Master of Arts [M.A] [Biology] From American University

Offered by the Department of Biology, College of Arts and Sciences, this is a nonthesis degree for students seeking various life science professions, as additional training for students seeking admission to professional schools, or as an intermediate degree for those intending to pursue further graduate study.

The biology master of science degree program is a research degree that prepares students for a variety of careers in the life sciences and may also serve as an intermediate degree for those intending to pursue further graduate study. Graduate students have the opportunity to gain experience in scientific methods and experimental design in the laboratory and in the field.

The Department of Biology offers courses and research opportunities in the life sciences, with an emphasis on:

• evolution and development
• phylogenetics and systematics
• molecular biology, genetics & genomics
• microbiology
• cell biology
• ecology
• neurobiology

Biology master’s students conduct their own research projects and benefit from one-on-one faculty mentorship. The Department of Biology is a thriving group of young, dynamic faculty and students who work with a strong collaborative spirit on many diverse research projects.

Research and teaching laboratories are well-equipped and constantly updated. Students also have the opportunity to collaborate with investigators at some of the nation's most prestigious biological research centers, including the National Institutes of Health and the Smithsonian Institution.