2022-2023 Academic Catalog

Offered in: Chicago

The Accelerated Degree Pathway in Biology allows qualified Roosevelt undergraduate students to obtain early provisional admission to the Master of Science in Biology degree program. Students may apply up to ten credit hours of cross-listed coursework to both the undergraduate major and to the master’s degree during their senior year. They then officially enter the master’s program as degree-seeking students and complete the remaining graduate credit hours.

Admission

Current undergraduate students with a declared major in BA or BS Biology, at least 72 total credit hours completed, an overall GPA of 3.0 or above, and at least one semester of study at Roosevelt are eligible to enter the Accelerated Degree Pathway. Students will consult with their department advisor and graduate program director to determine eligibility. Qualified students will have the Accelerated Degree Pathway attribute added to their undergraduate program, enabling them to enroll in select courses at the graduate level during their senior year. They then apply for the MS Biology degree program as outlined below. 

APPLICATION MATERIALS (for MS Biology program admission)

• Graduate application: Application to the College of Arts & Sciences at Roosevelt University.
• Official transcripts: The Roosevelt University transcript must be up-to-date at the time of application, including all prior university and transfer credit.
• Letter of intent: Applicants must include a brief (one-page) personal statement which outlines their personal and professional goals, their interest in the program and their qualifications for admission.
• Letters of recommendation: Applicants must provide or request at least one recommendation letter. Referees may include professors, academic or research advisors, employment supervisors, or others familiar with the applicant's preparation and potential for success in graduate study.

The graduate program director and department faculty members will evaluate each applicant's individual record of academic achievement, experience, and self-assessment. Admissions decisions are at the discretion of the graduate program director. Any admitted student who subsequently falls below an overall 2.9 GPA prior to undergraduate degree completion will not be allowed to continue into the MS Biology program.

Applicants through the Accelerated Degree Pathway must complete all requirements for their undergraduate major, including the prerequisites for the MS Biology program, prior to full admission as degree-seeking graduate students. None of the prerequisite courses may be used toward fulfillment of the requirements for the master's degree.

Advising

New students must consult with the graduate program director upon entering the Accelerated Degree Pathway. During the senior year, students in the pathway may enroll in up to 10 credit hours of cross-listed coursework at the graduate level. Eligible courses are listed below. Substitutions of other 300/400-level cross-listed courses may be made at the discretion of the graduate program director. 

Students must complete all courses with grades of B- or better and an average GPA of 3.0 or higher. Upon completion of all undergraduate degree requirements, the graduate coursework will be applied to the MS Biology degree requirements. If a student earns final grades below B- in any 400-level course, enters a graduate program outside Roosevelt University or does not continue into the MS program within six years, the associated credit hours will be considered undergraduate-only and will not be transferable.

Your degree map is a general guide suggesting courses to complete each term on the academic pathway to your degree. It is based on the most current scheduling information from your academic program. Your program’s degree map is reviewed annually and updated as schedules change (although you retain the same course requirements as long as you are continuously enrolled in your degree program).

Always work closely with your academic advisor to understand curriculum requirements and scheduling, as each student’s academic plan can look slightly different.

¹

Or course towards an optional Minor.

²

300 level BIOL course with laboratory or field experience and above BIOL 301 CELLULAR &MOLECULAR BIOLOGY.

³

Experiential Learning class must be 200/300 level. Satisfies CORE Experiential Learning requirement. EXL courses can satisfy major requirements/electives or CORE requirement.