College of Science, Technology,Engineering and Mathematics

Office of the Dean

110 Life Sciences Building Kennedy S. Wekesa, Dean (334) 229-4196 (334)229-4316

In cooperation with the College of Science, Mathematicsand Technology, the following degrees are offered:

Doctor of Philosophy in microbiology, Master of Science inbiology,Master of Science in mathematics, and the Master of Sciencein forensic science. Graduate coursework to support the Master of Education and AA certification in secondary education is also offered by the Departments of Biological Sciences and Mathematics and Computer Science.

Biology

Master of Science (M.S.) DegreeTotal Credit Hours: 35 semester hours minimum required

Required Core Courses (19 Semester Hours)

Major Elective Courses (16 Semester Hours)

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In addition to satisfying the general admission requirements of The Harold Lloyd Murphy Graduate School at Alabama State University, all students admitted to the Master of Science in biology degree program are expected to have the bachelor’s degree in biology, chemistry or related field and a minimum, cumulative grade point average of 3.0 on a four-point scale. Prerequisite courses include general physics (eight semester hours); general chemistry (eight semester hours); organic chemistry (eight semester hours); and cell biology or biochemistry (four semester hours) Scores on the Graduate Record Examination revised General and Subject tests are required.

Conditional graduate status may be granted an applicant who has a cumulative grade point average of less than 3.0 but at least 2.5, and/or who has not more than 12 semester hours of undergraduate course deficiencies. Full graduate status may be attained by a conditional graduate student after the completion of 16 hours, provided the student receives a grade of at least B in all courses taken and he or she has removed all admission deficiencies.

Each student enrolling in this program is expected to complete 35 semester hours, which include the core requirement courses: BIO 500, Graduate Seminar in Biology; BIO 517, Cell and Molecular Biology; BIO 521, Biological Techniques and Instrumentation; BIO 619, Molecular Genetics, Biology 660, Research and Thesis. Other courses will be selected by the student in consultation with his or her thesis advisor. The thesis advisorand thesis advisory committee will be assigned by the department chair according to established departmental guidelines.

In addition to the completion and oral defense of the thesis, each student is required to perform satisfactorily on a written comprehensive examination and to demonstrate competent reading knowledge of a foreign language, preferably French or German. Upon recommendation of the department, a substitute language may be offered. Six semester hours of an acceptable foreign language in which a cumulative average of at least B is earned may be presented in lieu of the language examination.

Master of Science in biology students may elect to substitute in lieu of the foreign language six semester hours of acceptable computer language coursework in which a cumulative average of at least a B is earned. Acceptable computer language courses will be determined by the chair of the department.

Forensic Science

Master of Science (M.S.) Degree42 credithours minimum required

Required Course (16 semester hours)

Support Courses (17 semester hours)

Elective Courses (9 semester hours)

FBI Quality Assurance Standards Courses for DNA Analysis Specialization Analysis

In addition to satisfying the general admission requirements of TheMurphyGraduate School at Alabama State University, all students admitted to the Master of Science degree program in forensic science are expected to have the bachelor’s degree in biology, chemistry, or related field and a minimum, cumulative grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. Prerequisite courses include general physics (two semesters); general chemistry organic chemistry (two semesters); biochemistry (one semester) and biology course 300 level or higher (4 semester hours). A GRE score on verbal and quantitative of at least 300 (≈950 old GRE score).

Conditional graduate status may be granted an applicant who has a cumulative grade point average of less than 3.0 but at least 2.5, and/or who has not more than 12 semester hours of undergraduate course deficiencies. Full graduate status may be attained by a conditional graduate student after the completion of 16 hours, provided the student receives a grade of at leastaB in all courses taken and he or she has removed all admission deficiencies.

Each student enrolling in this program is expected to complete 42 semester hours, which include the core requirement courses:

FRS 642, Principles of Forensic Toxicology; FRS 663, Forensic Biology; FRS 664, Forensic Chemistry; FRS 665, Forensic Analysis, Crime Scene Investigation, Ethics and Professional Responsibilities; FRS 550, Forensic Science Seminar; FRS 560, Research Proposal Presentation; FRS 565, Thesis Research; FRS 699, Thesis Defense; and FRS 570, Ethics & Professional Responsibilities. Other courses will be selected by the student in consultation with his or her thesis advisor. The thesis advisor and thesis advisory committee will be assigned by the department chair according to established departmental guidelines.

