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Graduate Programs

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Our master of science program in biology provides students with thesis and non-thesis options. Students engaged in thesis work may conduct research in areas of aquatic biology, animal behavior and ecology, plant systematics and ecology, wildlife and conservation biology, physiological and molecular ecology and biomedical sciences including cellular and molecular biology and microbiology.

For more information about our M.S. program or to schedule a visit, contact:

Dr. Luke Dodd
Graduate Program Coordinator for the Department of Biological Sciences

521 Lancaster Ave.
Science 3238
Richmond, KY 40475
Phone: 859-622-2523
Email: luke.dodd@eku.edu

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Our Department of Biology graduate program comprises approximately 20 students supported by both research and teaching assistantships. Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) services approximately 12,000 students and is a public university in Richmond, Kentucky, located about 30 minutes south of Lexington, Kentucky, and two hours north of Knoxville, Tennessee. Numerous recreational opportunities may be found nearby, with the Daniel Boone National Forest and Red River Gorge and the Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area each about 1.5 hours from Richmond and Mammoth Cave National Park just 3 hours away. Great Smoky Mountains National Park can be reached in about 4 hours. For those interested in attending cultural or sporting events, Richmond, Lexington, Cincinnati, Louisville and Knoxville offer many events throughout the year.

For prospective students interested in ecology and evolutionary biology, EKU is located in the Outer Bluegrass Ecoregion and is within an hour’s drive to a diversity of ecoregions (Interior Plateau, Southwestern Appalachians and Western Allegheny Plateau). Notably, EKU’s Division of Natural Areas manages three field stations spanning early successional, secondary growth and old growth systems. Further, EKU has a long pedigree of mentoring students engaged in field ecology and working in scientific collections. Our faculty mentors students conducting research across a variety of terrestrial and aquatic systems and actively seeks out students for floral and faunal research.

For prospective students interested in cell-based and biomedical sciences, our researchers have access to state-of-the-art biomedical suites, constructed in 2017, and are able to conduct a wide range of scientific equipment ranging from cellular to whole animal levels. Further, partnerships with R1 universities in the region afford our students access to molecular core facilities. The Master of Science in Biology program comprises approximately 20 students supported by both research and teaching assistantships.

Multiple teaching assistantships are awarded to incoming master’s students every fall. Teaching assistantships include a partial (66%) tuition waiver and a stipend of $11,200 per academic year. Further, research assistantships may also be available through individual faculty members, and many graduate students are funded through summer months while conducting thesis research.

As a school of opportunity, EKU fosters personal growth and prepares students to contribute to the success and vitality of their communities, the Commonwealth and the world. EKU is committed to access, equal opportunity, dignity, respect and inclusion for all people, as integral to a learning environment in which intellectual creativity and diversity thrive.

How to Start the Application Process

Students wishing to be admitted in the Master of Science in Biology program must have a faculty member from the Department of Biological Sciences agree to serve as their advisor should they be accepted to the program. Students are strongly encouraged to review the faculty research interests in the Department of Biological Sciences faculty directory. Applicants should contact (via email or phone) faculty with similar research interests to their own to discuss details of a program of study suitable to their interests and to determine if the faculty member is accepting new students and would be willing to serve as their advisor. Once a faculty member has agreed to be an applicant’s advisor, the student and the faculty member should inform the Graduate Coordinator and fill out and sign the Graduate Studies Advisor Agreement Form which will be submitted along with other application materials to the graduate school. Applications will not be considered complete unless this form is completed and included with the application materials.

Upon receipt of all application materials to the graduate school, the materials will be sent to the Department of Biological Sciences for evaluation. DO NOT SEND APPLICATION MATERIALS DIRECTLY TO THE DEPARTMENT.

Applicants should have an undergraduate major in an area of the biological sciences. Supporting courses in chemistry, physics and mathematics are recommended. Any deficiencies in a successful applicant’s undergraduate training will be specified by the department’s Graduate Affairs Committee at the time of admission. Graduate Record Exams are not required for admission into our program.

