The master’s program in Biological Sciences with a concentration in Ecology and Evolution, offered by the Department of Biological Sciences , offers students training in the pursuit of rigorous scientific investigation with an emphasis on ecological and evolutionary processes. Students in this degree program emphasize botany, entomology, zoology, or conservation biology through the choice of advisor, committee, course work, and thesis or project. Our graduates have an excellent grasp of the theory and application of ecological and evolutionary principles.

In addition, students with our degree will have gained experience in critical thinking, problem-solving, research methodology (e.g., experimental design, sampling techniques, and analysis), and both written and oral communication. Our alumni are successful applicants for doctoral degree programs and generally attain high-level academic and non-academic positions in both the private and public sectors.

For more information visit the SJSU Biological Sciences website.

University Admission Requirements

Applicants must submit a complete graduate application by applying through the CSU Cal State Apply system and meet all the university admissions requirements . Applicants from countries in which the native language is not English must achieve a minimum English-language proficiency test score as indicated on the Graduate Program Test Requirements webpage.

Department Requirements

Applicants must upload a personal statement, resume, and two letters of recommendation in the Cal State Apply admissions portal. Applicants must also be accepted by a tenured or tenure-track faculty member in the Department of Biological Sciences prior to acceptance by the program. It is the student’s responsibility to contact any potential faculty advisors. For complete details on the student approval process, please visit the Biological Sciences Graduate Programs website.

Students can be admitted in either classified or conditionally classified standing.

Admission to Graduate Standing - Conditionally Classified

Conditional acceptance means that the candidate must fulfill specific requirements in order to be eligible to apply for advancement to candidacy. These conditions will be stipulated as part of the acceptance agreement between the faculty advisor and the applicant. Failure to fulfill these requirements will result in disqualification from the program.

Advancement to Candidacy

The university requirements for advancement to candidacy  for the master’s degree are outlined in the Graduate Policies and Procedures  section. Students should seek advancement to candidacy as soon as possible for their given program and on the advice of their graduate program coordinator. Graduate students may submit a Petition for Advancement to Graduate Candidacy form to the Graduate Admissions & Program Evaluations (GAPE) office after satisfying the following: achieved classified status; completed a minimum of nine letter-graded units with all grades “C” or higher; fulfilled the Campus Graduate Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (CGGWAR); achieved a minimum cumulative and program 3.0 GPA, and, graduate within the seven-year time limit for degree completion. Graduate students must submit their petition no later than one semester prior to graduating. Courses that satisfy the CGGWAR are listed in the course requirements for the program.

Each semester, students should consult with their graduate advisor to develop a schedule of courses. Students admitted as conditionally classified must satisfy the requirements listed in their acceptance agreement before advancing to candidacy. Students who have achieved classified standing in the master’s degree curriculum must next advance to candidacy for the degree.

Program of Study Requirements

Students must complete all residency, curriculum, unit, GPA, and culminating experience requirements as outlined in the Graduation Requirements  section of the Graduate Policies and Procedures . Students must comply with all other graduate requirements contained in this catalog.

Course Requirements

As shown below, the progam consists of 30 semester units of approved work. The student consults with his or her advisor to select a thesis or project topic.

At SJSU, students must pass the Campus Graduate Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (CGGWAR).

A grade of “B” or better in BIOL 202  will satisfy this requirement.

Culminating Experience (Plan A or Plan B)

Plan A (Thesis)

Thesis: The thesis must meet university requirements as stipulated in this catalog and in the SJSU Master’s Thesis and Doctoral Dissertation Guidelines. It will be written under the guidance of the candidate’s thesis committee chair with the assistance of the thesis committee. The MS thesis document must be approved by the student’s thesis research committee before submission. Typically, the thesis committee will provide the candidate feedback during the Thesis Defense and may request changes to the thesis before final approval.

Oral Thesis Defense: All MS candidates are required to present a public seminar based on their research project.

Plan B (Project)

Written Project: The written project must be a manuscript describing the student’s research project, written following a professional journal’s format for submission. It will be written under the guidance of the candidate’s graduate committee chair with the assistance of their graduate committee. The manuscript must be approved by the student’s graduate committee. Typically, the committee will provide the candidate feedback during the Project Defense and may request changes to the manuscript before final approval.

Oral Project Defense: All MS candidates are required to present a public seminar based on their research project.