M.Sc. in Biological Sciences at University of Windsor

Environmental scientists use their knowledge to protect the environment and human health. This may involve advising policy makers, working with industry or spending time in the field to identify and assess potential threats. The Environmental Science (BS) degree at Appalachian State University is a science-intensive, cross-disciplinary experience that develops a strong background in mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, statistics, geosciences, environmental policy and planning, and Geographic Information Systems (GIS).

The degree’s Life Sciences concentration allows students to focus on biology and chemistry classes and complete some of requirements necessary to become a Wetlands Professional in Training (WPiT), the first step in gaining Professional Wetland Scientist (PWS) certification.

With additional coursework in environmental law, policy, planning, economics, communications as well as NEPA certification and report writing, the Life Sciences concentration prepares students for a career in environmental policy, enforcement and/or management.

Graduate studies in Biochemistry can lead to an MPS or MS degree. Students may choose from biomedical research areas such as cell regulatory systems, protein biochemistry, molecular immunology, cellular and molecular toxicology, microbiology, bioinformatics, and genomics. Financial aid is available on a competitive basis, primarily in the form of graduate teaching assistantships. Research assistantships and University fellowships are also available.

Faculty members are actively involved in research that is supported at the federal level. Students admitted to the graduate program in Biochemistry may also carry out their research with faculty listed under Microbiology, in a number of laboratories in other departments at the University, the Jackson Laboratory in Bar Harbor, the Maine Medical Center Research Institute in Portland, or through cooperative institutional arrangements and Associate faculty or staff. (In addition to the University of Maine-based faculty listed below, several faculty at Jackson Laboratory, MMCRI, etc, mentor research students in this degree program.)

Graduate-degree candidates conduct research under the guidance of the School of Biology and Ecology faculty. The expertise of the faculty covers a broad spectrum, ranging from molecular and cell biology, through system- and organism-level biology, to ecology; and it applies to a diversity of organisms from protists and lower plants and invertebrate animals through vascular plants and vertebrates. By choosing a faculty advisor, graduate applicants can associate themselves with any of a number of research specializations: