GPC (Submitted 26 February 2016) · GPC (Submitted 26 February 2016) ... overseen by an advisory board drawn from faculty in the natural sciences and mathematics/computer science

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GPC (Submitted 26 February 2016)

Committee Name: Graduate Programs Committee

Chair: Kurt Galbreath

Subject: GPC Recommendation for Biology MSIB proposal

First Reading: 15 March 2016

Recommendations

1. The GPC recommends approval of a request by the Biology Department to revise and rename

the current M.S. Biology‐Biochemistry graduate program into an interdisciplinary program

hosted by the Biology Department and overseen by an advisory board drawn from faculty in the

natural sciences and mathematics/computer science. The complete program revision proposal is

attached below.

a. The proposed revision will address the low enrollment of the current Biology‐

Biochemistry program, provide a more explicitly interdisciplinary option for graduate

studies (when compared to the current M.S. in Biology), provide a means for faculty in

other STEM departments to take on graduate thesis students (increasing opportunities

for students with potential benefits to graduate enrollment), and enhance NMU’s

research potential.

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Graduate Programs Committee New Programs and Major Curriculum Revisions Proposal Form

(Rev. January 12, 2016)

New Programs and Major Curriculum Revisions.

Proposal to significantly modify Master of Science Biology‐Biochemistry and to rename it Master of Sciences Integrated Biosciences

1. State the rationale for the program. Include the programmatic goals and objectives, and how the program fits into the departmental mission statement.

This document describes the proposal from the Biology Department to modify the existing M.S. Biology‐Biochemistry graduate program into an interdisciplinary program hosted by the Biology Department and overseen by an advisory board drawn from faculty in the natural sciences and mathematics/computer science. We are proposing these changes to address the low enrollment of the current program, provide a more tailored and unique program (when compared to our M.S. Biology), provide a means for faculty in other STEM departments to take on graduate thesis students (increasing opportunities to potential students), and enhance NMU’s research potential.

This proposal presents a history of our current program with an overview of its current status as well as a detailed rationale for the changes we propose. We also provide bulletin copy for the new program as well as some alteration of bulletin language that previously lumped both the existing thesis programs in Biology together. We also provide an overview of the assessment plan for the revised program as well as additional information relevant to the program that would appear in the Student Handbook for the program.

History and Status of the Current Program

The M.S. Biology‐Biochemistry program has been in place for many years. It was originally designed to be interdisciplinary between the Biology and Chemistry Departments and came under the oversight of the Biology Department prior to 2000. We regularly graduate high quality students from the program. However, at any given time (in recent years), we range from 0‐3 students in the program. This low enrollment has not been problematic because the student and mentor experience is very similar to that experienced by students and mentors working within the related M.S. Biology thesis program and the two programs have been very tightly linked administratively within the department. There are no additional costs to the Biology Department to maintain the program; however, the links to the Chemistry Department have slowly declined over time with decreased enrollment of students in this program in Chemistry courses. Students in the two Biology thesis programs take similar courses and the only current substantive differences are in a single admission requirement for a student in MS Bio‐Biochem to take Physical Chemistry (CH 342 Physical Chemistry II or its equivalent; since this is a 300‐level course students cannot take this course for graduate credit if they have not completed it prior to admission) and the need for students in this program to complete the Biochemistry and Biochemical Techniques courses. While these requirements were designed to differentiate the two programs, in practice students entering the MS Bio‐Biochem program are usually NMU graduates who have already taken Biochemistry and Biochemical Techniques and the courses are commonly substituted out with

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graduate level biology courses. Most typically, students use this program interchangeably with the other thesis program with the exception that some undergraduate Biochemistry majors seem to prefer the MS Bio‐Biochem program.

