ÐÜèÔÚÏßÊÓƵ

All master's degree students are required to complete a research thesis and at least 30 semester hours, which must include at least 2 semester hours of BSC 420Axx Graduate Seminars (See list of options at ). The School will determine additional coursework specific to each individual's plan of study.

All master's degree programs require a minimum of 50 percent of the non-thesis credit hours applied to the degree to be 400-level courses or above.

Behavior, Ecology, Evolution, and Systematics (BEES) Sequence

Students may elect to pursue a sequence in Behavior, Ecology, Evolution, and Systematics, a course of study that provides students with a strong conceptual background in whole-organism biology. The sequence is designed to enhance students' understanding of the underlying concepts that unite research in the areas of behavior, ecology, evolution, and systematics while providing the opportunity for training in specific taxa and in subjects ranging from molecular and cellular biology to neurobiology, physiology, and advanced research techniques.

This 30-hour sequence requires:

• 2 hours of BSC 420Axx Graduate Seminars (See list of options at ).
• 4 hours of thesis ()
• 7 hours of sequence core courses: , , and
• 9-12 hours: chosen from , , , , /, , , , ,
• 5-8 hours of elective courses are selected through consultation among the major professor, the student's committee, and the student

Bioenergy Sciences Sequence

This course of study provides students with a strong conceptual background in biological and environmental aspects of using and engineering plants and microbes for the production of bio-based fuels. Students successfully completing this sequence should be competitive for admission into Ph.D. programs and/or for acquiring bioenergy-related jobs in industry, non-profits, government agencies, or academia. Students can choose between a biotechnology-based track and an ecology/conservation biology-based track.

This 30-hour sequence requires:

Biotechnology-based track

• 20 hours: , , , , , BSC 420Axx Graduate Seminars (See list of options at ), ,
• 4 hours of thesis ()
• 6 hours of electives

Ecology/Conservation Biology-based trackÌý

• 19 hours: , or , , , , ,
• 4 hours of thesis ()
• 7 hours of electives

Biomathematics Sequence

This cross-disciplinary sequence provides students with a unique and strong cross-disciplinary training in biology and mathematics. The sequence is designed first to give students a solid foundation in mathematics (core courses), then training in one of two biological areas that use specific types of mathematical applications to address biological questions (emphases). Before entering the sequence, students should have two semesters of calculus and one semester of linear algebra.

This 32-hour sequence requires:Ìý

• 2 hours of Ìý
• 4 hours of thesis Ìý
• 14 hours of sequence core courses: , , , and . Transfer credit can be offered for the core math classes provided that students take at least two courses from the Mathematics Department while at ÐÜèÔÚÏßÊÓƵ.Ìý
• 12 hours of electives from two areas of emphasis. A minimum of 12 non-thesis hours must be from the School of Biological Sciences. A minimum of 14 hours (not including 499) outside of the core courses and must be at the 400 level.Ìý
• Biological Statistics and Modeling area of emphasis: with a choice of courses from , , , , , , , ; , , , MAT 378, , , , ,
• Computation and Bioinformatics area of emphasis: with a choice of courses from , Ìý, with concurrent enrollment in , , , , ; , , ,

Biotechnology Sequence

This sequence provides training in Biotechnology, a discipline linking biochemistry, molecular biology, genomics, bioinformatics, cell biology, genetics, and their biomedical and agricultural applications. It is designed to enhance students' competency in fundamental principles, strategies, and techniques applied widely across biotechnology and medical research.

This 30-hour sequence requires:Ìý

• 1 hour of BSC 420AxxÌý
• 4-6 hours of thesis Ìý
• 16 hours of sequence core courses: , , , , and Ìý
• 7-9 hours of electives, to include at least one course in the area of genomics or bioinformatics (, , , ,Ìýor advisor-approved topics course in that area).

Conservation Biology Sequence

This sequence is a discipline linking ecology, genetics, evolution, and systematics to applied problems in biodiversity preservation and ecosystem function and maintenance.

