Biology 3+2 Program, Bachelor of Science/Master of Science
A feature of the Biology MS program is the 3+2 plan which gives qualified advanced-level undergraduate students the opportunity to simultaneously pursue both the Baccalaureate (BS) and Master of Science (MS) degrees. With this plan, students are moved quickly toward expanding their academic and scientific horizons based on the student’s abilities and personal motivation. Students in the 3+2 plan are expected to successfully complete the requirements for both the BS and MS degrees by the end of their fifth year in college.
Specific requirements for the 3+2 program are included in the Biology MS description of the College of Science and Mathematics, undergraduate programs section of this catalog.
Specific Admission Requirements
Students are simultaneously awarded both the BS and MS degrees in five years, thus shortening the normal time to receive both degrees from six years to five years. They must apply and be admitted into the Biology MS program by the Spring semester of their junior year (preferred) or by the start of the Fall semester of the senior year and meet the course requirements listed below. Students applying to the 3+2 plan must have a minimum 3.0 overall GPA and a minimum 3.25 GPA in their biology coursework.
Prior to being admitted to the Biology MS 3+2 plan, students must have completed or be in the process of taking the following courses:
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BIOL 301 & 301L | General Microbiology and General Microbiology Lab | 5 |
| BIOL 350 | Mendelian and Population Genetics | 2.00 |
| BIOL 351 | Molecular Biology & Genetics | 2.00 |
| CHEM 302 & 302L | Organic Chemistry II and Organic Chemistry Lab II | 5 |
| PHYS 202 & 202L | Principles Of Physics II (GT-SC2) and Principles Of Physics II Lab (GT-SC1) | 4 |
| MATH 156 | Introduction to Statistics (GT-MA1) | 3-4 |
| or MATH 221 | Applied Calc: An Intuitive Approach (GT-MA1) | |
The application file for admission to the 3+2 plan must include:
- A completed Biology 3+2 online application;
- A CSU Pueblo transcript;
- Two letters of recommendation;
- A letter of support from a CSU-Pueblo Faculty mentor
- A letter of intent;
- GRE scores are optional and may be used to supplement the application
Specific Program Requirements
Students in the 3+2 BS/MS program must complete:
- The requirements for a BS in Biology including specific concentration courses.
- The requirements for the MS in Biology including thesis or non-thesis options.
Students may take up to 12 graduate credits in "stacked" (400/500) courses, with the permission of the Biology graduate committee and Program Director.
The 3+2 degree plan has the following requirements:
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| General Education 1 | 27 | |
| BS Biology Core | 30 | |
| BS Biology Support Courses | 32 | |
| BS Biology Concentration | 19 | |
| MS Biology Requirements | 30-34 | |
| Total Credits | 138-142 | |
- 1
CID 103 and MATH 103 are required general education courses for all Biology majors.
Undergraduate Requirements
Specific Core Requirements
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BIOL 171 | First Year Seminar | 1 |
| BIOL 181 & 181L | College Biology I/Organismal Bio (GT-SC2) and College Biology I/Organismal Bio Lab (GT-SC1) | 4 |
| BIOL 182 & 182L | College Biology II/Cellular Biology (GT-SC2) and College Biology II/Cellular Bio Lab (GT-SC1) | 4 |
| BIOL 312 & 312L | Cell Biology and Cell Biology Laboratory | 4 |
| BIOL 350 | Mendelian and Population Genetics | 2 |
| BIOL 351 | Molecular Biology & Genetics | 3 |
| BIOL 352 | Evolutionary Biology and Ecology | 3 |
| BIOL 493 | Seminar | 1 |
| Select one of the following two organismal courses: | 4 | |
| Botany (GT-SC2) and Botany Laboratory (GT-SC1) | 4 | |