Rationale for Program Changes

We are proposing to modify the existing MS Biology‐Biochemistry program for the following reasons:

Students in the program are not getting a unique experience (relative to the MS Biology program) and this limits its effectiveness and attractiveness;

There is a chronic low enrollment in the program and we anticipate potentially losing the program if we do not modify it in some effective manner;

There are some issues with the ability of the Biology Department to handle the workload of substantial increases in thesis‐student enrollment since the mentorship of thesis students is time/effort intensive for faculty, making dramatic increases in enrollment in this program without detriment to the M.S. Biology program unlikely without increases in possible mentors;

Assessment of the program is impractical because of low enrollment and lack of differentiation between students in the program and the MS Biology program.

In addition to seeking to remedy issues within the program, we also seek to take advantage of several other trends on campus to produce a stronger, vibrant program that contributes to NMU and is more appropriate to advances in the field of biology. Specifically, biology as a discipline has continued to change and expand, and in recent years dramatic advances in technology have changed the landscape of biological research. With increases in data acquisition technology (especially through genetic techniques and remote sensing), ever more critical links between biology and the other natural sciences, and increasing complexity of analysis and modeling of biological systems, new expertise is needed. Biology is becoming increasingly interdisciplinary with fields like bioinformatics, mathematical biology, biological statistics, forensic biochemistry, biomaterials science, biophysics, organism‐induced climate change and atmospheric alteration, biogeochemistry, nanotechnology, robotics, and many more becoming hotspots for biologically‐relevant research. In many cases, the projects in these fields reflect partnerships between scientists drawn from a variety of disciplines coming together to address questions about living organisms and their environment. The existing M.S. Biology‐Biochemistry program was partially intended to work with students interested in such interdisciplinary approaches, but it was hampered by the inability to fully bring in appropriate faculty mentors and by its implied limitation to chemistry. It was also hampered because the existing program (M.S. Bio) has been a fine avenue for the majority of students working in Biology Department research labs, although there is evidence within our own department that this may be changing (e.g. collaborations around big data and analysis are needed that are not as well suited to a strictly biology program).

Therefore, we are proposing to retool the program by:

Changing its name and mission to more fully embrace the intersection of natural and mathematical sciences with biology (new name = M.S. Integrated Biosciences);

Increase opportunity for student recruitment and program identity/marketing by encouraging faculty in other natural science and math/CS departments to serve as major advisors for interdisciplinary, biologically‐related graduate student projects;

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Increase capacity for graduate students on campus by encouraging faculty in other natural science and math/CS departments to take on thesis‐generating graduate students.

Increasing the deliberate interdisciplinary nature of the program by requiring courses included in a student program and student advisory committees to be drawn from multiple departments, while still ensuring close ties to the theme of biological research appropriate to housing the program in the Biology Department.

Increase the diversity of students who have access to the program by broadening the preparation that is acceptable for admission into the program without decreasing the expected quality of incoming students.

In addition to these benefits, the Biology Department expects that these changes will increase graduate student enrollment on campus, increase STEM faculty morale and scholarly productivity as they will be able to better support research programs with the inclusion of graduate students, increase infrastructure available for scientific research, and enrich the research environment on campus in STEM through enhanced collaboration among both faculty and students across disciplines.

2. State the job opportunities for graduates of the proposed program. Include evidence documenting those opportunities.

Job opportunities for this major are extremely diverse, and rather difficult to quantitate. Students interested in this major, depending on the specific area of study they define, could be interested in academia (often associated with going on to a Ph.D., but sometimes moving directly into teaching or technician work with their M.S.), government agency positions (biologists, statisticians, bioinformaticians, data analysts, weather and climate specialists, geoscientists, chemists, etc.), or private industry (chemists, materials scientists, scientists at engineering firms, biotechnology, etc.) or entrepreneurship themselves. It is likely that some students would also continue on to additional postgraduate work in professional schools (e.g. medical school). STEM‐related jobs continue to be high paying and available with employers seeking specialized training such as what can be obtained through this program. The Bureau of Labor and Statistics reports a wage premium for those that seek a STEM‐related Masters Degree (http://www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2015/article/should‐i‐get‐a‐masters‐degree.htm#STEM) and also provide an overall outlook on STEM employment options supporting the overall outlook of employment in STEM fields (http://www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2014/spring/art01.pdf).

