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Biology

Overview of Combination BS/MS Degree Programs for Biology and Botany Majors

Overview of Combination BS/MS Degree Programs for Biology and Botany Majors

Combined BS/MS Degree Request Form

Biology and Botany majors can pursue 4+1 combination degree programs. Students can earn a BS degree followed by a research thesis-based MS degree in as little as one year by overlapping undergraduate and graduate coursework. The BS/MS degree options are partnerships between the Colleges of Agricultural and Life Sciences, Liberal Arts and Sciences, and Medicine.

* Integrative Biology majors MUST switch to one of the Biology major tracks listed above to pursue the combination BS/MS program.

* The Botany and Zoology MS programs do not have tracks

Why pursue a combined BS/MS degree?

Increase competitiveness: Completion of a BS/MS program can help students increase competitiveness and prepare for careers in bioscience industries as well as admission to bioscience Ph.D. programs and professional schools (medical, dental, or veterinary).

Shorter time to degree: BS/MS degree programs allow students to obtain both degrees faster. Students can begin their thesis research as an undergraduate and substitute up to 12 credits of approved graduate courses for undergraduate degree requirements in the Biology or Botany majors as shown below:

Double-Counted Graduate Courses

Up to 12 credits of graduate coursework may be double-counted to apply towards both the BS degree and the 30 credits required for the MS degree. Courses must be letter-graded, graduate-level courses earned with a grade of B or better. Each graduate course must substitute for a specific course in the Biology or Botany BS degree programs, as described in BS Degree Substitutions. All substitutions must be pre-approved by the Graduate Coordinator for the MS program and the Undergraduate Coordinator for the BS program.

Funding

During the undergraduate phase of the BS/MS degree program (including the senior year), students can continue to receive undergraduate scholarships or financial aid for which they qualify.

Tuition for graduate courses is higher than for undergraduate courses. The Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program may cover tuition for graduate courses at the undergraduate rate. Students are responsible for the cost difference between undergraduate and graduate tuition. The Office of Student Financial Aid and Scholarships can help students with options that can increase their financial aid.

Eligibility for undergraduate financial aid ends upon graduation with the BS degree.

The graduate phase of the BS/MS program is self-funded, meaning that students must pay for their tuition or secure other funding. Though not guaranteed, students may be able to work with their graduate advisors and departments to obtain research assistantships (RAs), teaching assistantships (TAs) and tuition waivers.

Finding a Research Mentor

Students in a BS/MS degree program must find a graduate faculty research mentor in the department sponsoring their desired graduate program:

Zoology MS

Botany MS

Biochemistry & Molecular Biology MS

Medical Sciences, Molecular Genetics & Microbiology MS

Medical Sciences, Pharmacology MS

Students are responsible for identifying and contacting faculty members who can host them as research students and serve as their thesis mentors. Department of Biology Advisors help students with this process (biology-major@ufl.edu). The mentee-mentor relationship is extremely important and should be mutually beneficial to both the student and faculty member.

Research

To complete master’s thesis by the end of the 5th year, students work with their faculty mentor to start their thesis research by the beginning of the student’s 4th (final) undergraduate year.

A substantial portion of the thesis research should be completed by the start 5th year when a student formally matriculates into the master’s program.

Students should start participating in research with their chosen faculty mentor by the beginning of the student’s third year, and ideally by the beginning of their second year.