Accelerated Bachelor's and Master's of Science

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis for admission to fall, spring, or summer semesters. As an undergraduate student, you are encouraged to apply for the accelerated Bachelor of Science/Master of Science program after completing 75 credit hours counting toward your bachelor’s degree. At the latest, please apply at the deadlines described below, before your final two undergraduate semesters.

Deadlines

Eligibility Requirements

• Must be in an eligible undergraduate degree and select an eligible master's degree as listed here: Accelerated Masters Degrees
• Must have at least 75 credit hours completed toward your undergraduate degree
• Must have a GPA of at least 3.0
• Must have at least 2 full semesters or 30 credits left before graduating with undergraduate degree
• Must have identified a faculty advisor willing to host research (MS Biology - Coursework & Capstone applicants exempt from this requirement)

Phase 1

If you meet the above criteria and wish to apply, please meet with your undergraduate advisor to confirm your progress and discuss room for sharing credits. Then, proceed with the appropriate Accelerated BS/MS Application linked below.

Online Accelerated BS/MS in Biology - Coursework & Capstone Phase 1 Application

On Campus Accelerated BS/MS Phase 1 Application

*Please note that you must be in an eligible online undergraduate degree to do the online accelerated BS/MS, and the only MS option available online in the School of Life Sciences is the MS in Biology - Coursework & Capstone.

Phase 2

If you are approved in Phase 1 of the Accelerated BS/MS application process, you will receive confirmation from the SOLS Graduate Office with details about your next steps. You will be required to complete an ASU Graduate Admissions Application for the master's degree you were approved to complete in an accelerated capacity during Phase 1. You must apply for the start of your plus one year, selecting the admit term that follows your expected bachelor's graduation. This must be submitted by the end of your first shared semester to allow sufficient time for review.

The following components are required in the online application:

• Personal statement of interest
• Résumé
• Transcripts for all universities and colleges outside ASU
• Three letters of recommendation, including one letter of recommendation from the faculty member who will advise you for your master's thesis (if applicable)
• Academic record form
• Writing sample (biology and society concentration only)
• Note: A GRE is not required

What’s next?

Once you submit your application and pay the application fee, it will go through a review process. We will wait for your three letters of recommendation to be submitted by each recommender. After those are received, a decision will be made on your application in 4-6 weeks, at which point you will receive communication about that decision.

Please note that you will continue to be considered an undergraduate student until you graduate with your undergraduate degree and move into the plus one year as a graduate student.

Bachelor of Science requirements

• 120 credit hours in your chosen Bachelor of Science program
• 12 credit hours may be shared between the accelerated bachelor's/master's degrees (6 of which can be 400 level credits). In the accelerated bachelor’s/master’s program, you will complete 138 credit hours for the two degrees

Master of Science requirements

• 30 credits of approved graduate course work (see below)
• Develop an individual plan of study (iPOS) in consultation with your advisor and supervisory committee
• Complete a research thesis and defend it orally (an undergraduate honors thesis cannot substitute for a master's thesis) or complete a capstone course 
• No more than six hours of 400 level courses will apply to the master's degree

The master’s coursework required for the bachelor's/master's is the same as the master’s coursework in our standard Master of Science degrees. 

Shared credit hours

• 12 credit hours may be shared between the two degrees
• Choose these credits after consulting your undergraduate advisor and prospective master's advisor
• Shared courses are typically chosen according to your research interest

Once accepted into the accelerated program

• You must draft, together with your advisor, a preliminary Plan of Study for the Master of Science program.
• Your degree program must include up to 6 credits of shared 400-level courses and up to 6 credits of 500-level courses.

Note: Only credit hours completed after you are accepted into phase one of the accelerated program can be shared. Six credit hours or more of shared coursework must be 500-level courses.

The following are required milestones once you have graduated with your BS and have begun registering as a master’s student.

1. Supervisory committee

Your advisor is appointed during your application to the Bachelor of Science/Master of Science program. You should work with your faculty advisor to form your full advisory committee by the end of your first semester as a master’s student.

Your advisor will chair your supervisory committee and must be a member of the appropriate graduate faculty endorsed to chair. At least three members (advisor and two+ others) will serve on your committee.

2. Interactive Plan of Study (iPOS)

File by the end of your first semester as an master's student.

