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Requirements for the M.A. Degree

A candidate for the master's degree must fulfill, in addition to general university requirements, the minimum lower-and upper-division requirements or their equivalents for the major in their field of emphasis. Students admitted with deficiencies must rectify them early in their graduate studies.

A major area of study must be selected from the list of specialized areas presented below following the section titled, "Requirements for the Ph.D." A minor area of study may be selected from this list or from an appropriate discipline in another department. Two plans of study are available for the M.A.

Plan 1 (Thesis)

A minimum of 30 units and a thesis are required. The units may be taken in graduate or upper-division courses offered by the department; at least 20 units must be in the 200 and 500 series, excluding 597, 598 and TA courses (500, 501, 502). No more than half the graduate-level units may be in 596 courses. Courses outside the department may be substituted upon written approval of the student's advisory committee. No unit credit is allowed for the thesis.

Plan 2 (Comprehensive Examination)

A minimum of 36 units of upper-division and graduate courses offered by the department are required, at least 24 of which must be in the 200 and 500 series, excluding 597, 598 and TA courses (500, 501, 502). No more than half the graduate-level units may be in 596 courses. Courses outside the department may be substituted upon written approval of the student's advisory committee. The comprehensive examination will cover a major and a minor area of study as described above.

Individuals may apply to an M.A. /PhD. program. Students in the program may enter the Ph.D. program after their master's-level studies are complete if their M.A. work indicates an ability to conduct research at the Ph.D. level. Entry into the Ph.D. program requires written support by the student's potential Ph.D. advisor. The Graduate Committee will review each request in consultation with the student's named potential advisor. If entry into the Ph.D. program is approved, the student should consult with the Graduate Advisor regarding Ph.D. program requirements.

1. Ecology with Ecosystem, Evolutionary, Physiological, Community, or Population emphases
2. Behavioral Ecology
3. Biology of Deep Sea Animals
4. Biological Oceanography
5. Invertebrate Biology
6. Limnology
7. Macroevolution
8. Mathematical Biology
9. Parasitology
10. Population Genetics
11. Physiology/ Ecological Physiology
12. Stream Ecology
13. Vertebrate Evolution, Morphology, and Systematics
14. Pharmacology
15. Endocrinology
16. Comparative Physiology