Graduate Programs in Biological Sciences

Department of Biological Sciences
CW405 Biological Sciences Building
University of Alberta
Edmonton, Alberta
T6G 2E9
www.biology.ualberta.ca

Please Note [December 19, 2024] - ADDENDUM. The specializations in the MSc and PhD programs have been suspended. See Amendments to the Calendar for more information.

General Information

The Department of Biological Sciences offers programs leading to the degrees of Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy. It strives to develop scholars familiar with literature in their field, capable of identifying new problems and new directions of endeavour in their field, and competent with the methods of data collection and analysis essential to do research. Students will fulfil these objectives through several forums: a supervised research program, coursework, participation in seminar programs, and defending their dissertation.

The Department has research laboratories and instructional facilities for 250–300 graduate students. There are facilities for digital image processing, electron and confocal microscopy, analytical chemistry, molecular biology, fermentation, biotechnology, DNA synthesis and sequencing, cultivation of microbial cells and cells of yeasts, plants, insects and mammals. Facilities include large holding tanks for aquatic animals, and controlled environment rooms including an extensive greenhouse complex. Off-campus facilities include the Devonian Botanic Garden and mycology herbarium, several field stations including the Meanook Biological Research Station and Ellerslie Plant Genetics Station, all near Edmonton, and the Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre on Vancouver Island. Extensive reference collections are available for research with microfungi, vascular and cryptogamic plants as well as vertebrates and invertebrates, including major collections of fishes, fossil plants and vertebrates, insects and parasites.

There are six areas of specialization within the Department: Ecology; Microbiology and Biotechnology; Molecular Biology and Genetics; Plant Biology; Physiology, Development and Cell Biology; and Systematics and Evolution. Students either register in one of these areas of specialization for their program or, with permission of the supervisor and approval of the Associate Chair (Graduate Studies), register toward a degree of MSc or PhD with specialization in Biological Sciences. Declared specialization in one of the six research interest areas can be indicated on a student’s thesis title page, degree diploma, and transcript.

All potential applicants are encouraged to first correspond with academic staff in whose research laboratories they might want to study. Additional information is found at Biological Sciences (see Graduate Studies – For Applicants).

Entrance Requirements

The Department’s minimum admission requirements are a 4-year undergraduate degree with an admission GPA of at least 3.3 on the 4-point scale from the University of Alberta, or an equivalent qualification and standing from a recognized institution. The admission GPA will be calculated on the last 60 units of graded coursework completed, or on the equivalent of the last two years of full-time graded coursework.

Where applicable, applicants must provide proof of English Language Proficiency (see English Language Requirement ). Any one of the following is acceptable:

A minimum Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) of 100 overall with a score of at least 22 on each of the individual skill areas (internet-based)
an equivalent score on an English Language Proficiency test approved by the Faculty of Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies

Applicants must identify a potential supervisor willing to provide supervision.

Applicants must have the minimum guaranteed funding, attained through one or a combination of:

Scholarships
Teaching assistantships
External funding

Applicants are also required to submit the following:

A complete Departmental Package (Curriculum Vitae, Financial Support Information, and Research Interest Form). See the Department website for form and format details.
Three letters of reference. Academic letters of reference are preferred.

Financial Assistance

All students entering the graduate program receive financial support for at least the first two years and four months of a full-time MSc program, and the first five years of a full-time PhD program, at a minimum guaranteed rate. Contact the Department for the current minimum.

Graduate Program Requirements

Master’s Programs

Doctoral Programs

Suspended Programs

Effective January 1, 2025, admission to the following six (6) Master of Science in Biological Sciences specializations will be suspended:

Master of Science with Specialization in Ecology (Biological Sciences)
Master of Science with Specialization in Microbiology and Biotechnology (Biological Sciences)
Master of Science with Specialization in Molecular Biology and Genetics (Biological Sciences)
Master of Science with Specialization in Physiology, Cell, and Developmental Biology (Biological Sciences)
Master of Science with Specialization in Plant Biology (Biological Sciences)
Master of Science with Specialization in Systematics and Evolution (Biological Sciences)

Also effective January 1, 2025, admission to the following six (6) Doctor of Philosophy in Biological Sciences specializations will be suspended:

Doctor of Philosophy with Specialization in Ecology (Biological Sciences)
Doctor of Philosophy with Specialization in Microbiology and Biotechnology (Biological Sciences)
Doctor of Philosophy with Specialization in Molecular Biology and Genetics (Biological Sciences)
Doctor of Philosophy with Specialization in Physiology, Cell, and Developmental Biology (Biological Sciences)
Doctor of Philosophy with Specialization in Plant Biology (Biological Sciences)
Doctor of Philosophy with Specialization in Systematics and Evolution (Biological Sciences)

The last degrees with these specializations will be granted at Spring Convocation 2029. Continuing students admitted into these specializations prior to January 1, 2025 must refer to the Calendar for the year in which they were admitted for program requirements.

Graduate Courses

Graduate courses can be found in Course Listings under the subject heading Bioinformatics (BIOIN), Biology (BIOL), Botany (BOT), Entomology (ENT), Genetics (GENET), Immunology and Infection (IMIN), Marine Science (MA SC), Microbiology (MICRB), Paleontology (PALEO), and Zoology (ZOOL).