3. Thesis research proposal (if applicable)

Aim to complete by the end of your first semester as an master's student. However, you should ultimately be working out a timeline for your research and desired thesis defense with your faculty advisor and committee.

• The written thesis prospectus must contain: a description of the research question and its significance; a detailed work plan for data collection, analysis and writing; and a complete bibliography.
• The goal of the prospectus is to help your committee determine whether you have the necessary knowledge, and whether your research is on track to continue with the research and begin writing a thesis. You must have an answerable research question, full knowledge of sources, and plans for conducting the research and writing the thesis that provide the committee milestones to assess.

4. Application for graduation

Submitted at the beginning of your second semester as a master's student, or the semester in which you plan to defend or complete your capstone and graduate.

5. Thesis Defense (if applicable)

Completed by end of second semester as a master's student. If your research progress alters your planned time to defend, simply keep your iPOS up to date with your planned anticipated semester to graduate.

• Register for 1 or more hours of appropriate graduate level credit during the semester you defend your thesis
• You and your supervisory committee should review ASU's graduation deadlines and schedule your defense at a mutually agreed upon time. To effectively coordinate schedules, plan a defense date with your committee several months in advance. If you need to reserve a room for your defense, you may request a SOLS room reservation here.
• Approximately two months before your defense, submit a complete draft of your thesis to your committee for comments. Consult with your committee in case they have different expectations.
• You must submit a request to hold the defense via your iPOS at least 10 working days prior to your scheduled defense date.
• The first part of your defense is a public presentation of your thesis research. After the public presentation and questions from the audience, you will be examined by your supervisory committee, which will determine whether to award your Master of Science degree.

Bachelor of Science in biological sciences

Undergraduate

Semesters 1-6 (90 bachelor's hours)

• Courses towards Bachelor of Science in biological sciences (Neurobiology, Physiology and Behavior)

Semester 7 (14 bachelor's hours including 6 toward master's)

• Undergraduate courses (4)
• BIO 455  Introduction to Comparative Genomics (3)
• BIO 435  Research Techniques in Animal Behavior (3)
• BIO 522  Populations: Evolutionary Ecology (3)
• Participatory seminars appropriate to area of study (1)(e.g. BIO 591)

Semester 8 (16 bachelor's hours including 6 toward master's)

• Required undergraduate courses (9)
• BIO 465  Neurophysiology (3)
• BIO 524  Ecosystems (3)
• Participatory seminars appropriate to area of study (1) (e.g. BIO 591)

Graduate

Option 1

Semester 9 (9 master's hours)

• 1 credit hour of participatory seminar appropriate to area of study (BIO 591 or ANB 602)
• BIO 592 Research or BIO 590 Reading and Conference (8)

Semester 10 (9 master's hours)

• BIO 599 Thesis (6)
• BIO 592 Research or BIO 590 Reading and Conference (3)

Option 2

Semester 9 (9 master's hours)

• BIO 599 Thesis (3)
• 1 credit hour of participatory seminar appropriate to area of study (BIO591 or ANB602)
• BIO 592 Research or BIO 590 Reading and Conference (5)

Semester 10 (9 master's hours)

• BIO 599 Thesis (3)
• BIO 592 Research or BIO 590 Reading and Conference (6)

Undergraduate

Semesters 1-6 (90 bachelor's hours)

• Courses towards Bachelor of Science in biological sciences (genetics, cell and developmental biology)

Semester 7 (14 bachelor's hours including 9 toward the master's)

• Undergraduate courses (4)
• BIO 446 Principles of Human Genetics (3)
• Participatory seminars appropriate to area of study (1) (e.g. BIO or MCB 591)
• MCB 555 Advanced Molecular and Cellular Sciences (6)

Semester 8 (16 bachelor's hours including 3 towards the master's)

• Undergraduate courses (12)
• MBB 440 Functional Genomics (3)
• Participatory seminars appropriate to area of study (1) ( e.g., BIO 591 or MCB 591)

Graduate

Option 1

Semester 9 (9 master's hours)

• 1 credit hour of participatory seminar appropriate to area of study (e.g. BIO 591)
• BIO 592 Research or BIO 590 Reading and Conference (8)

Semester 10 (9 master's hours)

