Accelerated Master's Degree in Biological Science
This accelerated program lets undergraduate students begin taking graduate-level courses during their final years of undergrad, saving time and money while deepening expertise and advancing careers sooner.
Current UM Students: Get a Head Start on Your Master's Degree in Biological Science
Undergraduate students interested in graduate study in biology can get a head start through the GradSHARK Launch PAAD for Biological Science.
- Enrollment in Biology major
- 3.0 minimum GPA overall
- 90 completed credit hours as an undergraduate
Courses undergraduate students in the Accelerated Master's Degree program can take to earn credit towards the graduate degree:
- BISC 5504: Biometry (4 credits)
- BISC 5510: Theoretical Ecology (3 credits)
- BISC 5520: Medical Microbiology (3 credits)
- BISC 5522: Microbial Ecology (3 credits)
- BISC 5528: Conservation Physiology (4 credits)
- BISC 5533: Advanced Neuroscience (3 credits)
- BISC 5538: Hormones & Behavior (3 credits)
- BISC 5540: Chemical Ecology (3 credits)
- BISC 5541: Cell Biology of Neurodegenerative Diseases (3 credits)
- BISC 5542: Microbial Diversity (4 credits)
- BISC 5543: Functional Neuroanatomy (3 credits)
- BISC 5547: Advanced Histology (4 credits)
- BISC 5999:A Introductory Molecular Genetics (3 credits)
- BISC 5999:C Symbiosis: from Parasitism to Mutualism (3 credits)
- BISC 6140: Advanced General Microbiology (4 credits)
- BISC 6150: Ichthyology (4 credits)
- BISC 6580: Systems Biology: Theory & Practice (3 credits)
- BISC 6620: Multivariate Analysis of Ecological Data
- BISC 6750: Advanced Microbial Physiology (3 credits)
Remember:
For students who participated in the accelerated program prior to fall of 2026, 500-level courses for graduate credit required the student to reserve the course for graduate credit. A student who did not do so will be unable to use the 500-level course for the graduate degree and it will be considered the same as a course between 5000 and 5499 in the new course-numbering system.
Students enrolled for the graduate credit in a 5500- to 5999-level course must complete the graduate work. Should they decide they do not wish to do so, they need to work with the instructor, their dean's office, and the Registrar to change their enrollment to the appropriate undergraduate course number. Otherwise, they will be graded based on the criteria for the graduate course number.
Meet the Graduate Program Coordinator
I'm glad you're excited about the Accelerated Master's Degree in Biological Science!
If you have any questions, don't hesitate to reach out!
Jason Hoeksema
Professor of Biology, Associate Chair and Graduate Program Coordinator