Master of Science in Biological Sciences

Students in the park for Project True

How do birds navigate through urban landscapes? How do plants respond to climate change? Can the human papilloma virus, responsible for 99 percent of cervical cancers, be stopped? Can the biomarkers for serious psychiatric disorders be identified before they take hold?

At Fordham, our graduate students are in the lab and out in the field, seeking solutions to these questions and more. Our master of science program provides a unique cross-disciplinary experience that will increase your versatility, grounding you in cutting-edge molecular tools and techniques as well as systems biology. You’ll specialize in one of two tracks:

With our strong emphasis on research, we have a successful record of preparing our students for doctoral work at Fordham and other competitive programs.

Program Highlights

  • Work closely with faculty mentors
  • Access to Fordham’s Louis Calder Center Biological Field Station in Westchester County for research in ecology, evolution, and conservation
  • State-of-the-art lab facilities in Larkin Hall for research in fields including cell and molecular biology, microbiology, cytogenetics, entomology, and neurobiology

Program Basics

  • Designed as a two-year program for full-time students
  • Courses are held at Fordham's Rose Hill Campus in the Bronx
  • Curriculum requires 34 credits for ecology and 35 credits for cell and molecular biology. Both tracks include two core courses in ecology and two core courses in cell and molecular biology in the first year
  • Comprehensive examination required

Careers and Doctoral Programs

Many of our graduates continue on to doctoral work at Fordham and other universities, including Weill Cornell and the Sackler Institute.

Our alumni also have gone on to positions in academia, government, and industry, including:

  • Central Park Zoo
  • Federal Bureau of Investigation
  • National Wildlife Federation
  • New York Botanical Garden
  • New York City Department of Environmental Protection
  • New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
  • U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
  • U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service