Biology

Overview

Ideal for students choosing to gain experience in scientific research with professional goals, such as graduate education; working for a federal or state agency or non-governmental organization; securing employment in industry; or teaching in secondary and higher education, Master of Science in Biology offers a general track as well as a specialization in conservation and biodiversity. Alongside 15 full-time expert faculty with a passion for their students, you will also collaborate with the Sanford School of Medicine, the USD Missouri River Institute, the USD Sustainability Program, South Dakota State University and other institutions nationally and internationally.

During the Biology degree at University of South Dakota , you will research, explore and experience the study of life from the molecule to the landscape. Because biology is such a wide field, you are able to tailor your degree to align with your personal interests in many areas such as aquatic and terrestrial ecology, conservation biology, sustainability, ecotoxicology, plant and animal physiology, molecular biology, neuroscience, cell biology, developmental biology, genetics and evolution.

Explore the Vast Nature of the Adjacent Missouri River

Get involved with hands-on research in your own backyard or across the world. Whether you are interested in the ongoing research in backwater restoration, the impact of invasive tree species on floodplain bird nesting or turtle ecology, the Missouri River Institute and USD's unique location to the Missouri River offers vast opportunities for research.