Biology

The Biology Department offers graduate training leading to Master of Arts and Master of Science in Biology degrees. The scientific training provided by the Master's degree introduces students to areas of basic research in which they might subsequently pursue Ph.D. training; or, as a terminal degree, the M.S./M.A. provides an essential academic credential to enter research careers in industry or non-research careers in secondary education, law, science policy, or conservation.  A carefully planned and conscientiously executed Master's degree program can be completed successfully in approximately 2.5 years.  All requirements for the Master’s degree in Biology must be completed by the end of the fifth year of study.

Biology students working toward a Master's degree are required to complete 30 credits of graduate-level course work, including a minimum of 24 credits of graded coursework comprised of 4 graded lecture or laboratory courses and one colloquia or journal club.  Successful defense of a written thesis is required, with the M.S. thesis based primarily on independent laboratory research and the M.A. thesis based primarily on independent research.

Prospective MS in Biology degree students must identify and communicate with a Biology faculty mentor prior to submitting an application for the MS program in Biology and establish a mutually agreeable arrangement between prospective student and mentor.  Thus, applicants should consult the Research section to learn about the different research programs offered in the Department of Biology and correspond with faculty with interests that match their own.

• BIOL 5070 - Practical Aspects of Light Microscopy in the Biological Sciences Credits: 3
• BIOL 5080 - Developmental Mechanisms Credits: 3
• BIOL 5250 - Ecological Issues in Global Change Credits: 4
• BIOL 5995 - Biological Research at Mountain Lake Biological Station Credits: 1 to 4
• BIOL 7020 - Ecological and Evolutionary Genetics Credits: 3
• BIOL 7060 - Organ Development and Tissue Engineering Credits: 3
• BIOL 7110 - Teaching Science in Higher Education Credits: 1
• BIOL 7120 - When Good Cells Go Bad Credits: 3
• BIOL 7130 - Population Ecology and Conservation Biology Credits: 4
• BIOL 7140 - NextGen Sequencing and Its Applications Credits: 1
• BIOL 7150 - Evolution of Sex Credits: 3
• BIOL 7160 - Functional Genomics Credits: 3
• BIOL 7170 - Cellular Neurobiology Credits: 4
• BIOL 7180 - Behavioral Ecology Credits: 3
• BIOL 7190 - Biological Clocks Credits: 3
• BIOL 7220 - Introduction to Systems Biology Credits: 3
• BIOL 7230 - Bioinformatics and Functional Genomics Credits: 4
• BIOL 7280 - The Genetic Basis of Behavior Credits: 3
• BIOL 7310 - Sensory Neurobiology Credits: 3
• BIOL 7320 - Signal Transduction: How cells talk to each other Credits: 3
• BIOL 7360 - Cytokine Signaling and Neural Development Credits: 1
• BIOL 7370 - Epigenetics Credits: 3
• BIOL 7380 - Evolution and Ecology of Development Credits: 3
• BIOL 7410 - Molecular Biology Credits: 3
• BIOL 7510 - Field Biology at Mountain Lake Biological Station Credits: 1 to 4
• BIOL 7516 - Field Ornithology Credits: 1 to 4
• BIOL 7585 - Selected Topics Course Credits: 3
• BIOL 7751 - Plant Diversity & Conservation: Bioinformatics and Systematics Credits: 3
• BIOL 7752 - Field Methods in Stream Ecology Credits: 3
• BIOL 7753 - Field Biology of Fungi Credits: 3
• BIOL 7754 - Field Herpetology Credits: 3
• BIOL 7755 - Field Biology of Fishes Credits: 3
• BIOL 7756 - Field Ornithology Credits: 3
• BIOL 7757 - GIS for Field Biologists Credits: 3
• BIOL 7758 - Field Biology of Insects Credits: 3
• BIOL 7759 - Field Methods in Wildlife Ecology Credits: 3
• BIOL 7760 - Hormones and Behavior Credits: 3
• BIOL 7850 - Seminar in Environmental and Conservation Biology Credits: 2
• BIOL 7993 - Independent Study in Biology Credits: 1 to 4
• BIOL 7994 - Independent Study in Biology Credits: 1 to 4
• BIOL 8010 - Colloquium in Developmental Biology Credits: 2
• BIOL 8050 - Advanced Evolutionary Biology Credits: 2
• BIOL 8060 - Colloquium in Circadian Biology Credits: 2
• BIOL 8070 - Colloquium in Population Biology Credits: 2
• BIOL 8081 - Advanced Ecology and Evolution 1 Credits: 4
• BIOL 8082 - Advanced Ecology and Evolution 2 Credits: 2
• BIOL 8083 - Advanced Ecology and Evolution 3 Credits: 4
• BIOL 8084 - Advanced Ecology and Evolution 4 Credits: 2
• BIOL 8250 - Communicating in Science Credits: 1
• BIOL 8260 - Writing in Science: creating grant and research proposals Credits: 2
• BIOL 8270 - Seven Habits of Highly Effective Graduate Students Credits: 2
• BIOL 8510 - Field Biology at Mountain Lake Biological Station Credits: 1 to 4
• BIOL 8820 - Selected Topics in Developmental Biology Credits: 2
• BIOL 8840 - Selected Topics in Physiology Credits: 2
• BIOL 8870 - Selected Topics in Developmental Genetics Credits: 1 to 2
• BIOL 8880 - Selected Topics in Biochemistry Credits: 2
• BIOL 8900 - Selected Topics in Developmental Botany Credits: 3
• BIOL 8998 - Non-Topical Research, Preparation for Research Credits: 1 to 12
• BIOL 8999 - Non-Topical Research Credits: 1 to 12
• BIOL 9910 - Rotation Research Credits: 3
• BIOL 9920 - Rotation Research Credits: 3
• BIOL 9995 - Topical Research in Biology Credits: 1 to 12
• BIOL 9998 - Non-Topical Research, Preparation for Doctoral Research Credits: 1 to 12
• BIOL 9999 - Non-Topical Research Credits: 1 to 12

