College of Arts and Sciences
Departments:
- Molecular Biosciences
- Integrative Biology
Concentrations:
- Cell Biology and Molecular Biology
- Ecology and Evolution
- Environmental and Ecological Microbiology
- Physiology and Morphology
Because of the many undergraduate courses that require hands-on experimental laboratories, both MB and IB support many graduate students as Teaching Assistants. MB and IB values high quality teaching at all levels of instruction. Research Assistant positions also are available to support research with specific faculty members depending on an individual faculty members funding. Numerous scholarship opportunities are also offered on a competitive basis through the USF Office of Graduate Studies.
Application to the Biology Major is through one of the two departments, with students selecting a formal Concentration. Refer to the Concentration listing in the Catalog for specific information and requirements.
The Department of Integrative Biology is committed to train the next generation of graduate students to prepare them for professional success in the biological sciences. Our program of graduate study is designed to foster the development of technical and analytical skills used in existing and emerging fields of discovery. The Department of Integrative Biology emphasizes learning and teaching about the interactions, across all scales, among humans and other diverse organisms in a range of environments. These interactions mediate the resilience of natural biotic systems, and enhance the sustainability of products and processes that are beneficial to ecosystems and consequently to human well-being. Thus, our mission is to create new knowledge and promote learning about ecosystem health and sustainability.
The mission of the Department of Molecular Biosciences (MB) is to prepare graduate students for professional careers in academia, government or industry in the areas of Cell Biology, Microbiology, and Molecular Biology. We pursue excellence in the following programmatic research areas: genome integrity and mechanisms of aging, bacterial pathogenesis and resistance, structural and computational biology.
Major Research Areas: Cell Biology, Molecular Biology, Signal Transduction and Gene Regulation, Cancer Biology, Developmental Biology, Microbiology, Ecology and Evolution, Environmental and Ecological Microbiology, Physiology and Morphology
Admission Information
Must meet University Admission and English Proficiency requirements as well as requirements for admission to the major, listed below.
- Prospective students must apply to the Biology M.S. major with a specific concentration via the online application process through the USF Office of Admissions.
- GRE is not required.
- Acceptance by a faculty member in the IB or MB Department is MANDATORY. The Departments will make every effort to pair potential graduate students with appropriate faculty; however, it is recommended that applicants make direct contact with individual faculty via email to indicate an interest in the research being conducted in their laboratory.
- It is expected that candidates for the M.S. degrees will have completed courses equivalent to those required for the B.S. in Biology at U.S.F.
- Interviews may be required.
- Three letters of recommendation from faculty in sealed envelopes (on their university letterhead) with the envelope seal signed by the recommender. Students shall complete a Student Recommendation Form that can be found on the MB and IB website and submit it to the recommenders.
- A brief essay stating your intended field of research and professional goals. Please indicate your specific research interests, in order that we may refer your application to appropriate MB or IB faculty members. In the essay, please list 2-3 MB or IB faculty members that you would like to have review your file.