Master of Science in Biological Sciences
At UNE, our Master’s program will provide you with a comprehensive foundation of knowledge in biological concepts, as well as intensive training in the craft of research, which will provide you with the experience needed for a career in the biological sciences or to pursue doctoral study. We offer two pathways: a traditional two-year M.S. track, or a 4+1 B.S./M.S. track. On either path, you will benefit from working closely with a faculty mentor, our cutting-edge facilities, and our beautiful Biddeford Campus.
Traditional Two-Year M.S. Track
The Master of Science in Biological Sciences can be earned at UNE through a traditional two-year program, following completion of a bachelor's degree in a biology-related field. During this time, you will conduct original research and prepare a thesis on any of a variety of topics selected in consultation with your faculty advisor, who serves as your research mentor.
4+1 B.S./M.S. Track
If you are a current UNE undergraduate student, the UNE Biological Sciences 4+1 B.S./M.S. track allows you to complete an undergraduate and master’s degree in just five years. To enroll in the 4+1 program, you must be an undergraduate at UNE with a 3.5 overall G.P.A., and a 3.5 G.P.A. in all math and science courses, and must receive sponsorship from a faculty member in the School of Biological Sciences who will serve as your thesis advisor. You can declare your intent to enroll in the program as early as the second semester of your sophomore year or as late as the second semester of your junior year.
Who can apply to the M.S. in Biological Sciences degree program?
To apply to our M.S. in Biological Sciences degree program, you must hold a bachelor’s degree from a U.S. regionally accredited institution or international equivalent.
M.S. in Biological Sciences Research
Regardless of which track you enroll in, you will engage in research with a faculty mentor, culminating in a publication-quality thesis. At the time you apply to the two-year track, it is highly recommended to identify faculty who you would like to work with and thus you are strongly encouraged to contact faculty members directly early in the process to discuss potential research opportunities. As a student in the 4+1 track, you identify a mentor during your B.S studies at UNE.
Explore student research opportunities in the School of Biological Sciences
Research at UNE: Combating Antibiotic Resistance
Biological Sciences Graduate Success
Whether they choose the traditional two-year track or the 4+1 combined track, graduates of UNE’s M.S. in Biological Sciences program have gone on to pursue further education and fascinating careers, including
- Science Department Chair at Lakes Region Community College
- Water Resources Staff at the RI Dept of Environmental Management
- Research Assistant at the Mount Desert Island Biological Laboratory
- Medical Fellow at Hunter Pain Specialists
- Ph.D. program in Biomedical Sciences at the University of Buffalo
Publications
One of the benchmarks of graduate-level work is the publication of one’s research in a scientific journal. Below are examples of papers by our graduates:
Cusson AJ, Burkholder KM, Byron CJ, Grebe GS, Deveau AM. 2021. Impact of time of harvest and drying method on antimicrobial activity of Sacharina latissima against two Staphylococcus aureus strains. Applied Phycology 2(1), 80–88. https://doi.org/10.1080/26388081.2021.1996208
Dowling T, Travis SE, Morgan PA, Zogg GP. 2023. Can the marsh migrate? Factors influencing the growth of Spartina patens under upland conditions. Wetlands Ecology and Management 31:887-897. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11273-023-09958-9
McGee K, Perlut NG, Travis SE. 2025. Eight novel microsatellite loci in a declining grassland songbird, the bobolink (Dolichonyx oryzivorus). Ecology and Evolution 15:e71400. https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.71400
McParland A, Moulton J, Brann C, Hale C, Otis Y, Ganter Gl. 2021. The brinker repressor system regulates injury-induced nociceptive sensitization in Drosophila melanogaster. Molecular Pain. 17:17448069211037401. https://doi.org/10.1177/17448069211037401
Roese KHC, Ibrahim S, Cooper LA, Yahya AS, Kang D, Tirupathigari NR, LaRose KAJ, Houseknecht KL, Barlow DJ, Burkholder KM. 2025. Pyrogallol exhibits antimicrobial adjuvant properties against Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis. Journal of Applied Microbiology. 136:8. https://doi.org/10.1093/jambio/lxaf189
Financial Aid at UNE
Finance your education through loans, grants, and scholarships. We are committed to making our biological sciences degree program as affordable as possible.
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