Integrated Sciences (MS), Program Information

Program Faculty

Program Director

Dr. Gaston N’Guerekata

Concentration Coordinators

Dr. James Wachira (Biology)

Dr. Santosh Mandal (Chemistry)

Dr. Birol Ozturk (Physics)

Department Chairs

Dr. Cleo Hughes-Darden (Biology)

Dr. Angela Winstead (Chemistry)

Dr. Willie Rockward (Physics)

Program Description

The Master of Science in Integrated Sciences program offers interdisciplinary training in the area of cross-cutting biological, physical and mathematical sciences with three concentrations, biology, chemistry, and physics, and a professional track covering data analytics, science education, engineering, informatics, management, and statistics. Students will obtain greater in depth preparation in one of these disciplines. The program offers both classroom and laboratory experiences and concludes with a master’s thesis, aiming to prepare students for advanced studies toward a doctoral degree or a research career in industry and governmental agencies. The professional track will be offered for working professionals who desire to enrich their career in a list of disciplines: Data analytics, science education, engineering, informatics, management, and statistics.

LEARNING OUTCOMES After completion of the program, the students will be able to:

• Understand scientific literature and its applications in research
• Be an ethical scientist
• Understand the scientific basis of modern instrumentation and techniques including computational methods and apply them in research
• Gain in-depth knowledge and research experience in one area of biology, chemistry or physics
• Develop strategies to complete an assigned research project and carry them out to produce data for scientific advancement
• Communicate scientific results effectively through poster, oral and written formats

Admission

To be eligible for admission to the Master of Science in Integrated Sciences program, an applicant must:

• Have earned a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university, preferably in biology, chemistry, physics, mathematics, engineering, or other sciences or health-related areas.
• Possess an undergraduate cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale to be considered for regular admission. Students who possess a cumulative undergraduate GPA between a 2.5 and 3.0 may be considered for provisional admission.
• Submit an application for admission to the School of Graduate Studies (SGS). All required documents must be submitted as directed by the School of Graduate Studies prior to program review and admission decision. 7
• Use the application system to arrange for three letters of recommendation to be submitted with the application. These letters must be from faculty members of institutions previously attended by the applicant and who are acquainted with the applicant’s ability to undertake graduate studies. Employment supervisors with such knowledge of the applicant may also provide letters of recommendation.
• Submit a Statement of Study regarding the candidate’s personal academic and professional plans and the reasons for selecting Morgan State University.

Meeting the minimum eligibility requirements and submitting all the required documents does not guarantee that an offer of admission will be made. The decision of the Program Admissions Committee involves a review and analysis of all the elements of the application as well as the availability of positions in the program. The committee then recommends to the Dean of the School of Graduate Studies that an offer of admission be made based on that review.

Students interested in the Master of Science in Integrated Sciences program may apply to the program through the School of Graduate Studies website: http://www.morgan.edu/school_of_graduate_studies.html. Applicants are required to indicate an intended Concentration in the Statement of Study (Biology, Chemistry, Physics).

General Requirements

All candidates for the degree must complete a minimum of 30 credit hours and elect a concentration of study in biology, chemistry, or physics. All candidates must pass two comprehensive examinations: one covers the content of the core courses and the other covers the concentration courses. Students must complete a written thesis and successfully defend in public. For students choosing the non-thesis track, coursework will be taken instead of a thesis.

Students who choose to pursue a concentration in biology, chemistry or physics will take 12 credit hours of coursework in the chosen concentration plus the Thesis Research and Thesis Defense from the specific concentration. Professional track students may choose any elective courses approved by the Program Director.

The School of Graduate Studies further requires Master of Science in Integrated Sciences students to maintain a cumulative average of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale (“B”) in the program of study and a 3.0 cumulative overall average for all courses taken on the graduate level. However, “C” grades may not count for more than 20 percent of total credit hours applied toward satisfying 8 degree requirements. Required graduate courses with a grade of “F” must be repeated. All other graduate coursework may not be repeated.

• Core courses (Required of all students)

• SCIE 500 - Colloquium 0 Credits
• SCIE 501 - Computational Methods in Science 3 Credits
• SCIE 502 - Research Techniques 3 Credits
• SCIE 503 - Scientific Communication and Ethics 3 Credits

Graduate Advisory Committee (GAC)

The student must form a Graduate Advisory Committee (GAC) at the start of the second semester of study consisting of the research advisor and two other program faculty members. The GAC shall work alongside the research advisor to help the student matriculate through Morgan State leading to the Master’s degree.

The student shall prepare a written progress report and orally present it to the GAC at the end of each semester or more frequently as deemed necessary by the advisor. The GAC will evaluate the progress of the student and prepare a short report to the Concentration Coordinator. Unsatisfactory performance of the student will result in probation in the program. The student will develop an improvement plan by working with the research advisor. Two consecutive semesters of unsatisfactory performance may result in dismissal from the program.

Thesis

Selection of a Thesis Advisor and Study Plan

Students will work with the Concentration Coordinator in the first semester of study to conduct a laboratory rotation and eventually select a thesis advisor. A study plan including coursework, thesis research and other program requirements must be developed and approved by the Concentration Coordinator before the end of the first semester.

Thesis Research Proposal

The student is to work with the research advisor to prepare a written thesis research proposal and defend it to the GAC within the first year of study (usually the end-of-first-year summer semester).

Candidacy

Students achieve candidacy by successfully passing the qualifying examination (GECE: Graduate Area Comprehensive Examination) and successfully defending the thesis research proposal, both by the end of the first year of the study (usually the summer semester). The GECE consists of two examinations: one covers the core courses (SCIE 500, 501, 502, and 503) and the other covers the concentration courses.

Thesis Completion

The primary objective of the master’s thesis is to enable students to develop the capability to conduct objective, independent research and develop competency in analytical thinking and quantitative methods. Students must write and successfully defend an acceptable master’s thesis based on original research conducted under the supervision of a member of the graduate faculty in the Department of the Concentration. After completion of the thesis, the student is expected to defend the thesis before a public audience. The thesis must be approved by the research advisor, the Thesis Committee consisting the GAC plus a fourth member, usually a graduate faculty external to the program, the program director and the chairperson of the department prior to submission to the dean’s office. The thesis must conform to the style, form and overall requirements set forth in the Graduate School Handbook. The final thesis will be submitted to the Dean of the School of Graduate Studies for final approval and publication.

Additional Requirements

In addition to following the general University code of conduct, graduate students are expected to generate intellectual products through original research and writing. Graduate students are also expected to accurately document their research and report research findings honestly. In cases where the student is supported by a grant, all publications, including conference abstracts must acknowledge the financial support.

Appeals for grades or other academic matters, including research mentoring, will be reported to the concentration coordinator and department chair for adjudication in accordance with University policy. However, the student has the right to appeal directly to the Associate Dean or School Dean, if he or she deems it necessary.

Biology Concentration

Chemistry Concentration

Physics Concentration

Suggested Curriculum Sequence

• Integrated Sciences (MS), Curriculum Sequence