College of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics
The College of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics offers the following degrees: Doctor of Philosophy in microbiology, Master of Science in biology, Master of Science in mathematics, and the Master of Science in forensic science. In cooperation with the College of Education, Graduate coursework to support the Master of Education and AA certification in secondary education is also offered by the Departments of Biological Sciences and Mathematics and Computer Science.
| Degree |
Required Admission Test |
| M.S., Biology |
GRE revised General and Subject |
| M.S., Mathematics |
GRE revised General and Subject |
| M.S. Forensic Science |
GRE revised General |
| Ph.D., Microbiology |
GRE General and Subject |
In addition to satisfying the general admission requirements of The Harold Loyd Murphy Graduate School at Alabama State University, all students admitted to the Master of Science in biology degree program are expected to have a bachelor’s degree in biology, chemistry or a related field and a minimum, cumulative grade point average of 3.0 on a four-point scale. Prerequisite courses include general physics (eight semester hours); general chemistry (eight semester hours); organic chemistry (eight semester hours); and cell biology or biochemistry (four semester hours) Scores on the Graduate Record Examination revised General and Subject tests are required.
Conditional graduate status may be granted an applicant who has a cumulative grade point average of less than 3.0 but at least 2.5, and/or who has not more than 12 semester hours of undergraduate course deficiencies. Full graduate status may be attained by a conditional graduate student after the completion of 16 hours, provided the student receives a grade of at least B in all courses taken and he or she has removed all admission deficiencies.
Each student enrolling in this program is expected to complete 35 semester hours, which include the core requirement courses: BIO 500, Graduate Seminar in Biology; BIO 517, Cell and Molecular Biology; BIO 521, Biological Techniques and Instrumentation; BIO 619, Molecular Genetics, Biology 660, Research and Thesis. Other courses will be selected by the student in consultation with his or her thesis advisor. The thesis advisor and thesis advisory committee will be assigned by the department chair according to established departmental guidelines.
In addition to the completion and oral defense of the thesis, each student is required to perform satisfactorily on a written comprehensive examination and to demonstrate competent reading knowledge of a foreign language, preferably French or German. Upon recommendation of the department, a substitute language may be offered. Six semester hours of an acceptable foreign language in which a cumulative average of at least B is earned may be presented in lieu of the language examination.
Master of Science in biology students may elect to substitute in lieu of the foreign language six semester hours of acceptable computer language coursework in which a cumulative average of at least a B is earned. Acceptable computer language courses will be determined by the chair of the department.