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Online Masters

Contact Information

P: 864-656-2328
E: biolsci@clemson.edu

Campus Location

132 Long Hall, Clemson, SC 29634

Hours

Monday - Friday:
8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.


Online Masters Contacts

For general questions, email biologyonline@clemson.edu or call 864-656-2153 between 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m. weekdays. For graduate admissions information or submission of application materials, contact the Graduate School, E209 Martin Hall, at 864-656-2287.

Robert Ballard
Program Coordinator
Phone: 864-656-3579
Email: ballard@clemson.edu

Terrie Jarrett
Program Assistant
Phone: 864-656-2153
Email: tjarret@clemson.edu

Online M.S. Program: New Students

The curriculum for the online M.S. in biological sciences for science educators program consists of 10 required courses. Seven of the 10 required courses are science content courses. The other three courses cover how to design an experiment and statistically analyze data, how to write publications and grant proposals, and how to conduct research, respectively. Lectures and assignments are available via Clemson’s online student information platform, Canvas, and are available 24/7.

  • Find out more about registering for classes.

Program Curriculum

Course Schedule

Courses are offered on a fixed schedule. Typically, students are limited to only two courses each fall and spring semesters with the exception of BIOL 8480, which may be taken at any time. However, BIOL 8400 Understanding Biological Inquiry is recommended, not required, before enrolling in BIOL 8480. The program can be completed in six semesters (two years); however, a master’s student has six years to complete this degree.

Fall Semester

  • BIOL 8400 Understanding Biological Inquiry.
  • BIOL 8420 Understanding Cellular Processes.
  • BIOL 8440 Understanding the Human Body.
  • BIOL 8460 Understanding Plant Biology.
  • BIOL 8480 Understanding Scientific Research.

Spring Semester

  • BIOL 8430 Understanding Genetics and Evolutionary Biology.
  • BIOL 8450 Understanding Animal Biology.
  • BIOL 8470 Understanding Microbiology.
  • BIOL 8480 Understanding Scientific Research.
  • BIOL 8490 Understanding Scientific Communication.

Summer Semester

  • BIOL 8400 Understanding Biological Inquiry.
  • BIOL 8410 Understanding Ecology and the Environment.
  • BIOL 8460 Understanding Plant Biology.
  • BIOL 8490 Understanding Scientific Communication.
  • BIOL 8480 Understanding Scientific Research.

BIOL 8710: The only other course we offer is for students whose financial aid requires five or six credit hours minimum and they have only one required course to take during a semester. BIOL 8710 Special Topics in Biology is offered for 2 or 4 credit hours. The course requires a research paper on recent advances in biology. You would pick a topic and have it approved by the course instructor. The final paper has a 2,500 (2 credit) or 3,500 (3 credit) word minimum (not including cover page or references) and should demonstrate a thorough understanding of a particular topic. The paper must be 90 percent or greater original. A student should be prepared to review a minimum of eight relevant references that relate specifically to the topic. The department will provide a guide for citing resources and the assessment rubric for the paper. A student would have to pay tuition for the 2 or 3 credit hours. This course does not replace a course listed on your GS2.

Transfer courses: Degree- and non-degree-seeking students may transfer up to 12 credits of graduate courses into the degree program from accredited degree-granting institutions whose scholastic reputation is acceptable to Clemson University. To transfer, the graduate course content must be similar to one of our required courses with a grade of B or above. Transfer credits must not have been used to satisfy the requirements for any other degree and must have been completed within the six-year period preceding the date the graduate degree will be awarded. Transfer courses cannot be revalidated for graduate credit. There are no exceptions to this requirement.

Plan of study: The GS2 is online and accessible through iROAR. Submitting a GS2 is a two-step process that includes faculty advisor selection and a plan of study.

Navigating the GS2

Below are the steps to navigate the GS2 online. Degree-seeking master’s students must submit the GS2 by the middle of their second semester. The final version of the student’s GS2 must be on file by the date specified by the Office of Enrolled Services (graduation deadlines can be found on the deadlines page), or a late fee of $25 for the first day and $5 for every additional day will be charged.

