Master of Science in
Biology

Scholarship Opportunities
Support Biology
Faculty & Staff

About

The Master of Science in Biology Program provides a demanding and rewarding experience in biology, leading to competent scholarship and research capability. The department emphasizes research as a basic component of graduate study. A variety of research specialties are available within the department, including aquatic and riparian ecology, fisheries biology, embryology, physiology, exercise physiology, wildlife biology, mycology, plant ecology, microbiology and immunology. Our contact page provides more information on faculty research interests.

Graduates of the biology program either continue in PhD programs, or are employed in various biological fields with federal, state, tribal and local agencies, environmental consulting firms, private conservation organizations, public and private schools or private industry. For more information, see our careers section below.

Application Requirements and Essays Curriculum & Requirements

Application and Admission Requirements

Applicants to the MS in Biology must hold a four-year baccalaureate degree in biology, or related natural science, from an accredited college or university. Students, who have deficiencies for admission or deficiencies, as determined by their graduate committee, may be allowed to make up deficient course work while enrolled in graduate school.

Prior to completing the application, find which faculty member shares your research interest by reviewing the Biology Faculty page. Please contact the faculty member who shares your research interest.

If you wish to apply for a graduate teaching fellowship, all application materials must be completed by February 10th.

If you have questions regarding the master’s program, please contact biologymasters@ewu.edu.

Application Requirements

  • Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited university
  • A calculated GPA of at least 3.0 in the last 90 quarter or 60 semester graded post-secondary credits

All Applicants

  • Personal Statement: Please upload a two-page, double-spaced personal statement on your research and career goals and why you want to enter the biology MS program at EWU.
  • You must provide contact information for two educational or professional references who have agreed to submit letters of recommendation for you.

Teaching Fellowship Applicants

  • A one-page Application Essay that describes the areas you would be most proficient as a biology teaching assistant and why. Please list any teaching assistantships or other teaching experience you may have. Please give dates, places and a description of your duties. If none, please enter none.

Apply Now

What You'll Learn

The following information comes from the official EWU catalog, which outlines all degree requirements and serves as the guide to earning a degree. Courses are designed to provide a well-rounded and versatile degree, covering a wide range of subject areas.

Biology, Master of Science (MS)

Teaching: All Master of Science students in biology are required to either teach at least one quarter as a paid teaching assignment or arrange a teaching experience in consultation with their graduate committee. Students who do not have a paid teaching assignment may arrange to receive BIOL 595 credit for the development and execution of this teaching experience.

Final Comprehensive Examination: The final comprehensive examination for the Master of Science in biology consists of a research seminar and an oral defense of the master’s thesis presented to the department. Immediately following the student’s seminar, an oral examination is administered by the student’s committee, which is composed of two or three departmental faculty members and a faculty member appointed by the Graduate Programs office. The focus of the examination is the student’s thesis and general biology knowledge.

Graduate Core
BIOL 500RESEARCH SEMINAR (must be repeated)2
BIOL 510BIOLOGICAL RESEARCH METHODS I4
BIOL 511BIOLOGICAL RESEARCH METHODS II4
Electives-chose three of the following (additional current topics may be taken for elective credits)6
CURRENT TOPICS IN PHYSIOLOGY
CURRENT TOPICS IN CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
CURRENT TOPICS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
COLLEGE SCIENCE TEACHING
Electives16
To be determined in consultation with student's graduate committee. All 400 and 500 level courses may be used as electives; if a course is stacked as a 400- or 500-level course, students must enroll at the 500-level.
Thesis
To be determined in consultation with student's graduate committee. All Master's of Science in Biology students are required to conduct original research toward their Master's thesis.
BIOL 600THESIS RESEARCH (must be repeated)16
Total Credits48

Where Do Our Graduates Find Jobs?

Our graduates are employed throughout Washington and across the country! They often find jobs in the following areas:

Research Laboratories

  • Batelle Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
  • University of Washington Medical School
  • Washington State University
  • University of Iowa
  • University of Idaho
  • University of Arizona
  • Rainier Clinical Research Center
  • Hollister Stier
  • Pfizer Pharmaceuticals
  • Signature Genomics
  • Darigold Quality Lab
  • National Science Foundation Long-Term Ecological Research Lab

Education

  • K-12 schools
  • Everett Community College
  • Spokane Community College
  • Spokane Falls Community College
  • Altus Oklahoma Community College
  • Great Falls College of Technology
  • Seattle Central College
  • South Puget Sound Community College
  • Eastern Washington University
  • Whitworth College
  • Gonzaga University
  • University of Arizona
  • Harper College

State & Federal Agencies

  • Washington Department of Ecology
  • Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife (Olympia, Spokane, Yakima, and Tri-Cities)
  • Kalispel Department of Natural Resources
  • Wyoming Fish & Game Department
  • Oregon Department of Parks & Recreation
  • Idaho Department of Environmental Quality
  • United States Forest Service
  • United States Department of Fish & Wildlife
  • Bureau of Land Management
  • Army Corps of Engineers

Tribal Resource Management

  • Upper Columbia United Tribes
  • Coeur d’Alene Tribe
  • Colville Confederated Tribes
  • Kalispel Tribe
  • Nez Perce Tribe
  • Spokane Tribe

Private Conservation Organizations

  • Ducks Unlimited
  • Pheasants Forever
  • The Nature Conservancy
  • Land Stewardship Programs

Other

  • Spokane Urban Forestry Program
  • County Conservation Districts
  • Syringa Ecological Consulting
  • Private Plant Nursery Operator
  • Veterinary Services

What Do Our Graduates Do?

Our graduates work in all sorts of areas! The following are just some of the jobs they have:

  • Fisheries Biologist
  • Water Quality Manager
  • Veterinarian
  • High School Teacher
  • Interpretive Park Ranger
  • Microbiology Lab Quality Control Specialist
  • Land Stewardship Specialist
  • Ecological Consultant
  • Medical Technology Specialist
  • Physical Therapist
  • Community College Instructor
  • Research Associate
  • College/University Faculty
  • Game Warden
  • Clinical Research Coordinator