Biological Science - Graduate Studies
Florida State University
Florida State University
cbMS applicants must specify a graduate area of interest (EE, CMB, NS), and are encouraged to speak with faculty to identify a lab in which they could complete the Directed Individual Study requirement for their degree before applying. All aspects of the application process are the same regardless of the area specified.
Who is the cbMS program designed for?
The course-based MS degree is appropriate for students who wish to strengthen their record prior to applying to professional school, and for mid-career professionals seeking an additional graduate credential to advance their careers. Those who plan to eventually seek a PhD in a biological field are likely to be better served by a thesis MS or PhD degree program than a course-based MS degree program. The requirements of the course-based MS degree can generally be completed in eighteen months to two years.
Financial Assistance: Neither the Department nor the University offers any financial support to cbMS students - no scholarships or assistantships. Applicants who are accepted must be prepared to pay for their own fees, tuition, and living expenses. Note that admission into the cbMS degree program does not facilitate admission into the Thesis MS or the PhD program because there is no formal pathway to transition from the cbMS degree program to the other programs in our department.
Application Requirements: Students must apply to the graduate school via https://admissions.fsu.edu/gradapp/ and submit required application materials. The required elements are a CV or resume, an academic transcript, letters of recommendation, and a statement of purpose. GRE scores are waived for cbMS applicants.
Admissions Process: A small number of applicants are accepted to this program, so admittance is competitive. Applications are reviewed by a faculty committee after each application deadline. When evaluating applications, we look for evidence that applicants will be successful in rigorous, fast-paced graduate level biology courses, and for a strong match between an applicant's career goals and the strengths of our program
Application Tips: Strong applications include a statement of purpose that describes specifically how completing the cbMS degree program will support the applicant’s future career plans and goals. A strong statement also describes experiences and personal qualities that will enhance the applicant’s likelihood of success and enrich the experiences of others in the program.
Letters of recommendation from individuals who can comment on an applicant’s potential to perform well in graduate level coursework and on the relevance of a MS degree to the applicant’s career path will best support an application to the program
| Term | 1 Year Plan | 2 Year Plan |
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The Program Director will initially advise students. Incoming students will find a major professor to work with, thereby forming a supervisory committee in the first year that will oversee the Comprehensive Examination, the DIS and submission of the research paper.
| Requirement | Action | Latest Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Meet with Program Director | Meet with Program Director every semester | End of Semester |
| Declare Major Professor (faculty member in Biology) |
Submit memo to Graduate Office | End of 1st Semester |
| Program of Studies Form- list of courses that you plan to take |
Meet with Committee (Major Professor plus the Program Director). Submit Program of Studies to Graduate Office |
End of 1st Semester |
| DIS Requirement | Literature/Research-based independent study with Major Professor for 2 semesters |
Final Semester |
| Comprehensive Examination | Complete written examination | Final Semester |
April Wooten
Graduate Coordinator
(850)644-3023
gradinfo@bio.fsu.edu