Program Highlight Biology Masters PhD

The Department of Biology at University of Louisiana at Lafayette offers a Master of Science (MS) in biology and a PhD in environmental and evolutionary biology. Students can focus on areas that include anatomy and physiology, genetics and cellular biology, coastal and marine biology, conservation biology, ecology and evolutionary biology.

For the PhD, the program is designed for students to contribute to and conduct their own research. Students gain experience designing, conducting, and analyzing research, giving presentations, preparing manuscripts for publication, and writing grant proposals while working with a faculty member, an advisory committee, and dissertation research.

The MS offers both thesis and non-thesis tracks. The non-thesis option is 36 hours of coursework. The thesis option involves working closely with faculty on research, and MS graduates move on to doctoral programs or professional schools, or take supervisory roles and laboratory and teaching positions listed for graduates.

Before you apply to the PhD program, you must contact a faculty member with whom you would like to conduct research. After acceptance, faculty help develop a plan for coursework and research and students assemble an advisory committee of biology faculty.

• Academia
• Research scientists in federal, state, or private labs
• Supervisory positions in environmental and natural resource agencies
• Work in biotechnology, food safety, or forensics labs
• Instructors in high schools, community colleges and universities