Biology
Master's Degree

• Option I - Thesis A minimum of 30 credit hours including the requirements below.
  • BIOL 800 Seminar (minimum of one hour)
  • BIOL 801 Introduction to Research
  • BIOL 890 Research and Thesis (4-6 hours)
    With the approval of the advisor and chairperson, up to nine hours may be taken outside the Department of Biology. All full-time graduate students are required to attend graduate seminar when offered.
• Option II - Problem A minimum of 32 credit hours including the requirements below.
  • BIOL 800 Seminar (minimum of one hour)
  • BIOL 801 Introduction to Research
  • BIOL 891 Research Problems (3-6 hours)
    With the approval of the advisor and chairperson, up to nine hours may be taken outside the Department of Biology. All full-time graduate students are required to attend graduate seminar when offered.
• Option III - Professional Masters A minimum of 36 credit hours including the requirements below.
  • BIOL 800 Seminar (one hour)
  • BIOL 801 Introduction to Research (3 hours - with a grade of B or higher)
  • BIOL 803 Biometry (3 hours)
  • BIOL 892 Professional Experience (3 hours)
    This option is intended for science professionals (e.g. in-service teachers and individuals in environmental, ecological, or biotechnological careers) who need more experience and focused preparation in areas of biological science.

Students must have completed a Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology with at least 25 hours of acceptable undergraduate courses in biology. These should include fundamental courses in botany, ecology, zoology, genetics, microbiology, and physiology. A cumulative total of 13 hours of chemistry, including organic chemistry is required. However, a student may count certain senior-graduate or graduate level chemistry for the degree requirements upon the recommendation of the advisor.

The application has two phases: an initial application and a final application. For the initial application, the applicant must send a letter of intent, PSU Biology Graduate Admission Application Form, and official transcripts (see below for more details).

For the final application, the applicant needs to submit other documents as required by the PSU Office of Graduate and Continuing Studies (see below). The procedures of the application are stated below.

Initial Application Procedure:

• Step 1: Complete the PSU Biology Graduate Admission Application Form. Be sure to indicate which faculty member(s) you would be interested in working with.
• Step 2: Write a formal letter of intent to state your area of research interest, scholarly experience, and academic and career goals. The letter should include at least 250 words and is essential and extremely important for the department to consider and process your application. The application will be processed only after the formal letter of intent is received.
• Step 3: Send the letter of intent, PSU Biology Graduate Admission Application Form, and official transcripts together via e-mail or mail to:
  Graduate Coordinator
  Department of Biology
  Pittsburg State University
  1701 S. Broadway
  Pittsburg, KS, 66762
  biol-graduate@pittstate.edu

Note: Only when all documents including your letter of intent, PSU Biology Graduate Admission Application Form, Reference Forms, and official transcripts are received, will your application be processed. No exceptions.

Final Application Procedure:

This should only be completed after being informed by the Department of Biology that your application is complete and that a faculty member has agreed to serve as your advisor/mentor.

• Step 1: The applicant needs to visit the website of the Pitt Sate Graduate School and fill out the Graduate Studies Application by clicking the apply button located on the website.
• Step 2: Distribute three PSU Biology Graduate Reference Forms to your references and ask them to submit in a timely manner to the address shown above in the initial application instructions (may submit scanned copies of reference forms via e-mail).

Application Deadlines:

• For the initial application, applicants send letter of intent, PSU Biology Graduate Admission Application Form, and official transcripts to the Biology Graduate Coordinator.
  • Fall deadline is April 1. Spring deadline is August 15.
• Department of Biology sends e-mails to the applicants regarding the result of initial application.
  • Fall deadline is May 1. Spring deadline is September 15.
• For the final application, applicants submit (1) the graduate application through the PSU Office of Graduate and Continuing Studies, and (2) three references using the PSU Biology Graduate Reference Form to the Biology Graduate Coordinator. 
  • Fall deadline is June 1. Spring deadline is October 15.
• PSU Office of Graduate and Continuing Studies announces the result of final application by e-mail and mails by:
  • Fall deadline is June 15. Spring deadline is November 1.