Contents > School of Applied Arts and Sciences > Department of Applied Biological Sciences
Department of Applied Biological Sciences
poly.asu.edu/saas/appliedbiologicalsciences/
Ward W. Brady, Chair
Douglas Green, Associate Chair
Brady, Brock, Martin, Mushkatel, Sommerfeld, Stutz
Green, Miller, Slater, Steele, Whysong
Alford, Hart-Weber, Huffman, Oberstein, Sniegowski
The faculty of the Department of Applied Biological Sciences offer a program leading to the MS degree in Applied Biological Sciences. Selected faculty in this program also participate in offering the PhD program in Environmental Design and Planning and the PhD program in Plant Biology. See Doctor of Philosophy, for general information on the PhD degree.
The MS degree in Applied Biological Sciences is supported by faculty with backgrounds in botany, ecology, rangeland resources, urban horticulture, wildlife biology, and a wealth of field experiences. Research projects in wildlife inventory, habitat restoration, GIS and remote sensing, and urban horticulture, among others, help support the applied nature of the program.
The MS degree in Applied Biological Sciences is designed to train students who are scientifically competent, aware of the necessity of communicating the importance of sound ecosystem management, and able to work with numerous groups interested in biological resources. Students have the opportunity to study in the areas of applied biotechnology, plant systematics, urban horticulture, and wildlife and restoration ecology. All students are required to complete a core of graduate courses, conduct a research project under the direction of a faculty member, and prepare and defend a research thesis.
Applicants to the program are expected to meet the minimum requirements for admission to the Graduate College. In addition, scores from the Graduate Record Examination or Miller Analogies Test are required. Applicants are expected to have completed 18 semester hours in biological sciences or closely related courses. Applicants not meeting these requirements may be considered for admission with deficiencies.
Submit the following separate application materials to
DEPARTMENT OF APPLIED BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
1. a statement of intent (maximum 600 words) explaining
(a) the applicant’s interest in applied biological sciences,
(b) the applicant’s academic background, and
(c) the applicant’s educational objectives;
2. three letters of recommendation from references who are qualified to comment on the applicant’s potential in the selected area of study; and
For fall enrollment, application materials are due in the Department of Applied Biological Sciences and the Graduate College on March 15.
For spring enrollment, application materials are due in the Department of Applied Biological Sciences and the Graduate College on October 15.
Selection Procedures and Notifications
School faculty evaluate the applications and supporting materials and recommend to the Graduate College whether the applicant should be granted regular or provisional admission or if admission should be denied. If admission is provisional, the Graduate College specifies in its letter of admission the provisions to be met to gain regular status. The school informs successful applicants of the procedures for enrollment.
A minimum of 30 semester hours of approved graduate course work is required. All students are required to complete a research methods course. First-year students are expected to complete ABS 591 Seminar. Second-year students are required to complete ABS 691 Seminar in the fall semester. All students are also expected to complete three semester hours of research and three semester hours of thesis. The remaining hours are chosen to support the student’s educational objectives.
A final oral examination covering the thesis and related subject matter is required.
The faculty of the Department of Applied Biological Sciences are engaged in a number of research projects of global, national, regional, or state importance. Scholarship in service to community is the hallmark of a state-supported university.
A few examples of this scholarship are a project involved in “The Adaptation of Sonoran Desert Vegetation to Wildfire on the Tonto National Forest”; “Use of Algae for Biofuels Production”; a “Wildlife Vegetation Inventory for Northern Phoenix”; “Relationships of Temperate Legumes in North America and Eurasia”; “Flora of the Usery Mountains, Maricopa County”; and an investigation into the “Effects of Livestock Use Levels on Riparian Trees on the Verde River.”
Courses
Information about all courses is available on the Web at ASU Interactive. For more information, see Classification of Courses.