3. Indicate if there are related programs in any departments at NMU. The only program that is closely related at NMU is the M.S. Biology offered in the Biology Department. The Biology Department is obviously supportive of this new program. We understand that there is interest in developing a M.S. program in Math/CS, but we do not expect there to be significant competition for students since we think that program may be more course based and would not have the linkages to biology required of this program. We see them as being complementary and we are hopeful that this program will support the development of other STEM graduate programs on campus.

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4. Indicate how the proposed program compares to other graduate programs that exist at other regional/national universities.

A search of the Internet reveals programs with a similar name (Integrated Bioscience or Integrated Biosciences) only at the University of Minnesota‐Duluth, and the University of Akron. There is a department of Integrated Biosciences at the University of Tokyo. Oxford University offers a Ph.D. in Integrated Biosciences. Generally, the US based programs seem similar to ours in intent with the idea being to support interdisciplinary research related to biological questions. There are undoubtedly additional programs with a similar purpose with different names available, but we do not see evidence to suggest that we would be overly competing with local or regional universities and there seems to be an adequate space in the niche to accommodate our program.

5. Describe if the proposed program will affect the department’s accreditation.

There is no process for accreditation for the Biology Department

6. Provide the listing of the proposed program as it will appear in the Graduate Bulletin.

** Bulletin copy from the existing program is provided at the end of this document for your reference.

PROPOSED BULLETIN COPY FOR REVISED PROGRAM

Integrated Biosciences

Total Credits Required for Degree 32

Required Courses in the Major: 4‐10

BI 500 Planning and Proposing Scientific Research 2

BI 589 Research in Biology or other equivalent course in Natural Sciences 1‐4

BI 599A Thesis in Biology or other equivalent course in Natural Sciences 1‐4

Electives:

Students may choose the remainder of their coursework from the following list with the requirement

that 3‐4 credits be completed in BI, and 7‐8 credits in one other prefix and 3‐4 credits in a third prefix in

courses of defined content (i.e. not Directed Studies).

Choose from the following: 22‐28

BI 402 Microbial Ecology (3 cr) BI 404 Virology (3 cr.)

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BI 405 Immunology (3 cr.) BI 406 Advanced Cell Biology (4 cr) BI 410 Ecology of the Great Lakes (4 cr.) BI 411 Limnology (4 cr.) BI 412 Biometrics (4 cr.) BI 413 Biochemistry of Development (4 cr)BI 418 Molecular Biology (4cr) BI 419 Biology of Cancer (4 cr) BI 420 Neuroscience (4 cr) BI 423 Parasitology (3 cr.) BI 424 Entomology (4 cr.) BI 425 Endocrinology (3 cr.) BI 426 Human Histology (4 cr.) BI 427 Ecological Animal Physiology (4 cr.) BI 428 Behavioral Ecology (4 cr.) BI 430 Plant Anatomy (4 cr.) BI 431 Plant Physiology (4 cr.) BI 433 Boreal Flora (2‐3 cr.) BI 434 Plant Ecology (4 cr.) BI 435 Boreal Ecosystems (4 cr.) BI 441 Fisheries Management (3 cr.) BI 442 Wildlife Management (4 cr.) BI 460 Ichthyology (3 cr.) BI 461 Herpetology (4 cr.) BI 462 Ornithology (4 cr.) (4 cr. as of 8/23/10) BI 463 Mammalogy (3 cr.) BI 465 Aquatic Insect Ecology (4 cr.) BI 491 Seminar (1 cr.) BI 495 Special Topics in Biology (1‐4 cr.) BI 510 Advanced Human Physiology (4 cr.) BI 511 Advanced Animal Physiology (3 cr.) BI 513 Advanced Ecology (4 cr.) BI 514 Population Genetics (3 cr.) BI 516 Bio Systems Analysis (1 cr.) BI 517 Population Ecology (3 cr.) BI 518 Gene Structure and Function (2 cr.) BI 519 Bioinformatics (2 cr.) BI 520 Systematics (3 cr.) BI 521 Advanced Exercise Physiology (3 cr.) BI 531 Advanced Seminar in Exercise Physiology * (3 cr.) BI 590 Graduate Seminar in Biology * (1 cr.) BI 595 Special Topics in Biology * (1‐4 cr.) BI 596 Special Topics in Biology * (1‐4 cr.) BI 598 Directed Study Research in Biology * (1‐4 cr.)

