About Biology in California State University Fullerton

The Department of Biological Science is one of five departments in the College of Natural Science & Mathematics. The Department offers a thesis-based Master of Science (M.S.) in Biology degree, which requires completion of a research thesis under the supervision of one of the Department's full-time faculty members. No other routes (e.g. coursework, examination, project) to the M.S. degree are offered.

The purpose of the M.S. in Biology program is to provide students with advanced learning opportunities in biology through the performance and completion of original research. The program is designed to prepare students for: 1) admission to Ph.D. programs in the biological and biomedical sciences; 2) professional careers with governmental agencies and in the private sector; 3) technical work in education, medical, and environmental settings; and 4) teaching at the two-year college level. Additionally, the program provides opportunities for students to enhance their knowledge of science and the scientific process for teaching at the secondary level and for professional work in other fields. The program can be completed in two years, but most students take longer because of the amount of time required to complete a rigorous, research-based thesis, especially if the student works on- or off-campus, or devotes considerable time to activities other than research, e.g., teaching.

M.S. Degree Requirements

• Completion, with an average grade of B or better, of 30 units of thesis committee-approved coursework
• Completion of a committee-approved, scholarly research thesis
• Satisfactory performance on a final oral examination (defense) of the thesis
• Public presentation of thesis research

Academic qualification equivalents 

• You are eligible to apply as a graduate student if you have earned a degree equivalent to a U.S. bachelor's degree.

  You must meet the following requirements:

• The minimum English language proficiency as determined by your graduate program. See requirements below.
• Above average class standing at an internationally accredited college or university: the equivalent of at least a 3.0 grade point average on a 4.0 scale is recommended.
• Note: Some master's programs have additional requirements, such as department applications, letters of recommendation, portfolios, auditions, or tests (e.g., GMAT, GRE, MAT). Graduate applicants should check with their graduate departments for additional requirements and deadlines. 
• Graduate students may request to apply a limited amount of transfer coursework towards unit requirements for a master's degree. Transfer coursework is subject to provisions provided by the graduate studies office .

English language requirements

• TOEFL  iBT (including paper, home) : 80
• IELTS Academic Test: 6.5
• PTE Academic Test: 58

California State University Fullerton Highlights

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