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Northern Arizona University

Arizona , Arizona ,United States

Master of Science in Biology

This thesis-based Master's degree allows the student great flexibility in determining his/her course of study, with the guidance of an engaged research committee. NAU's well-known biology program and solutions-oriented professors provide a multitude of pathways through which to approach research and experimentation. This degree also prepares students for future Ph.D. work, either here, at NAU, or elsewhere.

Purpose Statement

The Biology M.S. program prepares students for research-focused professions in the biological sciences, emphasizing the development of a students’ ability to develop experimental approaches that accurately capture information to solve questions and problems in their biological field of study.  Our faculty members conduct research in the many fields of biology, from the level of single molecules to whole ecosystems. From the first day of entry into our program, students work closely with their faculty mentor, selecting a course of study suited to their future goals and professional interests.  The program enables graduates to contribute to the forefront of knowledge in the scientific community, share their knowledge through teaching, or apply it in public service or industry.  
 
Students pursuing the emphasis in Ecology, Evolution & Conservation Biology will integrate theoretical and empirical concepts in ecology and evolutionary biology to understand ecological patterns and the mediating processes that drive populations, communities and ecosystems.  Students will become familiar with ecological sampling techniques and statistical methodologies necessary to characterize populations, communities and ecosystems over broad geographic regions, and will apply current approaches for identifying and mitigating the effects of invasive species and anthropogenic impacts on threatened and endangered species within the natural ecosystems they inhabit.

Available Emphasis Areas:

  • Ecology, Evolution and Conservation Biology - Emphasis

Campus Information

Flagstaff

Intakes

  • May
  • Aug

Application Processing Time in Days: 30

Minimum English Language Requirements

English Level Description IELTS (1.0 -9.0) TOEFL IBT (0-120) TOEFL CBT (0-300) PTE (10-90)
Expert 9 120 297-300 86-90
Very Good 8.5 115-119 280-293 83-86
Very Good 8 110-114 270-280 79-83
Good 7.5 102-109 253-267 73-79
Good 7 94-101 240-253 65-73
Competent 6.5 79-93 213-233 58-65
Competent 6 60-78 170-210 50-58
Modest 5.5 46-59 133-210 43-50
Modest 5 35-45 107-133 36-43
Limited 4 32-34 97-103 30-36
Extremely Limited < 4 < 31 < 93 < 30

Job Opportunity Potential

Career exploration

  • Know what transferable skills are, provide examples of transferable skills, and identify strategies to build these skills.
  • Feel confident that you are able to identify your strengths, interests, and values, and begin to connect these to potential careers.
  • Feel confident in utilizing career and personality assessments to assess fit with careers and work environments.

Resume and cover letter reviewsAccordion Open

  • Identify and apply principles of high-quality resume design and formatting to your own resume.
  • Feel confident crafting bullet points (accomplishment statements) using strong verbs, quantifiable actions, and results.
  • Feel empowered to begin crafting a compelling Summary of Qualifications targeted towards desired jobs that reflect your skills, experience, and what makes you unique.

Internship exploration and resourcesAccordion Open
Identify strengths, interests, and values, and begin to connect these to potential internships.

  • Feel confident identifying reputable online internship search sites and using them to find internships.
  • Identify the application materials you need to apply for internships.

Job search strategiesAccordion Open

  • Feel confident about finding and using resources to match your strengths, interests, and values to various jobs.
  • Identify and locate reputable online job search sites.
  • Learn to use online tools, such as Glassdoor and LinkedIn, to investigate organizational culture.

Mock interviewsAccordion Open

  • Use the STAR Method to identify your responses to behavioral interview questions and practice these responses.
  • Identify nervous habits and replace them with professional, confident body language.
  • Recognize appropriate and professional interview attire.

PSW Opportunity

Post-Study Work visa or permit, allowing international students on F-1 visas to work in the US after completing their studies, typically through Optional Practical Training (OPT).

Eligibility:
To be eligible for OPT, students must have been enrolled full-time in a US educational institution for at least one academic year and be seeking work related to their major.

Duration:
Students can apply for up to 12 months of OPT, either before they finish their studies (pre-completion) or after graduation (post-completion).

STEM OPT:
Students in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) fields can apply for an extended OPT period of up to 24 months.

Contact our PSA counselor for more information

Admission Requirement / Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must have earned a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 out of a 4.0 scale for their bachelor’s degree to be considered for regular admission. Admitted students are expected to have undergraduate educational experiences, including general education studies, that are similar to those required for a baccalaureate at Northern Arizona University. Students holding a cumulative GPA below a 3.0 may be considered for conditional admission with a recommendation and rationale from the admitting academic program. 

Undergraduate transcripts from all undergraduate and/or graduate work completed in the U.S. must be uploaded to evaluate your application. Ensure all pages of your transcript are included and can be easily read. Your official transcripts, sent from the issuing institution directly to Northern Arizona University, will be required upon admittance to your graduate program for GPA and degree conferral verification. NAU students do not need to submit official transcripts for NAU coursework.

NAU students may access unofficial transcripts via LOUIE. NAU alumni must have an NAU Google account to access their LOUIE files. 

  • TOEFL iBT 80
  • DuoLingo 105
  • IELTS 6.5