The M.A., Examination Option is a course work-based degree and is considered to be a terminal degree (except for students intending to attend professional school); students wishing to later pursue a Ph.D. should enroll in the M.S. program. The M.A. candidate will complete a wide range of relevant course work. At the end of course work, the candidate will be required to pass a comprehensive examination. The examination will be tailored by each candidate’s committee to emphasize the areas covered by course work. After the candidate has completed the written portion of the examination, the candidate will meet with the committee for an oral review prior to final approval or rejection of the written examination. The M.A., Project Option is an application-based degree and is considered to be a terminal degree (except for students intending to attend professional school); students wishing to later pursue a Ph.D. should enroll in the M.S. program. In addition to completing substantial course work, the M.A. candidate will complete a project that may be an application or synthesis of original research carried out by others. Examples of such projects include development of biology-based curricula, compilation and analysis of studies on a range of species, review and the synthesis of a body of ideas or data, and development of a resource management plan based on relevant studies. Upon completion of the project the candidate will meet with the committee for an oral review and discussion about the project.

Professional biologists, teachers in public and private schools, and others can use these programs to increase their knowledge base and to advance professionally. Completion of a degree program requires an average grade of B or better for all courses applied to the 30-33 credits required. All requirements for the degree and graduation must be completed within a period of seven years.