Combined BScH/MSc Biology

Info session: 31 Jan. 2024, 5:30-7:30, Biosci 1101

Combined B.Sc.H/M.Sc. (Biology)

The Department of Biology offers a combined B.Sc.H/M.Sc. (“Accelerated M.Sc.”) program.  This program is an opportunity for students in the 4th year of their Honour’s program (Biology) to take up to 2 courses in Biology at the graduate level that would then allow these students to enter the graduate program with advanced standing. Research begun in the 4th year thesis project could be carried forward as a foundation for the graduate thesis, which would create an opportunity for exceptional students to complete the graduate degree within 4 terms.

 

Admission to the Accelerated M.Sc. is a two-step process.

Step 1:

Students must first apply for a final year thesis research project (Biol-537). Students who are accepted into Biol-537 can then apply to the combined B.Sc./M.Sc. program any time up to and including Dec. 15 of the fall term when they are enrolled in Biol-537. All applications will be reviewed by the Undergraduate and Graduate Coordinators.

Once accepted into the combined program, students will be permitted to take up to two 3.0 credit graduate level courses for a total of 3 or 6 credits towards the 12 credits required for the M.Sc. degree. It is the student’s responsibility to gain admission to these graduate courses following acceptance into the program. These courses will be counted as electives or science options towards completion of the B.Sc. (Hons) program. Only 1 of these courses may be a combined undergraduate/graduate (400/800) level course. The second (and all subsequent) graduate courses must be graduate only (800 and/or 900 level).

Step 1 Application Procedure: 

Students must apply in writing via email to the Graduate Coordinator (biol.gradstudies@queensu.caand Dr. Paul Grogan (groganp@biology.queensu.ca) with a copy to the Graduate Assistant (biologygradassistant@queensu.ca). Applications must include a brief description (1 paragraph) of the research project, a brief letter of support from their Biol-537 supervisor, and a list of the graduate level courses they hope to take during their 4th year. The Graduate Administrative Assistant will add the student’s transcript to the application. Although applications can be made up to December 15th each year, application before the start of the fall term is strongly encouraged  to maximize graduate course selection options.

Please note that completion of this step does not commit the student to continue to an M.Sc. (Step 2), and does not commit the Biol537 supervisor to support the student for an M.Sc.  Either party may withdraw before Step 2.

 

Step 2:

Students then apply for admission to the M.Sc. program with advanced standing in Biology. Students must have an overall A- (A minus) average in the final 2 years of their undergraduate program, and have demonstrated significant research productivity in the 4th year thesis project.  Students also must have received a final grade of at least B- (B minus) in the graduate course(s) taken during the 4th year, and meet all other requirements for admission to the M.Sc. program in Biology.

 

Step 2 Application Procedure: 

Students complete the standard SGSPA M.Sc. application.

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