Complete the Education Plan Form for the term you were admitted.
Students must successfully complete 37 credits distributed as follows:
Seven required courses (19 credits): BIOD 604, 605, 609, 702; PUAD 630; GOVT 500, 540
At least three courses (9 credits) of BIOD electives
Up to two courses (6 credits) of approved non-BIOD electives
3 credits of BIOD 798 Master's Project or 6 credits of BIOD 799 Master's Thesis
Students have the option to take their elective courses within one of the concentrations listed below.
Concentration in International Security
Four courses (12 credits) chosen from: BIOD 620, 621, 622, 705, 706, 709, 722, 725, 760, 761; GOVT 641, 741, 745, 843; PUAD 504, 701, 727
Concentration in Homeland Security
Four courses (12 credits) chosen from: BIOD 710, 722, 723, 725, 726, 751, 752, 760, 761, 766, 767; GOVT 510, 706, 755; PUAD 631, 635, 727, 731, 750; PUBP 757, 758; PHIL 642
In order to graduate the MS in Biodefense program, students must complete a substantial research paper to demonstrate the ability to conduct original, independent research. This goal can be achieved in two ways: a research project or a thesis. The objectives of both the research project and thesis are to serve as a capstone for the student's graduate education and to demonstrate the student's research, analytical, and writing skills. Both options require the student to produce a substantial and original contribution to the fields of biodefense or biosecurity on the model of a paper suitable for presentation at a scholarly conference or an article in a peer-reviewed scholarly journal.
Students must successfully complete 30 credits distributed as follows. Students may do one of three options: course-only, thesis or project.
4 core courses (12 credits): BIOD 604, 605, 607, PUAD 631
3 credits of colloquium BIOD 702
9-15 credits of BIOD electives
Optional 3-6 credits of thesis (BIOD 799) or 1-3 credits of project (BIOD 798)
Students may do an optional thesis or project with approval of the program director The thesis option involves original research and independent acquisition and interpretation of data. Students pursuing the thesis option must defend their thesis and present their results in a public seminar. The project option may be employment-related research, a comprehensive report resulting from an internship, or a publication-quality professional paper. Students pursuing the project option must successfully complete written and oral comprehensive exams. See the Academic Policies chapter of the catalog for policies governing all master's theses.
The degree requires completion of 30 credits. Students in the degree program are required to take:
core courses BIOD 604, 605, 607, and 610 Crisis and Consequence Management
minimum 1 credit each of seminar courses BIOD 702 and 703
9 additional credits of BIOD courses
The balance can be taken in one of three ways to complete the 30 credits:
combination of elective and BIOD course credits
combination of elective and BIOD course credits plus a thesis (3 to 6 credits of BIOD 799)
or combination of elective and BIOD course credits plus a project (1 to 3 credits of BIOD 798).
The thesis option involves original research and independent acquisition and interpretation of data. Students pursuing the thesis option must defend their thesis and present their results in a public seminar. The project option may be employment-related research, a comprehensive report resulting from an internship, or a publication-quality scientific paper. Students pursuing the project option must successfully complete written and oral comprehensive exams. In the course-only option, students take additional BIOD or elective course work to fulfill the 30-credit requirement. Contact the department office for a list of approved elective course work.
For further information please contact the program's Graduate Coordinator.