Biological Sciences MA

The special master’s program (SMP) in Biological Sciences is a flexible graduate program that caters to students from many backgrounds, goals, and interests. In partnership with a faculty academic advisor, students create a fully customized curriculum which can include courses both within and outside of our department (including the School of Dental Medicine, School of Public Health and Health Sciences, and the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences). Students may pursue degree completion at their pace and are not required to be registered full time, which assists students who must complete intensive clinical shadowing opportunities, employment, or entrance exam preparation. All students must complete a research project under the instruction of a faculty member, however this project can be experimental, data analysis, or literature based, and can be completed in any department at UB.

The SMP has a roughly 75% success rate for its graduates getting accepted into their desired health-related programs, with many gaining acceptances to UB’s MD and DDS programs. The flexible nature of the program is also useful for students who are looking to explore career options across multiple disciplines, and for those who want to try graduate research before committing to a career or PhD track. Upon completion of the SMP, students receive an Master of Arts degree in Biological Sciences

Required Core (18 credits)

Choose 18 credits. Minimum 8 credits in BIO required.
Courses outside BIO department may be taken in consultation and with approval from Program Director (excluding seminars and tutorials).
GPA must be at overall 3.0 or better.

All 500 + 600 level BIO LEC+REC, LLR, LLB
BIO 549SEM - Comparative Genomics Credits: 3
BIO 611SEM - Scientific Writing Credits: 2
BIO 518LEC - Integrative Neuroscience Credits: 3
BIO 518REC - Integrative Neuroscience Credits: 1
BIO 500LLB - Bioinformatics/Genome Anal Credits: 4

Required Seminars (4 credits)

One BIO 610SEM - Graduate Student Seminar Credits: 1 (Minimum B grade)
One BIO 610SEM - Graduate Student Seminar 1 Credits (with S grade)
Two BIO 614SEM - Departmental Seminar Credits: 1
(1 every semester in residence, 1 credit each, 2 credits total)

Electives & Culmination Experience (6 credits)

Biology Electives

Courses outside BIO department may be taken in consultation and approval from Program Director.
Complete enough elective credit to reach 30 minimum total credit hours.

