Master of Arts in Biology
The Master of Arts in Biology in the College of Science and Technology at Temple emphasizes contemporary coursework for students to gain advanced understanding within the field of modern biology. Students are prepared for professional schools or careers in fields related to the biological sciences. The Biology MA is a part-time or full-time graduate program, and it is tailored for students seeking graduate studies in the biological sciences without experimental research in labs. Compared to the Biology MS, the Biology MA program focuses primarily on coursework and independent research and helps you form expertise in one or more areas of biology, such as molecular biology and genetics, among others.
As a result of the curriculum's emphasis on coursework, you’ll develop the analytical thinking skills necessary for biological research and literature review. Interdisciplinary coursework includes
- cellular, developmental and molecular biology;
- cellular and molecular neuroscience;
- ecology and integrative biology; and
- evolutionary genomics.
All Biology MA students produce a written, nonresearch literature thesis in the final year of the master’s program. You’ll become proficient in researching, investigating and interpreting primary scientific literature. Graduates are able to write authoritative, critical and in-depth scientific reviews.
Although much of your time in the Biology MA program will be spent in class, you’ll have access to the Department of Biology’s centers and institutes, including the Center for Biodiversity, the Institute for Contemporary Molecular Science and the Sbarro Health Research Organization.
Learn more about the College of Science and Technology’s centers, facilities and institutes.
Program Requirements
To earn the Biology MA, students must successfully complete the degree’s culminating event, which is the master’s nonresearch literature thesis. This is an original research study that presents a problem in the biological sciences based on a rigorous review of literature in the biological sciences, as well as demonstrates a student’s advanced knowledge of research methods and mastery of the primary area of interest.
