Schedule for Program Completion

The work for the MS degree must be completed within 10 consecutive years. No course work over 10 years old at the completion of the degree may be used. The first day of class of the earliest course taken as a part of the student's program is the beginning of the student's graduate education.

A minimum 3.0 G.P.A. is required to graduate and must be maintained throughout a student's time in the program. Any course with a grade of C- or lower is unacceptable and will not count toward graduation, but will still be included in overall G.P.A.  Students failing to meet this requirement will be placed on probation for one semester.  If the G.P.A. requirement is not met by the end of the probationary period, the student will be removed from the program.

Prepare the Program of Study

Fill out the Program of Study form before 12 credit hours have been completed; incompletes count as completed courses. Email the completed form to msbiology@unk.edu.

See Course Schedule or Program Requirements to view required courses and elective course options.

Paperwork must be signed by the Director of the Distance M.S. Program and placed in the student’s file.

Apply for Candidacy

Students must apply for candidacy after the successful completion of half (18) of their program hours.

Fill out the Application for Candidacy form, and email it to msbiology@unk.edu.

Paperwork must be signed by the Director of the Distance M.S. Program, the Graduate Program Chair, Biology Department Chair and Dean of Graduate Studies & Research. The signed form will be placed in the student’s file.

Apply for Graduation

During your final semester, you should apply for graduation. The application is available on MyBLUE. This is handled through the Graduate Office. Deadlines for filing for graduation are:

September 15 for December graduation

February 1 for May graduation

June 15 for July graduation

For more information regarding graduation see the Commencement Information webpage.

Pass the Comprehensive Exam

The comprehensive exam consists of multiple choice and essay questions covering topics from all coursework within the student’s program of study. The student has 2 hours to complete the exam and it is closed book, closed note, closed electronic device. The exam is typically taken in the final semester of enrollment. Students must earn a score of 70% or higher in order to pass the comprehensive exam. If a student does not earn a score of 70% on his or her first attempt, the student is allowed a second attempt. The second attempt must be a semester following the first failure. If the student does not earn a score of 70% on the second attempt, the student may be dismissed from the program.

The comprehensive exam must be completed at least 5 weeks prior to graduation.