This 30-hour degree requirements include:

• 8 hours of sequence core courses (, , /)Ìý
• 4 hours of thesis Ìý
• 1 hour of another BSC 420Axx Graduate Seminars (See list of options at ).Ìý
• 17 hours of elective courses distributed across four groups (I-IV) of electives. Group I (Ecology): /, , . Group II (Genetics and Evolution): . Group III (Taxon Focus): , ,Ìý. Group IV (Other Electives): , , , ; , ,

Neuroscience and Physiology Sequence

This sequence provides students with a strong conceptual background in these two fields of biological sciences and is designed to enhance students' understanding of the canonical concepts that underlie neuroscience and physiology, including biostatistics, while providing the opportunity for training in related fields such as cell and molecular biology, chemistry, behavior and psychology.

This 30-hour sequence requires:

• 2 hours of BSC 420Axx Graduate Seminars (See list of options at ).Ìý
• 4-6 hours of thesis
• 10 hours of sequence core courses (, , , and )Ìý
• 12-14 hours of sequence elective courses chosen from , , with concurrent enrollment in ,Ìý , , , , , and . To complete these 14 hours of sequence elective courses, no more than two of the following may also be taken: , , , , , , ÌýBSC 427, BSC 443, , , Ìý, ; , , and .Ìý
• Additional elective courses are selected through consultation among the major professor, the student's committee, and the student. For further information, see the Department's website at BIO.IllinoisÐÜèÔÚÏßÊÓƵ.edu.

Doctoral students may design an individual coursework plan of study in consultation with advisors, or they may elect to pursue a sequence within the Ph.D. program in (1) Behavior, Ecology, Evolution, and Systematics (BEES), (2) Molecular and Cellular Biology, or (3) Neuroscience and Physiology, each of which includes specific requirements (see below).

Degree requirements include:

• 4 hours BSC 420Axx Graduate Seminars (See list of options at ).Ìý
• Most Ph.D. students take 30-40 semester hours of courseworkÌý
• Take and pass the Ph.D. qualifying examÌý
• 15+ hours: Ìý
• A sequence (requirements follow) or an individual plan of study dictating additional coursework.Ìý
• Other university requirements for Ph.D. degrees are listed elsewhere in this catalog.

Behavior, Ecology, Evolution, and Systematics (BEES) Sequence

The sequence is designed to enhance students' understanding of the underlying concepts that unite research in the areas of behavior, ecology, evolution, and systematics while providing the opportunity for training in specific taxa and in subjects ranging from molecular and cellular biology to neurobiology, physiology, and advanced research techniques.

Degree requirements include:Ìý

• 7 hours of sequence core courses (, , and ) and 3 additional sequence courses (9-12 hours) chosen from , , , , /, , , , , Ìý
• Elective courses (unspecified hours) are selected through consultation among the major professor, the student's committee, and the student

Molecular and Cellular Biology Sequence

The sequence is designed to enhance the student's competency in molecular and cellular biology principles, techniques, and their application for becoming leaders in solving tomorrow's problems in molecular cell biology.

Degree requirements include:

• 8 hours of core courses (, , , )
• at least three graduate elective courses (8-11 hours). Elective courses will be selected from the area of the student's specialization and will be decided by the student in consultation with their advisor and/or student dissertation committee. Elective courses may be selected from among, but not limited to, the following representative courses: , , , , , , , , BSC 418, , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Neuroscience and Physiology Sequence

The sequence is designed to enhance students' understanding of the canonical concepts that underlie neuroscience and physiology, including biostatistics, while providing the opportunity for training in related fields such as cell and molecular biology, chemistry, behavior and psychology.

Degree requirements include:Ìý

• 10 hours of sequence core courses (, , , and )Ìý
• 12 hours of sequence elective courses chosen from , , with concurrent enrollment in , , , , and . To complete these 12 hours of sequence elective courses, no more than two of the following may also be taken: , , , , , BSC 427, BSC 443, , , ; , Ìý, , and
• Additional elective courses are selected through consultation among the major professor, the student's committee, and the student. For further information, see the Department's website at BIO.IllinoisÐÜèÔÚÏßÊÓƵ.edu

Graduate students in the School of Biological Sciences may elect to pursue a Biology Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Graduate Certificate. To earn the certificate, students must take or, , and or .