| Zoology and Zoology Laboratory | 4 | |
| Select one of the following four microbiology or physiology courses: | 4 | |
| Microbiology and Microbiology Laboratory | 4 | |
| Advanced Cellular Biology and Advanced Cellular Biology Lab | 4 | |
| Plant Physiology and Plant Physiology Lab | 4 | |
| Vertebrate Physiology and Vertebrate Physiology Lab | 4 | |
| Total Credits | 30 | |
Select from the following BS Biology concentrations:
- Basic Biology Concentration
- Biology/Chemistry Double Major Concentration
- Biomedical Sciences Concentration
- Cellular & Molecular Biosciences Concentration
- Environmental Biosciences Concentration
- Secondary Certification Concentration
Graduate Requirements
On Campus Program
Specific Core Requirements
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| On campus students will take one of the following courses: | 4 | |
| Advanced Cellular Biology and Advanced Cellular Biology Lab | 4 | |
| Vertebrate Physiology and Vertebrate Physiology Lab | 4 | |
| Advanced Biotechniques and Advanced Biotechniques Lab | 4 | |
| Limnology and Limnology Lab | 4 | |
| Ecology and Ecology Field Studies | 4 | |
| Total Credits | 4 | |
Thesis Option
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BIOL 510 | Foundations in Graduate Studies | 3 |
| BIOL 589 | Thesis Defense | 1.00 |
| BIOL 593 | Seminar | 1 |
| BIOL 599 | Thesis Research | 6 |
| MATH 550 | Statistical Methods | 3.00 |
| Electives | 12 | |
| Total Credits | 26 | |
Internship Option
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BIOL 510 | Foundations in Graduate Studies | 3 |
| BIOL 588 | Internship Seminar | 1.00 |
| BIOL 593 | Seminar | 1 |
| BIOL 598 | Internship | 4 |
| MATH 550 | Statistical Methods | 3.00 |
| Electives | 16 | |
| Total Credits | 28 | |
Online Program
Non-Thesis Option
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BIOL 505 | Foundations in Graduate Studies | 3 |
| BIOL 548 | Biological Statistics | 3 |
| BIOL 559 | Comprehensive Exam | 1 |
| BIOL 568 | Evolution | 3 |
| BIOL 577 | Current Issues in Biology | 1 |
| Electives | 23 | |
| Total Credits | 34 | |
Electives
Elective courses are select from the courses listed below. Others may be used, with permission, as new courses are added or from other areas of student (e.g. CHEM and WANR).
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BIOL 502 & BIOL 503L | Immunology and Virology Lab | 4 |
| BIOL 503 | Virology | 3.00 |
| BIOL 512 & 512L | Advanced Cellular Biology and Advanced Cellular Biology Lab | 4 |
| BIOL 513 & 513L | Plant Physiology and Plant Physiology Lab | 4 |
| BIOL 514 & 514L | Vertebrate Physiology and Vertebrate Physiology Lab | 4 |
| BIOL 521 & 521L | Histology and Histology Lab | 4 |
| BIOL 532 & 532L | Developmental Biology and Developmental Biology Lab | 4 |
| BIOL 540 & 540L | Advanced Biotechniques and Advanced Biotechniques Lab | 4 |
| BIOL 541 & 541L | Freshwater Invertebrate Zoology and Freshwater Invertebrate Zoology Lab | 4 |
| BIOL 543 & 543L | Limnology and Limnology Lab | 4 |
| BIOL 552 & 552L | Advanced Microscopy and Advanced Microscopy Lab | 4 |
| BIOL 553 & 553L | Ecology and Ecology Field Studies | 4 |
| BIOL 554 | Behavioral Ecology | 3.00 |
| BIOL 561 | Applied Geospatial Technology (GIS/GPS) | 3.0 |
| BIOL 562 | Environmental Policy & Management | 3.00 |
| BIOL 565 | Environmental Toxicology | 3.00 |
| BIOL 579 & 579L | Ichthyology and Ichthyology Laboratory | 3 |
| BIOL 581 & 581L | Entomology and Entomology Lab | 3 |
| BIOL 582 & 582L | Herpetology and Herpetology Lab | 3 |
| BIOL 583 & 583L | Mammalogy and Mammalogy Lab | 3 |
| BIOL 584 & 584L | Ornithology and Ornithology Lab | 3 |
| BIOL 585 & 585L | Plant Taxonomy and Plant Taxonomy Lab | 4 |
| BIOL 586 | Field Botany | 3.00 |
| BIOL 591 | Special Topics | 1-4 |
| BIOL 595 | Independent Study | 1-4 |