If you have questions, please contact Dr. Luke Dodd, the graduate program coordinator for the department (email luke.dodd@eku.edu, phone: 859-622-2523).


Application Process

To be admitted into the M.S. degree program in biology, you must first apply online to the graduate school. All application materials must be on file with the EKU Graduate School to be considered for a graduate assistantship. Consideration of applications by the Graduate Affairs Committee will begin on February 1, with a rolling deadline for applications thereafter. Prospective students are encouraged to apply early to ensure full consideration for graduate assistantships. Please submit all required documentation which includes:

Graduate assistantships (GAs) are university employment positions for graduate students only. GAs work a set number of hours per week learning valuable skills relevant to their educational goals. In addition, each GA earns a salary and receives a scholarship of up to 6 hours. Examples of GA duties are laboratory supervision, teaching and research-related tasks.

In the Department of Biological Sciences, multiple teaching assistantships are competitively awarded to incoming master’s students every fall. All application materials must be on file with the EKU Graduate School to be considered for a graduate assistantship. Consideration of applications by the Graduate Affairs Committee will begin on February 1, with a rolling deadline for applications thereafter. Prospective students are encouraged to apply early to ensure full consideration for graduate assistantships. Further, part-time teaching opportunities are commonly available for students not awarded assistantships. Teaching assistantships include a partial (66%) tuition waiver and a stipend of $11,200 per academic year. Research assistantships may also be available through individual faculty members, and many graduate students are funded through summer months while conducting thesis research.

The Department of Biological Sciences at Eastern Kentucky University provides opportunities for graduate studies leading to the Master of Science degree in Biology. Thesis and non-thesis programs of study are available, and the requirements are detailed on this page. Working with nearly 20 graduate faculty in our department, students engaged in thesis work may conduct research in such areas as aquatic biology, animal behavior and ecology, plant systematics and ecology, wildlife and conservation biology, physiological and molecular ecology and biomedical sciences including cellular and molecular biology and microbiology.

Many of our graduate students are employed as graduate assistants or part-time instructors, helping to teach our non-science-major labs under the direction of our Ph.D. faculty. Prospective students should also visit Graduate Education and Research, where an online application link is available. If you have questions, please contact our graduate program coordinator by email Dr. Luke Dodd or phone 859-622-2523.

Thesis Track

Graduate students on the thesis track must complete a minimum of 30 graduate semester hours for the M.S. degree. The program of study must include:

  • Six hours of ‘Biology core’ courses: Biology and Ethics (BIO 800; 1 hour), Scientific Literature and Writing (BIO 801; 2 hours) and a course in statistics (either BIO 810 or STA 700; 3 hours);
  • Six hours of thesis research (BIO 891);
  • 18 additional hours in biology or related subject areas. Students completing a 30 hour program must have at least 12 hours of 800-level course credit. Students may complete more than 30 hours of coursework, but at least 50% of non-thesis coursework must be at the 800-level.

All students must also:

  • Demonstrate their knowledge of biology and preparation for carrying out their thesis research by successfully passing an oral defense of their written thesis proposal (GRD 857A; exam administered by the student’s graduate committee);
  • Pass an oral examination in defense of their thesis (GRD 858A).

Non-Thesis Track

Graduate students on the non-thesis track must complete a minimum of 36 graduate semester hours for the M.S. degree. The program of study must include:

  • Six hours of ‘Biology core’ courses: Biology and Ethics (BIO 800; 1 hour), Scientific Literature and Writing (BIO 801; 2 hours) and a course in statistics (either BIO 810 or STA 700; 3 hours);
  • Completion of 9-10 hours consisting of: Current Review of Biology (BIO 880; 3 hours) and two courses from BIO 727, 728, 731(4), 821, 831, 848, or 849;
  • Completion of 20-21 hours of approved electives.

All students must also:

  • Demonstrate their knowledge of biology and preparation for completing their research paper by successfully passing an oral defense of their written BIO 880 proposal (GRD 857A; exam administered by the student’s graduate committee);
  • Pass an oral examination in defense of the review written for BIO 880 (Current Review of Biology).

For a detailed curriculum, please visit the Graduate Catalog.