CH 415 Inorganic Chemistry (4 cr.) CH 435 Gas and Liquid Chromatography (2 cr.) CH 436 Modern Spectroscopy (3 cr.)

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CH 437 Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (1 cr.)CH 440 Forensic Chemistry (4 cr.) CH 450 Biochemistry I (4 cr) CH 452 Biochemistry II (4 cr.) CH 454 Biochemical Techniques (4 cr.) CH 456 Protein Structure and Function (3 cr) CH 495 Special Topics in Chemistry (1‐4 cr)

CS 410 Database Development for Scientists (4 cr) GC 401 Biogeography (4 cr) GC 425 Remote Sensing (4 cr) GC 428 Spatial Analysis (4 cr) GC 465 Hydrology (4 cr) GC 475 Environmental Impact Assessment (4 cr) GC 495 Special Topics (1‐4 cr) MA 412 Abstract Algebra II (3 cr) MA 465 Complex Variables (3 cr) MA 472 Applied Statistics (3 cr) MA 478 Probability (3 cr) MA 482 Foundations of Mathematics (3 cr) MA 483 Introduction to Number Theory (3 cr) MA 484 History of Mathematical Thought (3 cr) MA 595 Special Topics in Mathematics (1‐4 cr) MA 598 Directed Studies in Mathematics (1‐4 cr) PH 410 Introductory Quantum Mechanics (3cr) PH 598 Directed Study (1‐4 cr)

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION IN THE BULLETIN WHICH ADDRESSES BOTH BIOLOGY DEPARTMENT

THESIS GRADUATE PROGRAMS – Changes reflect more complete separation of the programs as well

as revisions to the current Biochemistry program. No actual changes are proposed to the M.S. Biology

program.

Master of Science in Biology

M.S. in Biology Program Mission

The graduate program in Biology provides quality graduate education through student‐faculty collaboration in biological research and scholarly activity. Graduates will have a strong understanding of biology and the principles that guide the design and execution of high‐quality research. Graduates will have substantial research experience and will be able to successfully communicate scientific information to the public and the scientific community.

Additional Information

The thesis program in Biology may be broadly based and include course work in several areas of biology, or it may provide for concentration within a specific area of biology.

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One of the strengths of these master’s degree programs is that they provide the opportunity for students to participate in an in‐depth graduate research project. Many of these projects utilize field‐oriented research because of the unique geographical setting of the university. Laboratory research is also supported in such areas as neurobiology, genetics, virology, immunology and physiology. Department facilities include a green house, aquatics laboratory, herbarium, Lake Superior research boat, the Longyear Forest, confocal microscope, molecular biology labs, a small‐animal colony, and a zoological collection. The members of the Biology Department faculty all have doctoral degrees, and most are actively involved in the department’s graduate program. Thesis advisors for students in this program are drawn from the Biology Department faculty who maintain graduate faculty Level 3 status.

M.S. in Biology Program Requirements

Programs must include a minimum of 32 credit hours of graduate courses. A minimum of 16 credit hours

must be 500‐level courses in biology. A minimum of 20 credit hours of biology courses are required.

Graduate students must carry out a plan of study which includes research and thesis. Candidates must

perform original research under the direction of a research adviser from the Biology Department and

present a seminar and thesis based on the research at the conclusion of their program. The student's

advisory committee must approve a formal research proposal providing a review of literature and clear

explanation of methods prior to the start of data collection. The candidate will defend his or her thesis

at an oral examination. The thesis must be accepted by the Biology Department and the Office of

Graduate Education. Additional guidelines and policies are available in the Master of Science in Biology

Student Handbook.

