An M.S. degree is a good option for students wishing to prepare for industry or who are unsure about a committing to a Ph.D. program. M.S. students take a number of technical courses and thesis writing courses depending on their degree goal. In addition, the two department seminar courses are highly recommended but not required.

Financial support for M.S. students is not guaranteed. In some cases M.S. thesis candidates may receive support via Teaching Assistantship or Graduate Research Assistantship, depending upon arrangements with their thesis advisor.

Students take placement tests on physiology, cell/molecular biology, probability, and computer programming (student's choice of MATLAB, Mathematica, or Labview). Placements tests are offered at the start of the fall and spring terms. Students who do not pass a given placement test are guided by the graduate advisor in the selection of an appropriate undergraduate course to strengthen this aspect of their training.

M.S. with Thesis Requirements

To obtain an M.S. degree, with a thesis, 24 credit hours of technical coursework are required. Of the technical graduate coursework, five courses (three-credit hour, 15 credits total) MUST be as follows:

1. A graduate-level course in the biological or clinical sciences.
2. A graduate-level course in basic or applied mathematics: a course in statistics is encouraged to meet this requirement, but another mathematics topic may be approved in some circumstances.
3. A graduate-level course in technical area #1.
4. A graduate-level course in technical area #2.
5. A graduate-level course in technical area #3.
6. 6 credit hours of thesis writing courses

M.S. with Coursework (No Thesis) Requirements

To obtain an M.S. degree with no thesis, 30 credit hours of technical coursework are required. Of the technical graduate coursework, five courses (three-credit hour, 15 credits total) MUST be as follows:

1. A graduate-level course in the biological or clinical sciences.
2. A graduate-level course in basic or applied mathematics: a course in statistics is encouraged to meet this requirement, but another mathematics topic may be approved in some circumstances.
3. A graduate-level course in technical area #1.
4. A graduate-level course in technical area #2.
5. A graduate-level course in technical area #3.