Overview
University of Alabama at Birmingham's Biology Graduate Programs Offer a Rich Variety of Degree Options
The renowned Department of Biology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham offers Master of Science, Ph.D., and 5th Year Master of Science degrees in Biology. The biology and biological sciences graduate programs provide advanced academic and research training with a broad biology background coupled with in-depth study in a specialization. The combination prepares graduate students for professional careers in research and/or teaching or for entry into doctoral programs.
Each year, UAB's Department of Biology attracts approximately 50 of the world's brightest and most promising graduate students who are ready to pursue a graduate degree in biology or a graduate degree in biological sciences. Master's and doctoral candidates flourish in an atmosphere of small, intimate classes and vigorous interactions with stimulating professors.
As a distinguished, designated research university, the University of Alabama at Birmingham provides unparalleled opportunities for graduate students to work on leading-edge biological research projects with nationally recognized biology researchers.
Career Outcomes of Graduates with MS in Biology and PhD in Biology Degrees
Recent graduates of the Department of Biology's graduate school have assumed professorships at various academic institutions in departments such as biology, zoology, immunology, or marine science. Other graduates are staff scientists at NASA, the Army Corps of Engineers, EPA, FDA, CDC, and marine research laboratories. Environmental consulting companies and biotechnology companies have employed biology graduates as technicians, staff scientists, or laboratory directors. Some have chosen a career in the medical or dental profession.
Biology and Biological Sciences Research Specializations
Graduate students have the opportunity to specialize in research activities at all levels of biological organization, with emphases on ecology, ecophysiology, cellular and molecular biology, endocrinology, ecology of aquatic organisms, or models related to human disease.
The biology department provides well-equipped research laboratories with facilities for vertebrates and invertebrates, including marine and freshwater forms, and for botanical specimens. UAB also operates a farm suitable for field studies. Graduate students enrolled in the marine environmental science program have the additional opportunity to participate in courses and research projects at the Dauphin Island Sea Laboratory.
Degree Requirements for Master's and Doctoral Students
The University of Alabama at Birmingham's biology department provides two types of master's programs that can be completed in approximately two years. The research-based master's degree in biology requires a thesis and a minimum of 24 hours of coursework. The non-research-based degree requires a minimum of 30 hours of coursework and a thesis that incorporates a review and analysis of a topic of current or historical interest in biology.
The Ph.D. in Biology program is individually designed to meet the needs of the student and to fulfill the aims of the department. A dissertation embodying the results and analysis of an original experimental investigation is required.
Since 21st-century scientific problems are multifaceted and require multidisciplinary approaches, students are expected to acquire a broad background in the physical, life, and biological sciences. Students pursuing a doctoral degree in biology must complete formal coursework in or have equivalent training related to six of the following seven areas: ecology, physiology, cell biology, developmental biology, genetics, microbiology, and molecular biology. Master's students must have competency in five of these life science areas.
All biology and biological sciences graduate students are expected to satisfactorily complete a course or sequence in biometry and any advanced courses designated by the student's graduate study committee. Students also take three faculty-approved seminar courses and must demonstrate proficiency in teaching by delivering formal course lectures or by conducting instructional laboratories.
Marine Environmental Science Program at UAB
The graduate marine environmental science program (MSP) is a dual-campus program of the university's Department of Biological Sciences and the Dauphin Island Sea Laboratory (DISL), a facility of the Alabama Marine Environmental Sciences Consortium (MESC). Both sites provide unique facilities to support marine science education and research. In addition to dozens of marine biology course offerings at the university such as Marsh Ecology, Marine Ecology, Coastal Ornithology, and Geological Oceanography, Sea Lab courses can be taken for graduate credit.
Dauphin Island is a barrier island in the Gulf of Mexico, surrounded by Mobile Bay, Mississippi Sound, and the waters of the Gulf. The Sea Lab is perfectly situated for a wide range of marine science activity.
University of Alabama at Birmingham 5th Year Master of Science Program
The specialized 5th Year Master of Science program prepares students for immediate employment, entry into Ph.D. programs, or candidacy for medical school. The accelerated dual-degree program includes a 120-credit-hour Bachelor of Science degree and a 30-credit-hour Master of Science degree.
Students are eligible for provisional admission as freshmen and for full admission as juniors. Students identify a mentor from faculty in the Schools of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Medicine, Dentistry, Optometry, Public Health, Health Related Professions, Social and Behavioral Sciences, or Engineering.
UAB is One of the Highest Ranked Research Institutions in the U.S.
The University of Alabama at Birmingham is a comprehensive, urban university that encompasses a 72-block area. One of the highest-ranked research institutions in the United States, the university attracts over $470 million in federal research funds annually. Approximately 5,300 students are enrolled in UAB's graduate and professional school programs. A friendly and sophisticated city with nearly one million metropolitan-area residents, Birmingham is the cultural and entertainment center of the state.