In addition to the completion and oral defense of the thesis, each student is required to perform satisfactorily on a written comprehensive examination. It it desirable thatthe studentand todemonstrate competent reading knowledge of a foreign language, preferably French or German. Upon recommendation of the department, a substitute language may be offered. Six semester hours of an acceptable foreign language in which a cumulative average of at least a B is earned may be presented in lieu of the language examination.

Master of Science students in forensic science may elect to substitute in lieu of the foreign language six semester hours of acceptable computer language coursework in which a cumulative average of at least a B is earned. Acceptable computer language courses will be determined by the chair of the department.

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) Microbiology

Total Credit Hours: 37 -53 Credit Hours*

* Students with earned M.S. degree in related field(s) are required to complete a minimum 37 semester credit hours of program coursework.

FBI Quality Assurance Standards Courses for DNA Analysis Specialization Analysis

Major Support Courses (13 CreditHours)

Major Elective Courses (12 CreditHours)

Required Doctoral Research And DissertationMinimum 4 Semester Hours

Electives(12Semester Hours)

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* Students with earned M.S. degree in related field(s) are required to complete a minimum 37 semester credit hours of program coursework.

The Ph.D. in microbiology curriculum consistsof 37 semester hours of graduate coursework, excluding doctoral research credits. Additionally, students admitted to the Ph.D. program with the earned B.S. degree must complete the 16-hour core curriculum of the M.S. in biology program prior to completing the 37 semester-hour doctoral course curriculum. A twelve semester hour core curriculum consists of foundation content courses (microbial genetics and genomics, and microbial physiology and diversity), the foundation track course (environmental microbiology OR microbiology of food/water systems), and adoctoral skills course (scientific communication), through which students learn to develop a functional research proposal, leading ultimately to the formal dissertation proposal. Thirteen semester hours of major-related courses are required, including research skills courses (biostatistics) and a major support course (biochemistry), a predictive risk modeling skills course (microbial risk assessment and research laboratory rotation. Twelve semester hours of major elective courses are completed from a roster of specialty courses. Major electives are planned by the student and his or her advisory committee in a customized manner, based upon criteria such as the student's selected area of concentration, dissertation research and professional interests.

Applicants with the earned B.S. degree will be required to complete a substantial 16 semester credit hour pre-curriculum [the 12 hour M.S. in biology core curriculum plus one additional four semester credit hour 500-or 600-level relevant science course, and other courses as recommended upon admission] that will ensure an appropriate and equitable level of didactic training that is comparable to the master's level of biological study. A minimum of 53 hours beyond the baccalaureate degree (16 M.S. semester credit hours and 37 doctoral-level course hours, excluding doctoral research), will be required for completion of the Ph.D. in microbiology at ASU.

Mathematics

Master of Science (M.S.) Degree

Total Number Credits: 36 semester hours minimum required

Credit Required Courses (27 semester hours)

3

Major Elective Courses (9 semester hours required)

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In addition to fulfilling the general requirements for a master’s degree at Alabama State University, the following special requirements must be satisfied by students who seek the Master of Science degree in mathematics:

• The student will be required to demonstrate competent reading knowledge of a foreign language, preferably French or German. Upon the recommendation of the department, a substitute language may be offered. The language examination shall be written and shall consist of the translation into English of selections from texts and articles related to the area of concentration. Passing of the examination shall be valid for a period not exceeding eight years;
• Six semester hours of an acceptable foreign language in which a cumulative average of at least B was earned may be presented in lieu of the language examination;
• A bachelor’s degree in mathematics or a related field; and
• Competitive scores on the general test of the Graduate Record Examination and advanced test in the area of mathematics are required. Additionally, a competitive undergraduate GPA is required.

Candidates for the Master of Science degree in mathematics should present for admission (1) at least one year of calculus, and (2) at least 15 credits of acceptable junior and senior mathematics courses. Graduate students may enroll in undergraduate courses to remove any deficiencies, but they cannot receive graduate credit. All deficiencies must be removed before a student may be admitted to candidacy.

In addition to the completion and oral defense of the thesis, each candidate enrolling in this program is expected to complete 36 semester hours of mathematics at the 500 level or above, and the successful completion of a written comprehensive examination. Other courses will be selected by the student with the assistance of the supervisory committee.