Department of

Biology

Master of Science in Biology

The Master of Science in Biology is offered through two tracks: Pre-Professional and General Biology.  The Pre-Professional track is designed for students who are seeking to be better prepared for their particular health-related professional program.  The General Biology track is a broader, more customized program for students who are seeking to further their education or career opportunities through advanced training in Biology.

Why choose Union University’s Master of Science in Biology?

• We are a university with a strong Christian foundation that is an integral part of everything we do.
• We offer high quality, rigorous courses that prepare students for a variety of future opportunities. Some of these courses are taught through Union’s School of Pharmacy.
• Our program is one of the more affordable programs of its kind.
• We have a long history of providing excellent mentoring and advising to students.
• Jackson is the center of opportunities in West Tennessee, including many hospitals and clinics, the West Tennessee Research and Education Center, as well as many other opportunities for research and shadowing.
• We have developed Articulation Agreements with a variety of professional schools, including Union’s School of Pharmacy.
• If your goal is further professional or graduate education, we provide an opportunity for you to gain knowledge and experience so that your application becomes more competitive!

Admissions Criteria:

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university; official undergraduate transcripts [stamped and sealed envelope from all institutions, including the degree conferred and date, if applicable].
• Minimum undergraduate GPA of 2.5
• Minimum of 12 undergraduate hours in biology applicable to a biology major.
• Statement of Purpose: [500-1000 words] Identifies your educational goals and expectations from the program and also answers the question: What is a viable alternative career choice for you?
• Three (3) letters of recommendation.
• Submission of scores from professional exams (i.e., MCAT, PCAT, etc.) 
• Admission is in the Fall and students are expected to complete the program in one 3-semester (Fall, Winter, Spring) sequence.

Tips for completing your application:

• As soon as you begin your application online, you can request that transcripts and test scores be sent to Union University.  Do not wait until you submit your application to begin this process.
• For transcripts and test scores, specify the Department of Biology or Dr. Marc Lockett as the recipient to ensure the documents are routed correctly.
• All supporting materials (transcripts, test scores, letters of recommendation) must be received before your application is evaluated.
• • You need to have taken and received test scores before 3/1 of the application cycle (i.e. before Fall admission of the same year)
• As supporting materials are received, your application will be updated to indicate each document that is received.  You can view the status of each requirement online.  It is your responsibility to monitor the status of your application.
• You must submit an official transcript for every institution you have attended.
• If you are completing your bachelor's degree during the application process, submit a current transcript.  If you are admitted into the program and enroll, you will also need to submit a final transcript that shows the degree awarded.

Retention criteria:

• Must maintain minimum 3.0 GPA.
• If not achieved after Fall term, student will be on probation, and will be able to raise the GPA with the Winter term course.
• If GPA of 3.0 is not achieved after Winter, student will be dismissed from the program.

Alternate List:

Students who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements for the Graduate program but who apply after the class has been filled will be placed on an alternate list and will be notified if they are selected for inclusion in the program for the upcoming academic year. Students who are placed on the alternate list and who are not admitted will receive a $25 refund of their Application Fee.

Completion Requirements:

Students will take three courses in the Fall (along with one 2-hour required course), one course in the Winter (with lab), and three courses in the Spring. Students are required to take one Fall and one Spring graduate level course that includes the laboratory component of the course, and may take additional laboratory sections if space permits.  Both the Pre-Professional and General Biology tracks require 30 credit hours and a final GPA of 3.0 to graduate.

Students will be assigned a mentor, and the student and mentor will choose from among graduate versions of existing courses, with the objective being to not duplicate courses that the student has already taken, if possible.

Tuition and Fees:

• Application Fee: $50
• Laboratory Fees: Refer to the undergraduate catalog for fees for specific courses
• Tuition/semester hour: $500
• Deposit: $500 (will be applied to your first semester’s tuition following matriculation); due May 1 or within two weeks of acceptance of your application. The deposit is 100% refundable within 20 business days of the acceptance of your application, 50% refundable between 20 and 35 days after acceptance of your application, non-refundable after 35 days of acceptance of your application). No refunds of deposits will be given after July 1.
• Student Services Fee: $20 per credit hour

Learn about financial aid options for pursuing your graduate degree.

Contact Information:

Master of Science in Biology 
Attn: Dr. Marc Lockett
Box 1914
1050 Union University Drive
Jackson, TN 38305
731-661-5960
mlockett@uu.edu

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