A checklist is the list of requirements to complete this program and receive the award, as the college publishes it in its catalog. It is the same for everyone. It does not say what you have completed; that comes from applying your own record.
Program
- Award
- MS
- Credential class
- ceterms:MasterDegree
- CIP
- 26.0101
- Total credits (published)
- 12-15
- Credits (computed from items)
- 58-59
- Catalog edition
- 2026-2027
- Checklist type
- degree-program
Identifiers
- IPEDS UNITID
- 232186
- CourseShelf checklist
- CK_232186_0635ffbc
- CollegeTransfer.Net
- Institution Transfer Profile
- Source
- CourseShelf publish 59
Requirements to complete
Every course or condition the catalog lists, in the catalog's order.
Core Courses
major core · 0 items
Cell and Molecular Requirement
1 item
- or: BIOS 744 Molecular Genetics3
Professional Methods Requirement
1 item
- 1-2
Choose one course from the following:
3 items
- 3
- 1-4
- 3
Seminar Requirement
0 items
Select a total of 3 credits from the following courses:
4 items
- 1
- As published: “Seminar in Biology (may be repeated) 2”1
- As published: “Seminar in Molecular, Microbial, and Cellular Biology (may be repeated) 3”1
- 1
Systems Biology/Evolution Requirement
1 item
- As published: “Current Topics in Biology 4”or: BIOL 502 Adaptation in Biosystemsor: BMED 604 Fundamentals of Human Physiology1-4
Research Requirement
0 items
Students have the option to complete a 2-3 credit research project (BIOL 798 Master's Research Project) or a 3-5 credit master's thesis (BIOL 799 Thesis). In accordance with AP.6 Graduate Policies, the same quality of work is expected of students regardless of which option they choose.
0 items
Research Project: The MS project is most appropriate for students who have scheduling commitments, such as a full-time job, that may preclude performing a complete series of laboratory experiments. Students pursuing the project option must successfully complete written and oral comprehensive exams. Additionally, students should present their research orally or as a poster to a community outside of the classroom, at Mason conferences or at external conferences.
0 items
Thesis: In general, the MS thesis is most appropriate for students planning or considering a research career. Students pursuing the thesis option must write a formal thesis that meets the requirements of the school and must defend their thesis and present their results in a public seminar.
0 items
Select a Research Project or a Master's Thesis
2 items
- As published: “Master's Research Project (2-3 credits)”1-3
- 1-6
MS without Concentration
concentration · 0 items
General Coursework
0 items
In consultation with an advisor, select at least 12 credits of graduate coursework from BIOL, BIOS, BMED, or NEUR-prefixed courses. Suggestions include:
18 items
- As published: “Selected Topics in Animal Biology 1”1-4
- 3
- 3
- As published: “Advanced Topics in Molecular Genetics 2”3
- 1-4
- 3
- 4
- 1-2
- 3
- As published: “Directed Studies in Biology 3”or: BINF 795 Bioinformatics Internship1-8
- 1-3
- 3
- 3
- 3
- 3
- 3
- 3
- As published: “Fundamentals of Human Physiology 4”5
Concentration in Evolutionary Biology (EB)
concentration · 0 items
Populations and Species
0 items
Select 3-6 credits from the following:
4 items
- 3
- or: BIOS 767 Molecular Evolution3
- 3
- 1-4
Organismal Biology
0 items
Select 3-6 credits from the following:
17 items
- 3
- 0-4
- 1-4
- 3
- 3
- 3
- 1-4
- 4
- 4
- 4
- 4
- 3
- 3
- 3
- 1
- 4
- 4
Molecular Techniques
0 items
Select 3-4 credits from the following:
5 items
- As published: “Directed Studies in Biology 1”or: BINF 795 Bioinformatics Internship1-8
- 3
- 4
- 3
- 4
Electives
electives · 0 items
If needed in order to reach a total of 30 credits, select from the following courses: 2
2 items
- As published: “Directed Studies in Biology 1”or: BINF 795 Bioinformatics Internship1-8
- 3
Any additional course listed in the Core Courses section
major core · 0 items
Concentration in Microbiology and Infectious Disease (MID)
concentration · 0 items
Microbiology and Infectious Diseases
0 items
In consultation with an advisor, select 12 credits from the following:
7 items
- As published: “Topics in Bioinformatics 1”1-3
- 3
- 3
- 3
- As published: “Directed Studies in Biology 2”1-8
- 3
- 3
Electives
electives · 0 items
If needed to reach a total of 30 credits, select from the following courses:
6 items
- As published: “Selected Topics in Animal Biology 3”1-4
- 3
- 2
- 4
- 3
- 3
Any additional course listed in the Core Courses section
major core · 0 items
Concentration in Molecular Biology (MOB)
concentration · 0 items
Molecular Biology
0 items
In consultation with an advisor, select 12 credits from the following:
12 items
- As published: “Selected Topics in Animal Biology 1”or: BIOL 583 General Biochemistry1-4
- 3
- or: BIOS 767 Molecular Evolution3
- or: BINF 630 Bioinformatics Methods3
- 1-2
- 2
- As published: “Directed Studies in Biology 2”or: BINF 795 Bioinformatics Internship1-8
