Graduate Coordinator:
Douglas L. Wendell
316 Dodge Hall
(248) 370-4457
wendell@oakland.edu
Program description
The Master of Arts in biology is a non-thesis master’s program that has a larger and broader course component, but a lesser research component, than the Master of Science in biology. The Master of Arts in biology is designed for those students who wish to teach at the secondary or community college level and students who hold full-time jobs.
Admission terms and application deadlines
Before an applicant’s file can be reviewed for full program admission, all application documents must be received in Graduate Study and Lifelong Learning by the semester deadlines listed below. Incomplete applications will not be sent to departments for admission review.
- March 1 for fall semester
- November 1 for winter semester
- International applicants: March 1 for fall semester and September 1 for winter semester
Applications for fall semester that are received after the program due date, but before university deadlines, may be reviewed, subject to space availability.
Application requirements
To be considered for graduate admission, applicants must submit all Graduate Application Requirements and additional department requirements by the published application deadlines:
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- Additional department application requirements
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- Applicants should have earned a bachelor’s degree in biology or related subject (e.g., biochemistry, molecular biology, botany or zoology) from a regionally accredited institution or proof of a U.S. equivalent degree for foreign educated applicants.
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- Applicants with an earned bachelor’s degree is in another discipline must have completed 20 credits in biology, 8 credits in mathematics, 8 credits in physics and 15 credits in chemistry. Applicants with undergraduate prerequisite course deficiencies in these areas must complete the preparatory course work before being admitted to the program.
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- Applicants should have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0.
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- Biographical sketch stating career goals
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- Applicants must take the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) and arrange for their official GRE scores to be submitted to Oakland University. The institution code for Oakland University is 1497.
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- International applicants must take both the general and subject Graduate Record Exam (GRE) and arrange for their official GRE scores to be submitted to Oakland University. The institution code for Oakland University is 1497.
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Applicants with an undergraduate GPA less than 3.0 with the appropriate academic background and evidence of the capacity for graduate study may be considered for admission with limited standing. Applicants who qualify for this admission status must complete a specified number of graduate credits, with a GPA of 3.0 or above within the first year of their program, to be advanced to full admission.
Admission review and assessment
Admission to graduate study at Oakland University is selective. In making admission recommendations to Graduate Study and Lifelong Learning, each department assesses the potential of applicants for success in the program by examining their undergraduate records, goal statement, letters of recommendation, prerequisite courses and any other admission requirements established by the academic department.
Related links
Transfer credits
Official transcripts must be on file in Graduate Study and Lifelong Learning. The credits earned must be from a regionally accredited institution and must carry a grade of 3.0 (B) or better. Courses graded Pass/Fail or Credit/Non-Credit are not transferable. Credit must be earned within six years of the time the degree will be conferred and may not have been used toward another degree. Only courses labeled “graduate” (numbered 500 and above) may be transferred. The total number of credits transferred may not exceed 9, and no more than 1 credit will be awarded per week of instruction (i.e., a 4-credit course must meet a minimum of 14 hours per week for four weeks - a minimum total of 56 class hours or 47 clock hours of instruction).