Master in Biology

In many Biology fields obtaining a graduate degree will increase your range of employment options or improve your earnings; graduate school can also help prepare you to enter a health-related professional program. However, graduate school is a big commitment and is not right for everyone. The program is offered at Portland State University.

The faculty take an integrative approach to biology, encompassing all levels of biological organization from molecules to ecosystems. Our Department is committed to excellence in both research and teaching, and we strive to provide a rigorous, balanced education in Biology for all our students. The Portland State University share the offices and laboratories with Physics, Chemistry and Environmental Science Departments in the SRTC and Science Building 1.

Is graduate school right for me?

For many students in Biology, the Bachelor’s degree is not adequate for them to achieve their career goals. Students obtaining Master’s degrees typically have a broader range of options available to them, with more opportunities for working in positions of greater responsibility or earning higher salaries. When deciding whether you should apply to graduate school, consider what your career goals are and which type of degree will be best to advance you towards those goals.

If you ultimately plan to obtain a PhD, it is not necessary for you to get a Master’s degree first, but it is generally advantageous in the long run. Students who obtain a Master’s first generally have more success in PhD graduate programs and can benefit from more diverse training experiences if they obtain their degrees from different universities. Also, getting a Master’s degree first allows you to switch projects, advisers, and schools without losing important time spent on a project.