• Statement of Purpose. The statement of purpose should indicate your reasons for applying to the proposed program at the University of Virginia and describe your preparation for this field of study, research interests, future career plans, and intellectual or life experiences in order to aid the admissions committee in evaluating your aptitude and motivation for graduate study. Your commitment to a selected field of study is presumed in the receipt of your application; instead, please discuss specific issues in the field that engage you.  Please limit your submission to between 500 and 1,000 words.
• Graduate Record Examination (GRE). Applicants to all programs except the MFA in Creative Writing and the MFA in Drama are required to record their scores from the GRE exam on their electronic application. Official scores are not necessary for the review process, but will be required if the applicant matriculates as a student. Official scores sent from ETS are automatically matched to the application once received.The Graduate School does not require applicants to submit scores from GRE subject tests. However, some programs do require applicants to submit such scores, and others highly encourage the inclusion of such scores. Please consult individual program websites for specific information.
• Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). All international students must submit TOEFL scores in addition to GRE scores. Applicants are required to record their scores from the TOEFL (or IELTS) exam on their electronic application. Official scores are not necessary for the review process, but will be required if the applicant matriculates as a student. Official scores sent from ETS (or IELTS) are automatically matched to the application at the time they are received. The minimum internet-based (iBT) TOEFL score requirement is 90 (including sectional minimums of 22 in speaking, 22 in writing, 23 in reading and 23 in listening).  The minimum paper-based TOEFL score requirement is 600.  Applicants may submit scores from the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) as an alternative to the TOEFL exam.  The minimum IELTS score requirement is 7.0 in each section.  In any case, the date of the reported test must fall within two years of the application deadline.  Admissions committees will consider applications with scores that do not meet the minimum requirements.With the exception of applicants to programs in Statistics, the TOEFL is not required of applicants who have or will have obtained a degree from an institution where English is the primary language of instruction. The TOEFL requirement will automatically be waived for an applicant who submits an application indicating these circumstances.
• Applicants must upload unofficial transcripts of their entire post-secondary academic record to the online application, including all undergraduate- and graduate-level coursework. Applicants are expected to have achieved a minimum GPA of 3.0 in their undergraduate programs.
• Letters of Recommendation. Letters of recommendation should be submitted electronically through the online application system.  Once you have saved the contact information for a particular reference within the online application, that individual will receive instructions via e-mail for submitting a letter of recommendation on your behalf.  The Graduate School requires two letters of recommendation.  As many programs require additional letters, please consult instructions specific to your program within the online application. You may submit your application independently of the letters submitted by your references. Letters of recommendation should be sought from faculty in your proposed field of study who are sufficiently familiar with your work to make a comprehensive evaluation of your abilities.  If you have already undertaken a graduate program, at least one of the letters should be from a faculty member who is familiar with your academic performance on the graduate level.
• Applicants to the following programs will be required to upload one or two samples of their academic writing: Anthropology, Art & Architectural History, Classics, Creative Writing, East Asian Studies, English, French, History, Italian, Linguistics, Middle Eastern and South Asian Studies, Music, Philosophy, Politics, Slavic Languages & Literatures, Sociology, and Spanish.
• A non-refundable fee of $85 is due at the time the application is submitted.