DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL AND PHYSICAL SCIENCES
BIOLOGY PROGRAM

Dr. Charles McMillan, Chairperson
 309 Carter Hall

OBJECTIVES

1. To prepare graduates for professional work and research in general biology or in a specialized area of 
    Biology, Ecology, Genetics, Molecular Biology, Entomology, Microbiology and Physiology.

 2. To improve the competence of teachers, experimentalists and researchers in Northern Alabama.

3. To provide opportunities for the enhancement of qualification of students and professional biologists of
    the Tennessee Valley.

The Biology Program, in cooperation with the Department of Biology at the University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH), offers a curriculum leading to the Master's degree in Biology.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
COOPERATIVE PROGRAM WITH UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AT HUNTSVILLE (UAH)

An Applicant who has received a Baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university may apply for admission to the institution of his or her choice in accordance with the admission criteria of that university. (See AAMU and UAH admission requirements). Additional requirements for this program include: 

1. Clear evidence of scholastic competence to meet the requirements for an advanced degree.

2. A minimum GPA of 2.50 (based on a 4.00 system) in the major area of concentration.

3. One year of chemistry, including one term of organic chemistry or biochemistry. Applicants who
    do not meet these requirements may apply for conditional admission.

DEGREE REQUIREMENTS:

Master's Degree

Master of Science (with thesis), Plan I---The degree of Master of Science in biology will be conferred upon candidates who have met the prescribed requirements for this degree with major study in the field of biology. A candidate must submit an acceptable thesis, which shows creative thinking and independent judgment in developing a problem from primary sources. All Master of Science degree candidates must satisfactorily complete a minimum of 24 semester hours of course work and, in addition, a minimum of 6 hours of thesis.

Master of Science (Non-Thesis), Plan II---A student who elects the non-thesis degree will be required to write a Master's report. The nature of the report can be a library search, survey, or experimentation as determined by the student's advisory committee. For the Master of Science degree, a student must complete a minimum of 33 semester hours of course work, unless the student is a full-time student (full-time for three terms at UAH or two semesters at AAMU), under which circumstances the student must complete a minimum of 30 semester hours.

Master of Education in Secondary Education, Plan III---Option for an individual seeking to earn a Master's degree and receive Class A certification. Such a program will consist of 24 semester hours in biology and 9 semester hours in education. The committee chairman of the advisory committee for the Master's student will be primarily responsible for advising the student on the program of courses required in Biology and an education advisor will be primarily responsible for advising the student on the program of courses to be taken in Education.The mutual advisor ship would be suggestive in terms of each of the advisor's respective disciplines, but not in terms of control outside each of the advisor's allotted hours within the 33 hours required for this degree program EDU 502 and 503 may be required at AAMU. The 9 hours of course work in the Department of Education will be required for each master's student seeking Class A Secondary Teaching Certification. However, additional hours in education beyond the 9 hours may be taken if the advisory committee so agrees.

Students must complete a minimum of 36 semester hours of graduate credit including the following core courses: *SPE 501, EDU 501, **EDU 529 or SED 527 or PSY 514; EDU 542 or **EDU 532, SED 530, EDU 502, EDU 503, EDU 536, **EDU 531 and advisor-approved electives 1-3 semester hours. Students must complete 12 semester hours of advisor-approved 500 level Biology courses.  

MICROBIOLOGY

PHYSIOLOGY

BIO 531 Plant Physiology 4 sem. hrs.
BIO 532 Animal Physiology 4 sem. hrs.
BIO 533 Advanced Physiology I (Human Physiology) 4 sem. hrs.
BIO 534 Advanced Physiology II (Human Physiology) 4 sem. hrs.
BIO 535 Endocrinology 4 sem. hrs.
BIO 631 Pharmacology 4 sem. hrs.
BIO 632 Cardiovascular Physiology 3 sem. hrs.
BIO 633 Endocrinology (UAH) 4 sem. hrs.

ENTOMOLOGY

BIO 551 Insect Physiology 4 sem. hrs.
BIO 552 Insect Pest Management 4 sem. hrs.
BIO 553 Insect Taxonomy and Morphology 4 sem. hrs.
BIO 651 Medical Entomology (UAH) 4 sem. hrs.
BIO 652 Advanced Applied Entomology 4 sem. hrs.
BIO 653 Taxonomy of Immature Insects 4 sem. hrs.

MOLECULAR BIOLOGY

ECOLOGY AND SYSTEMATICS

BIO 560 Environmental Biology 3sem. hrs.
BIO 561 Physiological Ecology 4 sem. hrs.
BIO 562 Community Ecology (UAH) 4 sem. hrs.
BIO 563 Population Ecology (UAH) 4 sem. hrs.
BIO 564 Limnology (UAH) 4 sem. hrs.
BIO 565 Phycology 4 sem. hrs.
BIO 570 Plant Pathology 4 sem. hrs.
BIO 571 Plant Anatomy 4 sem. hrs.
BIO 572 Plant Taxonomy 4 sem. hrs.
BIO 580 Advanced Invertebrate Zoology (UAH) 4 sem. hrs.
BIO 660 Ecosystem Dynamics (UAH) 4 sem. hrs.
BIO 661 Advanced Population Ecology (UAH) 4 sem. hrs.
BIO 620 Applied Environmental Phycology (Toxicology) 4 sem. hrs.

GENERAL COURSES