• BIO 599 Thesis (6)
• BIO 592 Research or BIO 590 Reading and Conference (3)

Option 2

Semester 9 (9 master's hours)

• BIO 599 Thesis (3)
• 1 credit hour of participatory seminar appropriate to area of study (e.g. BIO 591)
• BIO 592 Research or BIO 590 Reading and Conference (5)

Semester 10 (9 master's hours)

• BIO 599 Thesis (3)
• BIO 592 Research or BIO 590 Reading and Conference (6)

Undergraduate

Semesters 1-6 (90 bachelor's hours)

• Courses towards bachelor's in biological sciences (conservation biology and ecology)

Semester 7 (14 bachelor's hours including 9 toward the master's)

• Undergraduate courses (4)
• BIO 426 Limnology (3)
• BIO 412 Conservation in Practice (3)
• ELS 501 Environmental Life Sciences: Grand Challenge: Global Climate Change (3)
• Participatory seminars appropriate to area of study (1) (e.g. BIO 591)

Semester 8 (16 bachelor's hours including 3 towards the master's)

• Undergraduate courses (12)
• BIO 524 Ecosystems (3)
• Participatory seminars appropriate to area of study (1) (e.g. BIO 591)

Graduate

Option 1

Semester 9 (9 master's hours)

• 1 credit hour of participatory seminar appropriate to area of study (e.g., BIO 591)
• BIO 592 Research or BIO 590 Reading and Conference (8)

Semester 10 (9 master's hours)

• BIO 599 Thesis (6)
• BIO 592 Research or BIO 590 Reading and Conference (3)

Option 2

Semester 9 (9 master's hours)

• BIO 599 Thesis (3)
• 1 credit hour of participatory seminar appropriate to area of study (e.g., BIO 591)
• BIO 592 Research or BIO 590 Reading and Conference (5)

Semester 10 (9 master's hours)

• BIO 599 Thesis (3)
• BIO 592 Research or BIO 590 Reading and Conference (6)

Undergraduate

Semesters 1-6 (90 bachelor's hours)

• Courses towards BS in biological sciences (biology and society)

Semester 7 (14 BS hours including 6 toward the MS)

• Undergraduate courses (4)
• BIO 591 Seminar: Embryo Project Editing Seminar (3)
• HCR 598 Special Topics: FDA regulations (3)
• BIO 412 Conservation in Practice (3)
• Participatory seminars appropriate to area of study (1) (e.g. BIO 591)

Semester 8 (16 bachelor's hours including 6 toward the master's)

• Undergraduate courses (9)
• HPS 591 Seminar: Embryo Project  (3)
• BIO 416 Biomedical Research Ethics OR HPS 410 Professional Values in Science (3)
• Participatory seminars appropriate to area of study (1) (e.g. BIO 591)

Graduate

Option 1

Semester 9 (9 master's hours)

• 1 credit hour of participatory seminar appropriate to area of study (e.g., BIO 615 Biology and Society Lab)
• BIO 592 Research or BIO 590 Reading and Conference (8)

Semester 10 (9 master's hours)

• BIO 599 Thesis (6)
• BIO 592 Research or BIO 590 Reading and Conference (3)

Option 2

Semester 9 (9 master's hours)

BIO 599 Thesis (3)

• 1 credit hour of participatory seminar appropriate to area of study (e.g., BIO 615 Biology and Society Lab)
• BIO 592 Research or BIO 590 Reading and Conference (5)

Semester 10 (9 master's hours)

• BIO 599 Thesis (3)
• BIO 592 Research or BIO 590 Reading and Conference (6)

Undergraduate

Semesters 1-6 (90 bachelor's hours)

• Courses towards Bachelor of Science in microbiology

Semester 7 (14 bachelor's hours including 9 toward the master's)

• MIC 425 Advanced Immunology (3)
• MIC 421 Experimental Immunology (Lab) (2)
• MIC 445 Techniques in Molecular Biology/Genetics (3)
• MIC 446 Techniques in Molecular Biology/Genetics Lab (2)
• MIC 598 Seminar Topic: Geomicrobiology (3)
• Participatory seminars appropriate to area of study (1) (BIO 591 or MIC 591, etc.)