- 3
- 4
- or: BINF 633 Molecular Biotechnology3
- 1-3
- 3
Electives
electives · 0 items
If needed to reach a total of 30 credits, select from the following courses:
6 items
- 3
- As published: “Directed Studies in Biology 2”or: BINF 795 Bioinformatics Internship1-8
- 3
- As published: “Special Topics in Neuroscience 3”or: NEUR 689 Topics in Neuroscience3
- 3
- 3
Any additional course listed in the Core Courses section
major core · 0 items
Concentration in Neuroscience (NEUR)
concentration · 0 items
Statistics
0 items
Select 3 credits from the following:
7 items
- 3
- 3
- 3
- As published: “Current Topics in Biology 1”1-4
- 3
- 3
- 3
Neurobiology
0 items
In consultation with an advisor, select 9 credits from the following, at least 6 of which must be in NEUR-prefixed courses:
17 items
- As published: “Selected Topics in Animal Biology 2”1-4
- As published: “Advanced Topics in Molecular Genetics 3”3
- As published: “Directed Studies in Biology 4”or: BINF 795 Bioinformatics Internship1-8
- 3
- 3
- 3
- 3
- 3
- 3
- 3
- 3
- As published: “Topics in Neuroscience (any topic is allowed; may be repeated)”3
- 3
- 1
- 1
- 3
- 3
Electives
electives · 0 items
If needed to reach a total of 30 credits, select from the following:
3 items
- 4
- As published: “Current Topics in Biology 5”or: BIOS 743 Genomics, Proteomics, and Bioinformatics1-4
- As published: “Directed Studies in Biology 4”or: BINF 795 Bioinformatics Internship1-8
Any additional NEUR-prefixed course at the 500-700 levels
0 items
Other relevant graduate-level coursework may be selected in consultation with the advisor
0 items
Concentration in Nutrition Genetics and Nutraceuticals (NGN)
concentration · 0 items
Nutrition
0 items
In consultation with an advisor, choose 6 credits from the following:
5 items
- As published: “Selected Topics in Animal Biology 1”1-4
- 3
- 3
- 3
- 3
Human Diseases
0 items
In consultation with an advisor, choose 6 credits from the following:
5 items
- As published: “Selected Topics in Animal Biology (when the topic is "Medical Biochemistry")”1-4
- or: BIOL 667 Signal Transduction in Cancer3
- 3
- 3
- 3
Electives
electives · 0 items
If needed to reach a total of 30 credits, select from the following courses:
6 items
- As published: “Selected Topics in Animal Biology 2”1-4
- 3
- 3
- 4
- As published: “Directed Studies in Biology 3”or: BINF 795 Bioinformatics Internship1-8
- 3
Any additional course listed in the Core Courses section
major core · 0 items
Concentration in Translational and Clinical Research (TCR)
concentration · 0 items
Translational and Clinical Research 1
0 items
In consultation with an advisor, select 12 credits from the following:
10 items
- As published: “Selected Topics in Animal Biology 2”1-4
- 3
- 3
- 3
- 3
- As published: “Current Topics in Biology 3”or: BIOS 743 Genomics, Proteomics, and Bioinformatics1-4
- As published: “Directed Studies in Biology 4”or: BINF 795 Bioinformatics Internship1-8
- As published: “Cell Biology and Microscopic Anatomy 5”3
- As published: “Fundamentals of Human Physiology 5”5
- As published: “Introduction to Human Anatomy 5”3
Electives
electives · 0 items
If needed to reach a total of 30 credits, select from the following courses:
4 items
- As published: “Selected Topics in Animal Biology 6”1-4
- 3
- As published: “Directed Studies in Biology 4”or: BINF 795 Bioinformatics Internship1-8
- 3
Any additional course listed in the Core Courses section
major core · 0 items
Other relevant graduate-level coursework may be selected in consultation with the advisor
0 items
Undergraduate Courses
3 items
- BIOL 213& BIOL 215Cell Structure and Functionand Cell Structure and Function LaboratoryNot resolved to a course4
- 4
- or: BIOL 311& BIOL 313 General Geneticsand General Genetics Laboratory4
Advanced Standing Courses
8 items
- 3
- As published: “Selected Topics in Animal Biology (When the topic is "Mechanisms of Aging" or "Research and Development in Biotechnology Companies" or "Biology of Obesity and Weight Loss")”3
- or: BINF 630 Bioinformatics Methods3
- 3
- 3
- 1
- As published: “Current Topics in Biology (When the topic is "Principles of Biomedical Literature Review")”3
- 1
Undergraduate Courses
3 items
- BIOL 213& BIOL 215Cell Structure and Functionand Cell Structure and Function LaboratoryNot resolved to a course
- BIOL 311& BIOL 313General Geneticsand General Genetics LaboratoryNot resolved to a course
- 3
One statistics course from the following:
1 item
- or: MATH 352 Statisticsor: PSYC 300 Statistics in Psychologyor: STAT 250 Introductory Statistics I (Mason Core)4
Advanced Standing Courses
10 items
- 3
- 3
- 1-2
- 1
- 3
- 3
- 3
- 3
- 3
- 3
Source. George Mason University, catalog 2026-2027 — https://catalog.gmu.edu/colleges-schools/science/systems-biology/biology-ms/. Captured page pages/0628.html.gz. Assembled from the institution's published catalog as captured; every record names its captured page and source URL. Assembled, not asserted.