLUTION
BSCI 50170
STREAM BIOLOGY
BSCI 50222
INVASION BIOLOGY
BSCI 50363
MICROBIAL ECOLOGY
BSCI 50364
LIMNOLOGY
BSCI 50365
FIELD METHODS IN ORNITHOLOGY
BSCI 50368
WETLAND ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
BSCI 50374
CONSERVATION BIOLOGY
BSCI 50375
ENVIRONMENTAL BIOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
BSCI 50376
TROPICAL FIELD BIOLOGY AND CONSERVATION
BSCI 50380
BIOGEOCHEMISTRY
BSCI 50556
VERTEBRATE ZOOLOGY
BSCI 60370
ECOLOGICAL AND EVOLUTIONARY GENETICS
BSCI 60371
EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY
BSCI 60372
COMMUNITIES AND ECOSYSTEMS
BSCI 60373
POPULATION AND COMMUNITY ECOLOGY
ESCI 53042
ENVIRONMENTAL GEOCHEMISTRY
GEOG 51077
WATER AND SOCIETY
GEOG 56080
URBAN SUSTAINABILITY
GEOG 59070
GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SCIENCE
GEOG 59230
REMOTE SENSING
or ESCI 52030
REMOTE SENSING
Minimum Total Credit Hours:15

Medical Biology Concentration Requirements

Concentration Requirements
Medical Biology Electives, choose from the following:6
BSCI 50148
PRINCIPLES OF INFECTIOUS DISEASE
BSCI 50150
MOLECULAR MECHANISMS OF DISEASE: CANCER
BSCI 50151
MECHANISMS OF DISEASE: OBESITY AND RELATED METABOLIC DISEASES
BSCI 50152
MOLECULAR MECHANISMS OF DISEASE: NEUROLOGICAL DISORDERS
BSCI 50154
DIABETES AND CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE
BSCI 50460
ADVANCED HUMAN PHYSIOLOGY
Concentration Electives, choose from the following:9-10
BSCI 50143
EUKARYOTIC CELL BIOLOGY
BSCI 50146
DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
BSCI 50147
DEVELOPMENTAL NEUROBIOLOGY
BSCI 50148
PRINCIPLES OF INFECTIOUS DISEASE
BSCI 50150
MOLECULAR MECHANISMS OF DISEASE: CANCER
BSCI 50151
MECHANISMS OF DISEASE: OBESITY AND RELATED METABOLIC DISEASES
BSCI 50152
MOLECULAR MECHANISMS OF DISEASE: NEUROLOGICAL DISORDERS
BSCI 50154
DIABETES AND CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE
BSCI 50157
NEUROBIOLOGY OF DRUG ADDICTION
BSCI 50174
IMMUNOLOGY
BSCI 50431
NEUROENDOCRINOLOGY
BSCI 50432
ENDOCRINOLOGY
BSCI 50450
BIOLOGICAL CLOCKS
BSCI 50460
ADVANCED HUMAN PHYSIOLOGY
BSCI 50462
ADVANCED HUMAN PHYSIOLOGY: READINGS AND CASE STUDIES
BSCI 50517
MEDICAL HISTOLOGY
BSCI 50519
HORMONES AND BEHAVIOR
BSCI 60145
MEDICAL GENOMICS
BSCI 60200
FOUNDATIONS OF NEUROSCIENCE
HED 64050
HEALTH BEHAVIOR
PHIL 50005
HEALTH CARE ETHICS
SOC 62332
SOCIAL CONTROL OF MENTAL ILLNESS
Minimum Total Credit Hours:15

Graduation Requirements

Minimum Major GPA Minimum Overall GPA
- 3.000
  • Students must complete a minimum of 23 credit hours of biological science (BSCI) courses toward the degree with one exception: Teachers holding or pursuing K-12 licensure who do not declare a concentration may complete a minimum 18 credit hours of biological sciences (BSCI) courses toward the degree.
  • The Department of Biological Sciences frequently offers special topics classes in specialized areas of interest, which can count towards the degree when approved to be part of a student's program of study. Coursework in other fields within the natural and physical sciences may be used to meet credit hour requirements when approved to be part of the student's program of study.
  • No more than one-half of a graduate student’s coursework may be taken in 50000-level courses.
  • Grades below C are not counted toward completion of requirements for the degree.
Program Delivery

Program Delivery

  • Delivery:
    • In person
  • Location:
    • Kent Campus

Examples of Possible Careers and Salaries for Biology - M.A.

Biological scientists, all other

2.2%

slower than the average

44,700

number of jobs

$85,290

potential earnings

Biological technicians

4.9%

about as fast as the average

87,500

number of jobs

$46,340

potential earnings

Food scientists and technologists

4.4%

about as fast as the average

14,200

number of jobs

$73,450

potential earnings

Secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education

3.8%

about as fast as the average

1,050,800

number of jobs

$62,870

potential earnings

Notice: Career Information Source
* Source of occupation titles and labor data comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Outlook Handbook. Data comprises projected percent change in employment over the next 10 years; nation-wide employment numbers; and the yearly median wage at which half of the workers in the occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less.
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