The Graduate Program in Biology

The Graduate Program in Biology has been a successful component of the University’s mission in education, scholarship, and service for over 30 years. The Master’s degree in Biology has served as both a terminal degree meeting professional requirements, and as a bridge towards the doctoral degree.

Graduates have entered careers of teaching, research, and government service. Candidates for the master’s degree reflect the diversity found in San Antonio and surrounding communities. Hallmarks of graduates are the skills and attitudes to become independent scholars. Two degrees are offered. The M.A. degree provides a broad background of course work in biology, including molecular and cellular biology, genetics, environmental biology, and organismal biology. The M.S. degree provides in addition training in laboratory or field research through completion of a thesis.

Master of Arts and Master of Science in Biology

Courses:

6373 - Tropical Parasitology
6173 - Tropical Parasitology Laboratory
6375 - Microbiology
6377 - Toxicology
6379 - Neurobiology
6X88 - Non Thesis Research
6399 - Selected Topics in Biology
7090 - Comprehensive Exam
7345 - Biogeography
7370 - Structure and Function of Nucleic Acids
7372 - Structure and Function of Proteins
7392 - Advanced Human Physiology
7394 - Cell Differentiation
7X99-Thesis Research

Degree Requirements

Requirements for the Master of Arts:

1. A minimum of 36 semester hours of graduate level courses. At least 30 hours must be in biology. A maximum of 12 semester hours of designated 4000 and 5000-level undergraduate courses in biology and chemistry may be taken for graduate credit after admission into the biology program.
2. The following areas, if not already part of the baccalaureate degree, are expected to be made up within the 30-hour requirement specified in #1 above.
   1. Genetics (with laboratory)
   2. Environmental Biology
   3. Organismal Biology
   3. BIOL 7090, Comprehensive Examinations, is required for all graduate Biology candidates.

Requirements for the Master of Science:

The requirements are the same as 1-3 above, but 6 semester hours of the 30 hours in biology (see paragraph 1) must be in Thesis Research, BIOL 7X99.

Biology Faculty

1. P. David Foglesong, Associate Professor of Biology. B.S., Virginia Tech, Ph.D., SUNY Stony Brook; Research Area: Biochemistry.
2. Barbara Lillian Herlihy, Professor of Nursing and Biology. B.S.N., Boston College, Ph.D., University of Virginia; Research Area: Physiology.
3. Sara Kerr, Assistant Professor of Biology. B.S., Portland State University, M.Ag., Ph.D., Texas A & M University; Research Area: Ecology.
4. Suk Bin Kong, Associate Professor of Chemistry. B.S., Seoul National University, M.A., M.S., Ph.D., University of Florida; Research Area: Environmental Chemistry.
5. Christy MacKinnon, Associate Professor of Biology. B.S., University of Michigan - Flint, M.S., Michigan State University, Ph.D., Colorado State University; Research Area: Molecular Biology.