Curriculum

E/B/E Group:

BIO 490, BIO 491, and BIO 499: with a topic focus approved by the E/B/E faculty advisor

Biology core, plus:

Human Biology group electives (as needed to reach the 32 credit minimum in the major):

Note: Microbiology (BMS 316) at CCSU requires BMS 201 as an extra prerequisite.

Related Requirements (27-30 credits)

Note: Foundations of Analytical Chemistry Laboratory (CHEM 201) can be taken with either CHEM 200 or CHEM 260.

General Education

Eligibility

Full time students may complete a B.S. and M.S. in Biological Sciences in as few as five years. Eligible students can apply for admission to the Accelerate Central B.S. / M.S. Program in Biological Sciences during the spring of their junior year of study once they have completed 60 credits. Students accepted into the Accelerate Central program, may use up to 8 credits of graduate courses to replace up to 8 credits in the B.S. Biology. In addition, up to 8 credits of graduate courses may be taken before matriculation as a graduate student; these 8 credits will be excluded from the student’s B.S. program and transferred into the student’s M.S. program.

To apply, students must:

· Have at least a 3.30 cumulative grade point average overall or for the most recent 60 credit hours of completed study.

· Have completed 60 earned credit hours by the end of the fall semester of their junior year of which at least 12 credit hours must be completed at CCSU.

· Have completed BIO 200 with a B or higher.

Students who are accepted into Accelerate Central B.S. / M.S. Program in Biological Sciences will officially matriculate into the School of Graduate Studies the semester immediately following conferral of their bachelor’s degree, even if they have already taken graduate-level courses while completing their bachelor’s degree. Students wishing to defer their graduate studies must notify Graduate Admissions of this decision prior to the start of the term following the conferral of their bachelor’s degree.

How to Apply

Students will submit Change of Major form and a personal statement (about 500 words) describing their academic and career goals, and reasons for pursuing a M.S. in Biological Sciences to their undergraduate advisor by February 15th. The documents will be reviewed by the Department of Biology Graduate Studies Committee and an interview with the student will be scheduled. During the interview, the Committee will discuss courses and the specialization that best match the student’s goals and interests. Once the paperwork has been approved by all required parties, including the Graduate Program Director, the Registrar’s Office will change the student’s undergraduate curriculum to note the Accelerate Central program.

Note: After acceptance, students must maintain a 3.00 cumulative grade point average to remain in the Accelerate Central program.