The Master of Science in Botany

Admissions to the Master of Science in Botany is currently suspended. Please contact the Biology Department or the Office of Graduate Studies to learn the current status of the program.

Although the MS in Botany is in suspension, there is now The Option in Botany under The Master of Science in Biological Sciences.

Course Requirements for the Master's Degree: 30 units

Continuous enrollment is required. At the discretion of the academic program, a maximum of 30 percent of the units counted toward the degree requirements may be special session credit earned in non-matriculated status combined with all transfer coursework.  This applies to special session credit earned through Open University, or in courses offered for academic credit through Regional and Continuing Education.

Graduate Time Limit:

All requirements for the degree are to be completed within five years of the end of the semester of enrollment in the oldest course applied toward the degree. See Master's Degree Requirements in the University Catalog for complete details on general degree requirements.

Prerequisites for Admission to Conditionally Classified Status:

1. Satisfactory grade point average as specified in Graduate and Postbaccalaureate Admission Requirements in the University Catalog.

2. Approval by the department and the Office of Graduate Studies.

Prerequisites are the same as for the Master's degree in Biological Sciences.

Prerequisites for Admission to Classified Status:

In addition to any requirements listed above:

Prerequisites are the same as for the Master's degree in Biological Sciences.

Advancement to Candidacy:

Prerequisites are the same as for the Master's degree in Biological Sciences.

Requirements for the MS in Botany:

Requirements are the same as for the Master's degree in Biological Sciences.

Graduate Requirement in Writing Proficiency:

Writing proficiency is a graduation requirement.

Botany majors will demonstrate their writing competence through satisfactory completion of a designated portion of the qualifying examination required as a prerequisite for advancement to candidacy.

Graduate Grading Requirements:

All courses in the major (with the exceptions of Independent Study - 697, Master's Project - 699P, and Master's Thesis - 699T) must be taken for a letter grade, except those courses specified by the department as ABC/No Credit (400/500-level courses), AB/No Credit (600-level courses), or Credit/No Credit grading only. A maximum of 10 units combined of ABC/No Credit, AB/No Credit, and Credit/No Credit grades may be used on the approved program (including 697, 699P, 699T and courses outside the major). While grading standards are determined by individual programs and instructors, it is also the policy of the University that unsatisfactory grades may be given when work fails to reflect achievement of the high standards, including high writing standards, expected of students pursuing graduate study.

Students must maintain a minimum 3.0 grade point average in each of the following three categories: all coursework taken at any accredited institution subsequent to admission to the master's program; all coursework taken at CSU, Chico subsequent to admission to the program; and all courses on the approved master's degree program.

Graduate Advising Requirement:

Advising is mandatory each semester for all botany majors. Consult the Graduate Coordinator for specifics.