Program Revision Guidelines
EASTERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY
DIVISION OF ACADEMIC AFFAIRS
OUTLINE FOR SUBMITTING PROPOSALS TO REVISE PROGRAMS
Use this outline to prepare proposals to revise existing programs, including undergraduate majors and minors and graduate degree
programs and certificates. Proposals for revising programs should be submitted in narrative form, using the following outline.
Guidelines are on the following page.
PROGRAM NAME AND SUBJECT CODE:
GENERAL BIOLOGY (BIOG)
REVISED PROGRAM NAME AND SUBJECT CODE (IF APPLICABLE):
DEGREE:
M .S.
DEPARTMENT(S)/SCHOOL(S):
CONTACT PERSON:
COLLEGE(S):
BIOLOGY
MARIANNE LAPORTE
REQUESTED START DATE: TERM WINTER
YEAR
ARTS & SCIENCES
CONTACT PHONE:
7-4242
CONTACT EMAIL:
MLAPORTE@EMICH.EDU
2013
I. Rationale
1.
We are making changes to admission requirements to more closely align our admission requirements with typical
undergraduate programs in biology:
a.
We do not require a course in physiology of our undergraduates nor do most biology programs so we have
dropped that requirement.
b.
We have changed our physics requirement to one semester, as long as it includes electricity and light. Some
universities have intensive one-semester physics courses that include all topics. If students come to us without
having taken physics, they will need to take two semesters of physics at EMU because electricity and light are
covered in the second semester here.
2.
Our current program lacks required classes beyond Seminar and Proposal Development in Biology, which are one-credit
classes. We are adding an additional required class to ensure that all students will take a graduate-level course in one of
the three main disciplines in biology.
II. Description of Current Program with III. Proposed Revisions Indicated in Red
This program provides students with the opportunity to design a master of science program that meets their unique needs. As such,
it is able to accommodate students with a wide range of backgrounds and career goals. It may be particularly suitable in providing
additional background in biology for secondary teachers, preparing a broad background for students interested in community
college teaching or intent on entering or in other professional careers.
Admission Requirements
All concentrations in the biology master’s program share the same general requirements for admission:
1.
A bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution;
2.
At least 20 hours in biology, with a courses in genetics and physiology;
3.
One year of general chemistry;
4.
One year of organic chemistry, or one semester of organic chemistry and one semester of biochemistry;
1.
One year of basic physics; One semester of physics, including electricity and light;
5.
One semester of calculus or statistics;
6.
An academic record of B (3.0) or better during the junior and senior years;
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Program Revision Guidelines
7.
Submission to the Office of Graduate Admissions of a completed departmental admission form, two letters of
recommendation and a personal statement;
8.
Submission to the Office of Graduate Admissions scores from the Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) general test (subject
test not required); and
9.
Meeting the admission requirements of the Graduate School.
Additional requirements for admission are stipulated for the ecology and organismal biology and cellular/molecular programs and
are indicated under the descriptions of those programs.
Conditional Admission
Students deficient in a requirement for admission to any of the programs may be granted conditional admission, subject to removal
of the deficiency, while beginning graduate study. Hours earned in making up deficiencies are in addition to those normally
required for the degree.
Degree Requirements
At least 30 hours of approved graduate-level work is required, including a minimum of 24 hours within the Department of
Biology. To ensure scheduling of appropriate research experiences, internships and specialized course work, students must, by the
end of their first semester, formulate a specific program of study in consultation with their faculty guidance committee. After
approval, this program is kept on file by the graduate coordinator and may not be changed without written approval of the
guidance committee.
In addition to the common requirements, students must opt for one of two alternative degree plans: thesis or non-thesis.
Thesis: This plan is most appropriate for students intending on a research career in biology. A candidate completes an original
investigation under the supervision of a guidance (thesis) committee. This research must be suitable for publication, written in a
form acceptable to the Graduate School and defended in an oral examination. The plan requires a minimum of 30 credit hours
including a minimum of six credit hours and a maximum of 10 credit hours in research (thesis and independent study). A
maximum of six hours may be earned in BIO 690/691/692 Thesis for thesis research.