Biology

M.S. Biology Admission Requirements: Applicants are required to comply with the regular admission requirements of the Office of Graduate Education and Research, which includes an undergraduate grade point average of 3.0. In addition, students must have either: a) a bachelor's degree in the biological sciences, or b) a minimum of 24 credit hours in undergraduate Biology courses, or equivalents, with a minimum GPA in these courses of 3.0. Transcripts of applicants will be evaluated on an individual basis.

Applicants are also expected to have a background in other sciences, with a total of 16 credits of coursework from at least two of the following areas: chemistry (general chemistry, organic chemistry, or biochemistry), geography (geographic information systems), geology (physical geology, soils or hydrology), physics or statistics. At least 12 of these credits are expected to be accompanied by a lab. Other courses may be accepted with the approval of the department.

Applicants and/or their potential advisors may request special consideration for admission of students with backgrounds that do not meet these expectations. Written requests should be directed to the Biology Graduate Committee, which after consideration will make recommendations to the Department for final approval of admission recommendations. The Department may admit students with deficient backgrounds with conditions that need to be met in a defined period of time.

Applicants are required to comply with the regular admission requirements of the Office of Graduate Education. In addition:

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1. All applicants must submit scores from the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) at the time of admission.

2. Applicants must include an essay indicating their background, career goals and research interests.

3. Student’s entering the biology/biochemistry degree must have completed CH 342 Physical Chemistry II or its equivalent with a grade of “B.” Credit for this course will not count for the degree.

4. Applicants must submit three letters of recommendation.

5. Students must have a thesis adviser prior to admission. Applicants are strongly encouraged to communicate with the thesis adviser early in the application process. To identify the adviser, students should contact a faculty member and establish the willingness of that person to serve as the adviser, as indicated by a memorandum from the faculty member to that effect.

Master of Science in Integrated Biosciences

M.S. Integrated Biosciences Mission

The Master of Science program in Integrated Biosciences provides quality graduate education through student‐faculty collaboration in interdisciplinary natural science research and scholarly activity with links to biology. Graduates will have a strong understanding of interdisciplinary natural sciences and the principles that guide the design and execution of high‐quality research. Graduates will have substantial research experience and will be able to successfully communicate scientific information to the public and the scientific community.

Additional Information

The Master of Science degree program in Integrated Biosciences is designed to meet the needs of students with an interests in the intersection of biology and the other sciences, technology and engineering fields such as chemistry, physics, geology, atmospherics, climatology, mathematics and computer science. Student thesis projects in this program emphasize the interdisciplinary nature of natural sciences and biology, drawing on diverse knowledge bases and skill sets. Projects are developed at the discretion of the student and the student’s interdisciplinary graduate advisory committee. The advisory committee will review the student’s background and determine what training and/or coursework will be required.

M.S. in Integrated Biosciences Program Requirements


must be 500‐level courses. A minimum of 7‐8 credit hours of biology courses are required. Students

must complete 7‐8 credits in one other natural science or mathematics/computer science departments

(denoted by course prefix). Remaining credits may be drawn from listed courses at the discretion of the

student and his/her advisory committee. Graduate students must carry out a plan of study which

includes research and thesis. Candidates must perform original research under the direction of a

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research adviser and present a seminar and thesis based on the research at the conclusion of their

program. Students in this program may receive primary mentorship by a research advisor in a natural

sciences, mathematics or computer science discipline who maintains Level 3 graduate faculty status at

NMU. The student's advisory committee must approve a formal research proposal providing a review of

literature and clear explanation of methods prior to the start of data collection. The candidate will

defend his or her thesis at an oral examination. The thesis must be accepted by the Master of Science in

Integrated Biosciences Advisory Board and the Office of Graduate Education.