APY 546SEM - Physical Anthropology Special Topics Credits: 3
BCH 503LEC - Biochemical Principles Credits: 4
BCH 507LEC - Protein Structure/Function Credits: 2 - 3
BCH 603SEM - Signaling in Disease Credits: 2
BMS 501LEC - Cell Biology I Credits: 4
CDS 562LEC - Cleft Palate Credits: 3
CEP 504LEC - Introduction to Addiction and Substance Abuse Credits: 3
CEP 661LEC - Medical & Psychosocial Aspects of Disability Credits: 3
CHB 501LEC - Study of Health Behavior Credits: 3
CHB 520LEC - Public Health Ethics: An Interdisciplinary Exploration Credits: 3
CHB 527LEC - Obesity Credits: 3
CHE 501LEC - Organic Chemistry Credits: 3
ECO 511LEC - Health Economics Credits: 3
EEH 500LEC - Introduction to Epidemiology Credits: 3
EEH 510LEC - Prin Measurement Pub Hlth Credits: 3
EEH 520LEC - Biological Basis Ph Credits: 3
EEH 530LEC - Intro to Health Care Credits: 3
EEH 536LEC - Health Policy in the US Credits: 3
EEH 538LEC - Intro to Health Economics Credits: 3
GGB 502LEC - Essentials of Genetics & Genomics Credits: 3
LAI 514LEC - Adolescent Writing Across the Curriculum Credits: 1 - 3
LAI 552LEC - Middle Childhood/Adolescent Literacy Methods Credits: 1 - 3
MGH 641SEM - Business of Healthcare Credits: 3
MGH 642SEM - Innovators in Health Care Credits: 3
MGH 643LEC - Data Science Applications in Healthcare Credits: 3
MGH 644LEC - Healthcare Delivery Models Credits: 3
MGH 645LEC - Transformative Applications in Health Care Management Credits: 3
MIC 502LEC - Medical Microbiology Credits: 4
MIC 506LEC - Composition and Function of the Human Microbiome Credits: 2
MIC 512LEC - Graduate Immunology Credits: 2
MIC 515LEC - Virology Credits: 2
MIC 516LEC - Bacteriology Credits: 2
MIC 626SEM - Inflammation and Cancer Credits: 2
MT 527LR - Clinical Biochemistry Credits: 4
NGC 509SEM - Ethics for the Health Professions Credits: 3
NRS 520LEC - Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience Credits: 4
NRS 524SEM - Quantitative Neuroanatomy Credits: 4
NTR 503LEC - Nutrition and Health Credits: 3
NTR 505LEC - Exercise Nutrition Credits: 2
NTR 561LEC - Special Topics Credits: 1 - 3
NTR 620LEC - Nutrients/Gene Expression Credits: 3
ORB 500SEM - Craniofacial Development, Tissue Engineering and Oral Diseases Credits: 2
ORB 510LEC - Saliva and the Oral Microbiome Credits: 4
ORB 520SEM - Crit Anal of Lit in Ob Credits: 1
ORB 545DIS - Dynamics of Bone Credits: 2
OS 502LEC - Oral Sci:Physio of Pain Credits: 2
OS 506LEC - Oral Sci:Biomaterials Credits: 1
OS 512LEC - Res Design Oral Sciences Credits: 2
PAS 501LLB - Form, Function, & Visualization of Human Gross Anatomy Credits: 3
PAS 503LLB - Histology Credits: 5
PAS 605LEC - Principles of General Pathology and Basic Disease Mechanisms Credits: 2
PGY 505LEC - Cellular and Molecular Physiology Credits: 4
PGY 551LEC - Human Physiology I Credits: 3
PGY 551REC - Human Physiology I Research Tutorial Credits: 1
PGY 552LEC - Human Physiology Credits: 3
PGY 552REC - Human Physiology II Research Tutorial Credits: 1
PHC 630LEC - Drug Metabolism and Transport Credits: 3
PMY 503LT - Fundamentals of Pharmacology Credits: 5
PMY 516LEC - Molecular Neuropsychopharmacology Credits: 3
PSY 513LEC - Biol Bases of Behavior Credits: 3
SOC 569SEM - Social Inequalities and Health Credits: 3
SPA 534LEC - Topics Credits: 3
STA 525LEC - Stats for Bioinformatics Credits: 3
STA 527LEC - Statistical Analysis I Credits: 3
STA 527REC - Statistical Analysis I Credits: 1
SW 554LEC - Motivational Interviewing Credits: 3
SW 580LEC - Psychopathology Credits: 3
SW 584LEC - Personality Disorders Credits: 3
SW 973LEC - Topics Credits: 1

Culminating Experience: Project (6 credits)

minimum 6 credits

BIO 615SEM - Advanced Research Topics Credits: 1 - 6
BIO 680TUT - Graduate Research Credits: 1 - 12

Total Credit Hours: 30

3.0 Degree GPA required

Instruction Method

In Person (100 percent of courses offered in person)

Full/Part Time Options

Full Time
Part Time

Time-To-Degree

1 Year

Application Fee

$75

Admissions Testing Requirements

Effective immediately, the Biological Sciences MA program will not be requiring the submission of DAT, GRE, MCAT, or PCAT scores as a part of the admissions process. However, prospective students are encouraged to consider submitting their test scores if they think it will strengthen their application.

SED Statement

This program is officially registered with the New York State Education Department (SED).

Online programs/courses may require students to come to campus on occasion. Time-to-degree and number of credit hours may vary based on full/part time status, degree, track and/or certification option chosen. Time-to-degree is based on calendar year(s). Contact the department for details.