Master of Science Program
Students must complete 30 credits of coursework. Up to 8 credits may be earned in advanced undergraduate courses (300 to 400 level) at Rutgers. Up to 10 graduate credits (with grades of B or better) may be transferred from other institutions.
Plan A: Thesis.
Up to 6 credits (in the form of 56:120:701,702 Research in Biology) can be awarded for the investigation of a research problem leading to a thesis. Of the remaining 24 credits, a minimum of 16 credits is required in graduate-level (500- to 600-level) courses. Students also are encouraged to report on their research at meetings of professional biologists and to publish their own research results in journals. They are expected to present the results of their research in the graduate program seminar.
Students following Plan A are expected to comply with the following regulations pertaining to thesis work for degree credit:
1. Decision to Become Involved. Either the graduate student contacts the Rutgers-Camden faculty member under whose direction he or she would like to work, or a faculty member suggests a particular project to a student. The faculty member must hold an appointment with the Graduate School-Camden.
If the student wishes to pursue a research project at an off-campus location, he or she must suggest this arrangement to a Rutgers-Camden faculty member whose interests are most closely related to the subject matter of the proposed project and who would be able to serve as an on-campus adviser. It is expected that a qualified individual at the off-campus location serves as director of the student's research. The student must, therefore, make arrangements with the appropriate individual(s) at the off-campus location as well as with the Rutgers-Camden faculty member.
2. Thesis Committee. This committee will be composed of at least three members who are employees of Rutgers University and shall include the student's adviser who, under normal circumstances, will act as chair. Additional members may be added to the committee as appropriate, with the approval of the Graduate School-Camden dean. Responsibility for the appointment of the committee members and committee chair lies with the program director in consultation with the student and the student's adviser.
3. Initiation and Conduct of the Thesis Project. The chairperson of the thesis committee arranges for the student to present to the full committee an outline of the proposed work, which must be in written form. A meeting is arranged between the student and the committee to discuss the outline. The purpose of this procedure is to demonstrate that the student has some knowledge of the area of concentration; that the project is feasible in terms of equipment, materials, and time; and that the student has a goal in mind.
In most instances, the research project outline must receive full committee approval before the student may register for research credits (up to a total of 6 credits toward the degree). If, as the research work progresses, some aspect not covered in the original outline proves more interesting or more profitable to pursue, deviation from the original proposal is possible with committee approval.
At the end of each semester following approval of the research proposal, the student prepares a short (one- or two-page) written progress report for the research director. The report is circulated to other committee members for their information and becomes part of the student's file in the Department of Biology.
4. Completed Thesis. The thesis must be approved by the director of the student's research and then accepted by the other committee members. It is the student's responsibility to check with the Office of the Dean of the Graduate School-Camden to obtain information concerning the final thesis form, number of copies required, and deadlines. This information can also be found by visiting http://www.camden.rutgers.edu/RUCAM/gradstudents.php and clicking on the Thesis and Dissertation Guidelines link.
Plan B: Nonthesis.
The completion of 30 credits, with a minimum of 22 credits in graduate-level courses, and an essay on some problem in biology of current research interest are required. The essay may be written as part of a regular course or seminar or in a special course designed for such a purpose. The essay must be approved by the student's committee prior to the final comprehensive examination. Guided by his or her departmental adviser, the student has the opportunity to develop a concentration of 12 or more credits in either cell and molecular biology, ecology, neurobiology, or physiology.
Examinations
In both programs, students are expected to complete satisfactorily a final comprehensive examination. The final comprehensive examination is administered by a committee of the graduate faculty. The examination committee is composed of at least three members and includes the student's adviser, who normally acts as chair. Responsibility for appointing the committee members lies with the graduate director in consultation with the student and the student's adviser.
The examination normally is taken during the semester in which the student completes his or her course of study. It covers the general field of biology but, when appropriate, places emphasis upon the student's area of concentration. It includes a thesis defense for students in Plan A.
The examination may be written, oral, or a combination of both. The student, in consultation with the chairperson of his or her committee, has the option of selecting the method of examination. This decision must be made early in the term in which the examination is to be administered. A written examination of about two to four hours in duration is administered by the chairperson of the student's committee and consists of questions submitted by the student's committee members. An oral examination of about two to three hours in duration is conducted by the student's committee.
An application for admission to candidacy must be filed early in the semester in which the final examination is to be administered. Application forms are available from the director of the graduate program in biology. The examination must be completed in accordance with the schedule established by the Office of the Dean of the Graduate School-Camden. In the event of an unfavorable decision, the examination may be repeated twice.
Exceptions to Requirements
Any exceptions to course prerequisites must have the instructor's permission.
Any exceptions to program requirements, such as a waiver of preconditions for admission, must be approved by the program faculty.