Integrated Biosciences

M.S. Integrated Biosciences Admission Requirements:

Applicants are required to comply with the regular admission requirements of the Office of Graduate

Education and Research, which includes an undergraduate grade point average of 3.0. In addition,

students must have either: a) a bachelor's degree in the natural sciences, mathematics or computer

science, or b) a minimum of 24 credit hours in undergraduate natural science courses, or equivalents,

with a minimum GPA in these courses of 3.0. Students are expected to have sufficient training at the

undergraduate or post‐baccalaureate level, which could include employment‐related experience, to

successfully undertake the thesis project and the program. Transcripts of applicants will be evaluated on

an individual basis with input from the faculty advisor.

Applicants are also expected to have a background in a breadth sciences, with a total of 16 credits of

coursework from at least two natural science, mathematics, or computer science disciplines that are not

the area of their primary undergraduate training. Other courses may be accepted with the approval of

the program advisory board.

Applicants and/or their potential advisors may request special consideration for admission of students

with backgrounds that do not meet these expectations. Written requests should be directed to the

Program Advisory Board. The program may admit students with deficient backgrounds with conditions

that need to be met in a defined period of time.


Education. In addition:

1. All applicants must submit scores from the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) at the time of

admission.



4. Students must have a thesis adviser prior to admission. This advisor can be drawn from any of the

natural sciences, engineering, computer science, or mathematics disciplines. Applicants are strongly

encouraged to communicate with the thesis adviser early in the application process. To identify the

adviser, students should contact a faculty member and establish the willingness of that person to serve

as the adviser, as indicated by a memorandum from the faculty member to the program advisory board.

This memorandum should also indicate the general area of research to be conducted by the student and

provide a rationale for the fit of this research area with the mission of the M.S. Integrated Biosciences

program.

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M.S. in Biology or M.S Integrated Biosciences Admission Deadlines and Requirements

Application packets must be complete to be considered for admission. Incomplete application materials

will be retained for one year from the initial application date. Applicants wishing to be considered after

that time must resubmit all materials. Late applications may be considered at the discretion of the

department and only under extreme circumstances.

Fall Semester Program Start:

Applications for fall admission will be reviewed from March 1 through May 1. Applicants interested in

being considered for a fall‐awarded teaching assistantship must have all materials submitted by March

1.

Winter Semester Program Start:

Applications for winter admission will be reviewed from September 15 through December 1. Applicants

interested in being considered for a winter‐awarded teaching assistantship must have all materials

submitted by September 15.

7. State the admission requirements for the program.

M.S. Integrated Biosciences Admission Requirements:



students must have either: a) a bachelor's degree in the natural sciences, mathematics or computer

science, or b) a minimum of 24 credit hours in undergraduate natural science courses, or equivalents,

with a minimum GPA in these courses of 3.0. Students are expected to have sufficient training at the

undergraduate or post‐baccalaureate level, which could include employment‐related experience, to

successfully undertake the thesis project and the program. Transcripts of applicants will be evaluated on

an individual basis with input from the faculty advisor.

Applicants are also expected to have a background in a breadth sciences, with a total of 16 credits of

coursework from at least two natural science, mathematics, or computer science disciplines that are not

the area of their primary undergraduate training. Other courses may be accepted with the approval of

the program advisory board.



Program Advisory Board. The program may admit students with deficient backgrounds with conditions

that need to be met in a defined period of time.



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admission.



4. Students must have a thesis adviser prior to admission. This advisor can be drawn from any of the

natural sciences, engineering, computer science, or mathematics disciplines. Applicants are strongly

encouraged to communicate with the thesis adviser early in the application process. To identify the

adviser, students should contact a faculty member and establish the willingness of that person to serve

as the adviser, as indicated by a memorandum from the faculty member to the program advisory board.

This memorandum should also indicate the general area of research to be conducted by the student and

provide a rationale for the fit of this research area with the mission of the M.S. Integrated Biosciences

program.

M.S. in Biology or M.S Integrated Biosciences Admission Deadlines and Requirements








1.





