Biological Sciences, M.S.

Master of Science Degree

Plan of Study. Students must submit their signed, official Plan of Study Form to the Graduate School by the end of the second semester they are enrolled. The Plan of Study Forms are available at www.usm.edu/graduate-school - click on the “Plans of Study” link.

Research and Scholarly Integrity Education

All faculty holding Regular or Associate graduate faculty status, must complete The Research and Scholarly Integrity Training required by the Graduate School and their departments. All graduate students must complete The Research and Scholarly Integrity Training required by the Graduate School and their departments the first semester they are enrolled in graduate school. The RSIE policy and training information are found on the Graduate School web page –www.usm.edu/graduate-school. Contact the Dean of the Graduate School if you have any questions regarding the policy of training information.

Program Requirements

A minimum of thirty (30) graduate hours with a 3.0 GPA is required for this degree (18 hours must be at the 600 level or higher). Students must meet the general requirements set forth by the Graduate School of The University of Southern Mississippi. A 3.0 GPA is required to graduate. The following are major additional requirements.

1. Students need to identify an advisor by the end of the first semester.
2. Students should form a committee and submit a plan of study by the end of the second semester.
3. Gain approval of a written prospectus from a three-member graduate thesis committee by the end of the third semester.
4. Pass a comprehensive examination (oral and/or written) by the end of the fourth semester.
5. Gain approval of a written thesis and successfully defend the thesis at an advertised research seminar open to the public by the end of the third year.
6. Continuous enrollment - Students must meet the requirement specified in the front section of this Bulletin.
7. Completion of a minimum of 3 credit hours of BSC 698 .