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The Department of Biological Sciences provides graduate programs culminating in Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy degrees. Key research strengths encompass fundamental and practical microbiology, molecular and cellular biology, environmental and comparative physiology, along with taxonomy, ecology, and evolutionary studies. Faculty research explores how organisms function through cellular mechanisms and structural components, examines variations in biological systems, and integrates different biological scales and processes. The graduate curriculum prepares students for teaching and research careers across academic and industry settings. Earning a Master of Science generally involves two years of coursework, completing a research thesis, and passing an oral comprehensive exam with thesis defense. Master's thesis work focuses on developing core research competencies including hypothesis formulation, experimental methodology, data interpretation, and scholarly writing.