  • Go to the iRoar portal and log in.
  • On the next screen click the iRoar button, located under the "Current and Future Terms" heading.
  • From here, click the Student button.
  • Select the Registration tab that appears just below the student button; you should now see several options including the GS2 links.

From here you have access to both the GS2 faculty advisor selection and to the GS2 plan of study.

Timeline

A student must select a faculty advisor and get approval prior to the submitting of the actual plan of study. Degree-seeking master’s students must submit the GS2 by the middle of their second semester.

The GS2 faculty advisor selection and to the GS2 plan of study is a two-step process, as follows:

  • Step 1 is the faculty advisor selection.
  • Step 2 is the plan of study.

Additional helpful information is available on the Plan of Study page.

Faculty advisor selection: Non-thesis M.S. degrees do not require a committee. However, they do require a faculty advisor. The faculty advisor for the online M.S. degree in biological sciences (MS-BIOS-G-AAC) is Robert Ballard (C88357337). Once his name is selected, click the submit button to trigger the approval process. You will receive an email when the process has been completed. Do not submit a plan of study until your faculty advisor is approved.

GS2 plan of study: The plan of study must be filed near the beginning of each student’s program of study. Students must submit the curriculum by the middle of their second semester following matriculation.

The GS2 should list the following 10 three-credit-hour courses required to complete the 30-credit-hour program:

  • BIOL 8400 Understanding Biological.
  • BIOL 8410 Understanding Ecology and Ecosystems.
  • BIOL 8420 Understanding Cellular Processes.
  • BIOL 8430 Understanding Genetics and Evolutionary Biology.
  • BIOL 8440 Understanding the Human Body.
  • BIOL 8450 Understanding Animal Biology.
  • BIOL 8460 Understanding Plant Biology.
  • BIOL 8470 Understanding Microbiology.
  • BIOL 8480 Understanding Scientific Research.
  • BIOL 8490 Understanding Scientific Communication.

Although not necessary, you may want to add the tentative dates for completion of each course.

GS2 Plan of Study Instructions

Some general usage guidelines for the GS2 include:

  • To add courses, click on the Course Selection link at the bottom of the page.
  • To remove courses, click on the check box to the left side of the course(s), and then click the Remove button.
  • The Add to Plan button will add the courses to the plan of study.
  • To submit for approval, click on the Submit for Approval button (this will only show if you have courses in your plan).
  • Your plan will remain locked until the approval process completes. Once the process of approval is completed you will be notified by email as to the final decision, either approved or denied. After the final decision has been made, you will have the option to unlock the plan and re-submit a new one if so desired.

The date or term to be completed is not required.

GS2 Document Flow

  1. Faculty advisor.
  2. Program coordinator.
  3. Departmental chair.
  4. Associate dean.
  5. Enrollment services.

The GS7 form is not required. Transfer courses are listed on the GS2 by selecting BIOL courses numbered 6999, 7999 or 8999 (number determined by the course number of the course approved for transfer), then adding an explanation in the transfer block (i.e., the institution that offered the course, the course title and the title of the course to be substituted). Submit the course transcripts to the Office of Enrolled Student Services, 104D Sikes Hall.

Do not add anything to the professional development comments/academic integrity activities block. Remember, once you hit submit, you will not be able to alter your GS2 until all parties have approved — or someone has denied — your plan.

Contact Information

P: 864-656-2328
E: biolsci@clemson.edu

Campus Location

132 Long Hall, Clemson, SC 29634

Hours

Monday - Friday:
8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.


Online Masters Contacts

For general questions, email biologyonline@clemson.edu or call 864-656-2153 between 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m. weekdays. For graduate admissions information or submission of application materials, contact the Graduate School, E209 Martin Hall, at 864-656-2287.

Robert Ballard
Program Coordinator
Phone: 864-656-3579
Email: ballard@clemson.edu

Terrie Jarrett
Program Assistant
Phone: 864-656-2153
Email: tjarret@clemson.edu