Biology students outside

Accelerated Biology Degree

B.S./M.S.

Fast-track your education with an accelerated degree by conducting cutting-edge research to explore the science of living things.

If you’re looking for the straightest line from degree to professional, a UND Master of Science in Biology (M.S.) degree is right for you. And, now with the option of an accelerated degree program, you can complete your higher education in an efficient way. With this accelerated program, you’ll gain the hands-on and practical expertise that today’s employers are looking for.

Program type:
Accelerated (Bachelor’s and Master’s)
Format:
On Campus
Est. time to complete:
5 years
Credit hours:
138

Why earn an accelerated biology degree?

Application Deadlines
Fall:
Aug. 15
Spring:
Dec. 15
Summer:
May 1

 

 
Graduate Application Deadlines
Fall:
Feb. 15*
Spring:
Sept. 15* | Oct. 15

 

*Priority deadline

If you're an international student, refer to the international application process for deadlines.

The biological sciences will play an increasingly important role in coming years, as society grapples with global issues such as overpopulation and climate change. With a Biology major from UND, you'll gain:

  • An understanding of modern research techniques
  • Critical-thinking skills
  • A strong understanding of essential biological concepts
  • Quantitative reasoning ability
  • Broad exposure to all levels of biological organization, from molecules to ecosystems

Solid expertise in the science of living things prepares you to tackle pressing global challenges in a changing world. With a master's degree in biology from UND, you'll have skills, knowledge and research experience that set you apart as a scholar, a researcher and a leader.

How the Accelerated Biology Degree Works

The accelerated B.S./M.S. degree program allows exceptional undergraduate students at UND an opportunity to complete the requirements for both the bachelor’s and master’s degrees (non-thesis) at an accelerated pace.

Complete the required courses, and you'll earn both your bachelor's and master's degrees at the same time. You’ll declare your program of study as an undergraduate student and follow a straightforward plan to graduate with a master’s degree.

  1. Incoming freshman or transfer students apply to UND as an undergraduate student.
  2. After completing 60 credits, apply to the School of Graduate Studies.

UND's Accelerated Biology Degree

  • Excellent facilities and research areas that include greenhouses, vertebrate and invertebrate museums, tissue culture facilities and molecular biology labs

  • Ability to get individualized mentoring from faculty who are engaged in both research and teaching.

  • Excellent area for studying northern prairie and pothole regions, including access to three field stations that include wetlands, prairies, riparian woodlands, streams and agricultural areas

  • Collaborative environment that includes broad and integrative approaches to biology, using tools that range from computational to molecular to GIS.

  • Participate in internships or experiential learning supported by local and national programs such as the National Science Foundation Research Experience for Undergraduates (NSF-REU) and the National Institutes of Health Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowships (NIH-SURF).

  • Join organizations such a the Wildlife Society and North American Vascular Biology Association (NAVBO).

What can I do with an accelerated biology degree?

71K

Median annual salary for zoologists and wildlife biologists, 2023

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

79K

Median annual salary for environmental scientists and specialists, 2023

U.S. Bureau of Labors Statistics

UND biology graduates can expect a range of opportunities in careers like:

  • Biologist
  • Scientist
  • Research Technician
  • Laboratory Technician
  • Ecologist
  • Systems Biologist
  • Wildlife Biologist
  • Game Manager
  • Game Biologist
  • Geneticist

Biology alumni have gone on to a variety of successful careers with:

  • University of Minnesota
  • Altru Health System
  • Northland Community & Technical College
  • Sanford Health
  • Abbott Laboratories

Biology Graduate Courses

BIOL 509. Scientific Writing. 2 Credits.

Writing is an essential part of the scientific enterprise. In this course, students will develop their scientific writing skill through readings and discussion on the nature of effective writing, and through critique of writing projects produced by each student. Course can be repeated up to 4 credits for different writing projects. Prerequisite: Consent of instructor. Repeatable to 4.00 credits. F.

BIOL 571. Research Design and Statistical Analysis. 3 Credits.

Topics in scientific inference, research design, and current approaches to statistical analysis of data in biology and other studies of the natural world. Practical data analysis using commonly available software. Prerequisite: An introductory course in statistics. F.

BIOL 533. Grassland Ecology. 3 Credits.

Phytogeography, environmental influences, and community dynamics of grassland ecosystems with emphasis on herbage production, ecosystem modeling, and ecological characteristics of major grass species. Prerequisite: BIOL 332 or an equivalent approved by the department. On demand.

BIOL 418. Systems Biology. 3 Credits.

Living organisms are complex systems composed of numerous interacting parts. Systems biology seeks to understand biological phenomena by integrating the coordinated action of many components of a system using a multidisciplinary approach. This class introduces basic concepts and methods in systems biology with an emphasis on biological networks, gene regulation, intracellular signaling, development and pattern formation, metabolism, and the analysis of high-throughput "omics" data. Computer simulations are used heavily to gain deeper insight into system function. Counts as an upper-division laboratory course. Prerequisite: BIOL 315, BIOL 341, and MATH 103. F, even years.

BIOL 512. Advanced Evolutionary Analysis. 3 Credits.

This course will focus on methods that reconstruct evolutionary histories of populations, species and higher-level taxa. The course will also discuss the evolution of specialized traits using appropriate analyses. Prerequisite: Consent of instructor. On demand.

BIOL 534. Quantitative Ecology. 3 Credits.

An introduction to the methods employed in the study of the ecology of natural populations/communities of plants and animals.

UND Biology BS/MS

Best Biology Programs

UND's accelerated biology degree is recognized by U.S. News & World Report as a top biological sciences program in the nation. Our program consistently ranks among the best for educational quality, affordability, and career outcomes. 

U.S. News Rankings

Leaders in Biology

Growing up in a small community, Mason Curtis saw the need for physicians in his community, and now he's working toward fulfilling that need through practicing hands-on research at UND.

Read Mason's Story
Explore More Options

Connect with the faculty you'll work with at UND or discover additional opportunities.

Department Contact
Dr. Robert Newman
Starcher Hall, Rm 101
P 701.777.4290

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