The Master of Arts in biology provides students with core skills, general knowledge in biology, and specific techniques relevant to specialized fields within biology. It is a common stepping-stone degree to UA Little Rock’s Ph.D. in applied bioscience.
The M.A. option is a 36-credit-hour degree that includes 13 hours core curriculum, 3 hours of seminar, and 20 hours of electives, including at least 9 hours at the 7000 level or above. This is the non-thesis option leading to the M.A. degree. The M.S. degree in biology, thesis option, is also offered.
Admission Requirements
Students applying to the M.A. program in biology should meet all the requirements for admission to the UA Little Rock Graduate School. Applications for the fall semester are due by April 15 and spring semester applications are due by Nov. 1.
In addition, the following requirements should be met:
- Baccalaureate degree from an appropriate biological discipline with a minimum GPA of 3.0
- Upper-level course work in four of the six areas.
- Two lecture courses in physics and four lecture courses in chemistry, including inorganic and organic chemistry.
- Combined scores of 300 on the verbal and quantitative sections of the GRE general section.
- Formal letter of application written by the applicant, including a personal statement of career interests and objectives.
- Three letters of recommendation from persons well acquainted with the applicant. Letters from former faculty are expected. Students applying to the thesis track are encouraged to obtain a letter of support from a faculty advisor.
- International students must present TOEFL scores.
Read about conditional admission to the M.A.
Graduation Requirements
- Successful completion of an approved program of study with a minimum GPA of 3.0
- Successful completion of comprehensive exit examinations
- Successful completion of the thesis and oral defense
- Successful completion of the writing and seminar requirements