Semester 8 (16 bachelor's hours including 3 towards the master's)

• Undergraduate courses (8 hours)
• MIC 591 Seminar Topic: Milestones in Microbiology (3)
• MIC 470 Bacterial Diversity and Systematics (4)
• Participatory seminars appropriate to area of study (1) (BIO or MIC 591, etc.)

Graduate

Option 1

Semester 9 (9 master's hours)

• 1 credit hour of participatory seminar appropriate to area of study (BIO or MIC 591)
• BIO 592 Research or BIO 590 Reading and Conference (8)

Semester 10 (9 master's hours)

• BIO 599 Thesis (6)
• BIO 592 Research or BIO 590 Reading and Conference (3)

Option 2

Semester 9 (9 master's hours)

• BIO 599 Thesis (3)
• 1 credit hour of participatory seminar appropriate to area of study (BIO or MIC 591)
• BIO 592 Research or BIO 590 Reading and Conference (5)

Semester 10 (9 master's hours)

• BIO 599 Thesis (3)
• BIO 592 Research or BIO 590 Reading and Conference (6)

Undergraduate

Semesters 1-6 (90 bachelor's hours)

• Courses towards BS in Microbiology (Biomedical Sciences)

Semester 7 (13 bachelor's hours including 9 toward the master's)

• MIC 425 Advanced Immunology (3)
• MIC 421 Experimental Immunology Laboratory (2)
• MIC 441 Bacterial Genetics (3)
• MIC 442 Bacterial Genetics Laboratory (1)
• MIC 598 Bacterial Pathogenesis (3)
• Participatory seminars appropriate to area of study (1)(BIO 591 or MIC 591, etc.)

Semester 8 (17 bachelor's hours including 3 toward the master's)

• Undergraduate courses (7)
• MIC 591 Seminar Topic: Milestones in Microbiology (3)
• MIC 494 Novel Models for Infectious Disease Research (3)
• MIC 498 Pro-Seminar Topic: Viral Pathogenesis/Host Def (3)
• Participatory seminars appropriate to area of study (1) (BIO or MIC 591, etc.)

Graduate

Option 1

Semester 9 (9 master's hours)

• 1 credit hour of participatory seminar appropriate to area of study (BIO or MIC 591)
• BIO 592 Research or BIO 590 Reading and Conference (8)

Semester 10 (9 master's hours)

• BIO 599 Thesis (6)
• BIO 592 Research or BIO 590 Reading and Conference (3)

Option 2

Semester 9 (9 master's hours)

• BIO 599 Thesis (3)
• 1 credit hour of participatory seminar appropriate to area of study (BIO or MIC 591)
• BIO 592 Research or BIO 590 Reading and Conference (5)

Semester 10 (9 master's hours)

• BIO 599 Thesis (3)
• BIO 592 Research or BIO 590 Reading and Conference (6)

Undergraduate

Semesters 1-6 (90 bachelor's hours)

• Courses towards BS in molecular biosciences and biotechnology

Semester 7 (14 bachelor's hours including 9 toward master's)

• Undergraduate courses (4)
• MIC 445 Techniques in Molecular Biology/Genetics (3)
• MCB 555 Advanced Molecular and Cellular Sciences  (6)
• Participatory seminars appropriate to area of study (1)(BIO 591 or MCB 591, etc.)

Semester 8 (16 BS hours including 3 towards the master's)

• Undergraduate courses (12)
• MBB 440 Functional Genomics (3)
• Participatory seminars appropriate to area of study (1) (BIO or MCB 591)

Graduate

Option 1

Semester 9 (9 master's hours)

• 1 credit hour of participatory seminar appropriate to area of study (BIO or MCB 591)
• BIO 592 Research or BIO 590 Reading and Conference (8)

Semester 10 (9 master's hours)

• BIO 599 Thesis (6)
• BIO 592 Research or BIO 590 Reading and Conference (3)

Option 2

Semester 9 (9 master's hours)

• BIO 599 Thesis (3)
• 1 credit hour of participatory seminar appropriate to area of study (BIO or MCB 591)
• BIO 592 Research or BIO 590 Reading and Conference (5)

Semester 10 (9 master's hours)

• IO 599 Thesis (3)
• BIO 592 Research or BIO 590 Reading and Conference (6)