M.Sc. PROGRAM
Length of Program
Three full-time terms of resident study at McGill is the minimum time requirement to complete the Master’s degree. The Biology Department offers a summer term so the residence requirement can be completed in one year, if required. The normal and expected duration is 2 years. In exceptional cases, 3 years may be required, but students are cautioned to avoid research projects that cannot be completed in 2 years.
Course Requirements
- Forty-five credits are required for the M.Sc. degree.
- Students must complete the courses BIOL 697, -698 and -699 (Master's Thesis Research 1, 2, 3). These research courses each carry a credit weight of 13 credits.
- In addition, six course credits are required. These courses may be taken in Biology or in other departments, but they must be relevant to the student's program (language and writing courses are excluded) and they must be graduate level courses at the -500 or higher level.
- All course selections must be approved by the student’s supervisor. Additional course work may be required if the Supervisory Committee (SC) considers such courses necessary for background knowledge or suitable training in biology.
- A graduate pass (65% or better) is mandatory for all courses required for the M.Sc. degree. Students who fail a required course may be allowed to write a supplemental exam, but permission for this must be sought from the Chair of the GTC who will, in turn, request University authorization. Students may take additional courses not required for degree purposes, but they must maintain an overall average of `B-' (65%) or better, including marks in courses that are not required.
Other requirements
- Safety training: All newcomers, staff and students, to the Department of Biology are required to attend a Biology Department Safety Session at their first opportunity following the start of employment/studies. These sessions are given three times a year at the beginning of October, February and May. The exact dates and times will be posted on the bulletin board next to W4/14 and advertised in the Biology Weekly newsletter. [Download the Safety Attendance sign-off sheet]
- Supervisory Commitee meetings: All students must have an annual meeting with their Supervisory Committe (SC).
- Seminars: Master's students are expected to participate regularly in one or more of the Department's journal clubs and seminar series, e.g. Molecular Genetics and Development Seminars; Graduate Students Symposium in Ecology, Evolution, Behaviour, and Conservation; Works in Progress Series (MGWIPS); Honours Seminars; Aquatic Seminars; Neurobiology Journal Club; Organismal Seminars.
- Seminar presentation: All students are required to present a half-hour seminar on their work annually, in an established university seminar series or in a similar public forum.
Thesis Requirements
Because the Biology M.Sc. degree is considered to be a research degree, the candidate must present a thesis which should contain original contributions to knowledge. The nature of the M.Sc. degree varies considerably throughout the University and it should be clear that requirements in Biology are more stringent than the minimal requirements laid down by the Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies Office. Several months before the student is ready to submit a thesis, they must see the Graduate Studies Coordinator for instructions on thesis submission. Students need to refer to the Thesis programs section of the McGill Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies for complete information.
Transfer from M.Sc. to Ph.D Program
The student's Thesis Supervisor and Supervisory Committee must first approve a transfer. This should be indicated on the “Report of Supervisory Committee” form returned to the Graduate Studies Coordinator after the SC meeting. The Thesis Supervisor must indicate that sufficient funds are available to provide the student with the minimum level of support for the duration of the Ph.D. program. The transfer of students from the M.Sc. to the Ph.D. program must be approved by the Graduate Training Committee which, in turn, will recommend to the University Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies Office that a change of status take place. To reflect their accumulated research experience, students who transfer into the Ph.D. program are considered to be at level Ph.D. 2 and are required to take the Ph.D. Qualifying Examination within eight months of their initial registration in the Ph.D. program. Students intending to transfer must apply for the new program on line by the following deadlines:
For September registration:
- January 15th for International students
- March 15th for Canadian citizens
For January Registration:
- August 15th for International students
- October 15th for Canadian citizens
| Please address all inquiries to: graduate.biology@mcgill.ca | |
| Graduate Studies Office Stewart Biology Building Room W4/8 Office Hours: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Fax No: (514) 398-5069 |
Susan Bocti (Graduate Coordinator) Ancil Gittens (Graduate Admissions Coordinator) |