Non-thesis: This plan is most appropriate for students intending on a professional career that does not emphasize research or for
those interested in obtaining a broader understanding of biological theory. All students in this plan must complete 34 credit hours
of course work. All candidates are encouraged to include research or practical experiences by enrolling for three hours in either
Cooperative Education in Biology (BIO 595), Practicum (BIO 686/687/688) or Independent Study (BIO 697/698/699).
Advising
Upon admission to the biology program, students will receive initial advising from the graduate coordinator, the principal adviser
in their selected concentration, or the departmental graduate committee. Students are responsible for forming a permanent
guidance committee and developing a program of study approved by that committee before registering for their second semester.
After the first semester, if no program of study is on file, the guidance committee is not obligated to include any unapproved
courses taken as part of the student’s final program. The guidance committee for Thesis students will include at least three faculty
members from the Department of Biology. The student usually selects the chair of the committee, and the other two members are
chosen by the chair in consultation with the student. Additional members of the committee may be added from inside or outside
the department by agreement between the chair and the student.
The guidance committee for Non-thesis students will consist of the principal graduate adviser for the selected concentration and
the graduate coordinator. The graduate adviser, in consultation with the student, will prepare the student’s program, which must be
approved by the graduate coordinator. The student may select a third member of the guidance committee from faculty within the
Department of Biology.
Course Requirements:
This concentration in general biology requires a minimum of 30 credit hours for thesis students and 34 credit hours for non-thesis
students. As many as six hours may be taken outside of the Department of Biology as cognates. All courses in the program of
study must be approved by the student’s guidance committee.
Required Courses: 2-8 5-11 hours
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•
BIO 501 - Proposal Development in Biology 1 hr
•
BIO 502 - Seminar in Biology 1 hr
•
One course from the following:
•
BIO 505 - Evolutionary Biology 3 hrs (new course proposal enclosed)
•
BIO 540 - Cell Biology 3 hrs
•
BIO 542 - Molecular Genetics 3 hrs
Thesis students must select a minimum of six hours of research:
•
BIO 690 - Thesis 1 hr
•
BIO 691 - Thesis 2 hrs
•
BIO 692 - Thesis 3 hrs
•
BIO 697 - Independent Study 1 hr
•
BIO 698 - Independent Study 2 hrs
•
BIO 699 - Independent Study 3 hrs
Restricted Elective Courses: 22-32 19-29
22 to 32 19 to 29 credit hours selected in consultation with the graduate adviser.
Cognate Courses: 0-6 hours
Up to six hours selected in consultation with the graduate adviser.
Program Total: 30-34 hours
IV. Impact
The proposed changes will not impact other departments except that one or two students may no longer be required to take a
second semester of physics at EMU because they have taken an intensive one-semester physics course as an undergraduate.
V. Budget
These changes will not require additional resources. An existing faculty member who was hired to teach Evolution in our
department will teach the new restricted elective course, Evolutionary Biology.
VI. Action of the Department/College
1. Department/School:
Vote of faculty:
For
14
Against 0
(Enter the number of votes cast in each category.)
I support this proposal. The proposed revision can
cannot
Department(s)/School(s) without additional College or University resources.
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Abstentions
1
be implemented within the affected
Program Revision Guidelines
Department Head/School Director Signature
Date
2. College/Graduate School:
A. College
I support this proposal. The proposed program can
College without additional University resources.
cannot
be implemented within the affected
College Dean Signature
Date
B. Graduate School (Graduate Program Revisions ONLY)
Graduate Dean Signature
Date
VII. Approval
Associate Vice-President for Academic Programming Signature
Date
VIII. Appendices
A. Market Analysis/Needs Assessment
B. Mandates
C. Request for New/Revised Course Forms
D. Letters of Support from Impacted Departments
E. Cost Analysis (Complete only if the revision cannot be implemented without additional University resources. Fill in
Estimated Resources for the sponsoring department(s). Attach separate estimates for other affected departments.)
Estimated Resources:
Year One
Year Two
Year Three
Faculty / Staff
$_________
$_________
$_________
SS&M
$_________
$_________
$_________
Equipment
$_________
$_________
$_________
Total
Miller, Program Revision Guidelines
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$_________
$_________
$_________