How does having an MS in Biology help you?

• Advanced research experience strengthens your application to a doctoral program or medical school
• Biotechnology companies look for students who have experience and the capacity to think independently
• Schools look for teachers with advanced degrees

The Division of Biological Sciences offers an integrated program leading to a Master of Science Degree in Biology for UCSD undergraduate students who are enrolled in any of the eight Biology majors. Qualified students are able to obtain the MS degree within 3-5 quarters following receipt of the BS degree. Students interested in applying to this program should email the BS/MS advisor in the Student Affairs office before the end of their junior year; however, you can apply as late as the second quarter of your senior year. If you are a senior, it's important to email the BS/MS advisor as soon as possible!!

The Integrated BS/MS Program is open to UCSD Biology undergraduates only.
The Division of Biological Sciences does not provide financial support for students enrolled in this program.

Eligibility

Eligible students will have a GPA of at least 3.3 in their major and a 3.0 overall UC GPA. Students must demonstrate excellent performance in upper-division biology core courses during their undergraduate program to be eligible to enroll in biology graduate core courses.

Prospective BS/MS students are responsible for selecting an eligible faculty member who will be willing to serve as the student’s advisor and in whose laboratory the student will complete at least 24.0 units of research over six quarters.  Eligible faculty must be tenure-track faculty (Professor, Associate Professor, or Assistant Professor) at UCSD doing biological research or adjunct faculty with the Division of Biological Sciences.  Please contact the BS/MS advisor to verify that the faculty you have selected meets these criteria.  NOTE: Advisors without an appointment in the Division of Biological Sciences are expected to participate actively in the Division of Biological Sciences' BS/MS education program by contributing teaching and be willing to serve on MS Thesis committees for students other than those they advise.

Enrollment

Students must complete six consecutive quarters of research to fulfill the research component of the program. A maximum of three quarters of this research can be taken in the last year of your undergraduate period. Any deviation from this plan, such as a break in enrollment for one or more quarters, will be cause for the student to be dropped from the program. The student must confirm that the selected advisor will not be on sabbatical leave during any quarter of the scheduled BS/MS project.

Students who have been approved (by both the Division of Biological Sciences and the Office of Graduate Admissions) for the program must enroll in a Special Studies Research Course for each and every quarter of participation in the BS/MS program. This research requirement is only satisfied by taking BISP 199 (or BISP 196 in certain circumstances) as an undergraduate and BGGN 271 as a graduate student. Research work will be credited toward the BS/MS program requirements only if it is completed while a student is officially enrolled at UCSD and has paid tuition for that quarter.

Note: The units of research completed during the student's senior undergraduate year, must be taken IN ADDITION to the requirements for the bachelor's degree. These units will count toward the requirements for the master's degree only. However, since BISP 199 is only offered on a P/NP basis, you must be sure that you do not exceed the limit for such courses. Check with your college to determine your eligibility.

Additional Requirements for the MS Degree
• Completion of at least thirty-six units of graduate course work (BGGN 200-level or higher or approved [via petition] graduate courses offered by related departments at a similar level) during the graduate year. The course of study must be approved by the faculty advisor.

• Twelve of the thirty-six units must be in courses other than BGGN 271 (BGGN 297 and BGGN 299 MAY NOT be used to satisfy this requirement).

• Serve as a graduate teaching assistant.

• During the graduate portion, maintenance of a grade-point average (both overall and in the major) of at least 3.0 for all course work, both cumulatively and for each quarter of enrollment in the BS/MS program. If the student's GPA falls below 3.0, (for either the overall or major) he or she will be dropped from the program.

• Completion of a thesis, with an oral presentation to, and approval of, a three-member Thesis Committee. A student may have any tenure track faculty at UCSD or any Adjunct Faculty in the Division of Biological Sciences as their Advisor and Chair of their Thesis Committee. The Thesis Committee must contain at least two tenure track faculty from the Division of Biological Sciences and no more than one adjunct faculty can serve on the committee. The committee is selected by the student in consultation with his/her advisor. Students should meet with their committee members throughout the graduate year to discuss the proposed research project.

• At least three complete, separate, and consecutive quarters of residency as a graduate student which will commence immediately following the quarter in which the BS degree is awarded. (Note: The Summer Session is not considered an official quarter of the graduate year.)

• Students who have been approved for the BS/MS Program must provide the Office of Graduate Admissions with their official UCSD transcript indicating conferral of the BS degree.

• Students must contact the Biology Student Affairs Graduate Coordinator prior to each quarter of the graduate year to verify that the appropriate forms have been completed. The completed Application for Candidacy for the Thesis must be submitted to the Graduate Coordinator by the end of the second quarter of the graduate year. Students must pay fees and be officially enrolled at UCSD during the year that the Master's Degree is awarded. Two copies of the thesis draft should be submitted to the Office of Graduate Studies (OGS) for review before the final copy is officially submitted.

Any misunderstanding between the student and faculty advisor will be directed to the
Integrated BS/MS Committee Chair for resolution.

Integrated BS/MS Application Due Dates

You are strongly encouraged to submit the Provisional Biology BS/MS Application prior to beginning your BS/MS research (BISP199).  If this is not possible, see Sample Plans below for final application deadlines. You may receive credit for BISP199’s done prior to the submission of the Provisional Biology BS/MS application provided they meet the BS/MS enrollment criteria. (BISP199 applications have a separate due date.  Be sure to contact an undergraduate Biology Advisor for information about BISP199 applications.)

The official online Graduate School Application will be completed during the final quarter as an undergraduate.

Sample Plans: Shaded cells indicate undergraduate enrollment. BGGN 271 cannot be taken during the summer.
Quarter 1
Quarter 2
Quarter 3
Quarter 4
Quarter 5
Quarter 6
Plan #1
BISP 199
BISP 199
BISP 199
BGGN 271
BGGN 271
BGGN 271
 
Plan #1 Application Window: (deadline 2nd week of qtr.)
     
Plan #2
BISP 199
BISP 199
BGGN 271
BGGN 271
BGGN 271
BGGN 271
 
Plan #2 Application Window
       
Plan #3
BISP 199
BGGN 271
BGGN 271
BGGN 271
BGGN 271
BGGN 271
 
Plan #3 App. Window
         

Shaded cells indicate the application window - the period in which applicants should submit the Provisional Biology BS/MS application. This period always ends the second week of the quarter, or June 1 (if summer quarter).

BS/MS Application (pdf)