8. State the graduation requirements for the program.

M.S. in Integrated Biosciences Program Requirements


must be 500‐level courses. A minimum of 7‐8 credit hours of biology courses are required. Students

must complete 7‐8 credits in one other natural science or mathematics/computer science departments

(denoted by course prefix). Remaining credits may be drawn from listed courses at the discretion of the

student and his/her advisory committee. Graduate students must carry out a plan of study which

includes research and thesis. Candidates must perform original research under the direction of a

research adviser and present a seminar and thesis based on the research at the conclusion of their

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program. Students in this program may receive primary mentorship by a research advisor in a natural

sciences, mathematics or computer science discipline who maintains Level 3 graduate faculty status at

NMU. The student's advisory committee must approve a formal research proposal providing a review of

literature and clear explanation of methods prior to the start of data collection. The candidate will

defend his or her thesis at an oral examination. The thesis must be accepted by the Master of Science in

Integrated Biosciences Advisory Board and the Office of Graduate Education.

9. Attach outlines of any new or substantially revised courses, and include Graduate Bulletin descriptions.

No new or revised courses are needed for the revision of this program

10. State the projected enrollment for the program in years one, two and five.

Year 1 – recruitment for graduate programs takes longer than the turnaround time to initiate the program. We expect to have accepted two students into the program by the end of year 1; they may or may not yet have begun work in the program.

Year 2 – we expect by have four students enrolled in the program during year 2.

Year 5 – we expect enrollment to stabilize at ~8 students (~ 4 new each year of the 2 year program).

11. State the anticipated costs of the program for each of five years, including separate descriptions for:

a. Staff – No additional staff time will be needed to teach content courses used by students in the program as these courses are already being offered. Students may contribute to enrollments of upper level courses making them more likely to make minimum enrollments which may necessitate shifting of staffing, however this is at the discretion of the relevant departments and students have sufficient options within the program to not force course offerings. Undefined content courses taught by the research mentors (e.g. Thesis, Research, Directed Study) will be dealt with as the particular department has previously determined using their load documents and may represent a small increase in staffing, but unless the program grows large, it is not expected that this will result in large staffing realignments. Should the program be highly successful, additional staffing should be considered.

b. Equipment – No specific new equipment will be needed for the program. Equipment used in student projects will be related to specific research questions and may be already available on campus, supported by grant or discretionary monies within the departments, or

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borrowed from collaborators.

c. Supplies – Like equipment, supplies needs are highly variable and will be tailored to individual research projects and funded from departmental budgets, grants or other sources as is common in research.

d. Library – Since most scientific research is primarily resourced using primary literature through the library and consists of electronic journal access, it is unlikely that additional library resources will be needed. Should specific faculty become active and need access to journals not covered by our already extensive holdings, it may be helpful to consider different avenues for access.

e. Space/Facilities (e.g., new specialized laboratory) – All departments and faculty likely to use this program to support graduate students already have research laboratories. It would be helpful to have access to graduate student office space for students in this program, particularly for students with major advisors in departments other than Biology.

12. Indicate staffing plans for the new program, including if the current faculty are sufficient and competent to deliver the proposed curriculum, or if new faculty will be needed.

We expect current faculty to be sufficient and competent to support this program.

13. Describe the equipment that is currently available for the proposed program and equipment that will be needed for the proposed program.

See prior discussion of equipment and supplies as well as space. Essentially, no new major equipment will be needed for this program. Any smaller needs will be met through discretionary departmental funding or through grants or collaborative agreements.

14. State anticipated library usage by students in the proposed program. Indicate if current library resources are adequate for the course or if new library acquisitions will be required to support the class. This shall include a letter of support from the Library Liaison for the involved department.

Since most scientific research is primarily resourced using primary literature through the library and consists of electronic journal access, it is unlikely that additional library resources will be needed. Should specific faculty become active and need access to journals not covered by our already extensive holdings, it may be helpful to consider different avenues for access.

See attached for letter from Kevin McDonough

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15. Indicate if current space/facilities are adequate to house the proposed program, and if it is not, state new space/facilities requirements.

All departments and faculty likely to use this program to support graduate students already have research laboratories. It would be helpful to have access to graduate student office space for students in this program, particularly for students with major advisors in departments other than Biology.

16. Provide letters of support from the involved Department Head/Chair and Dean that addresses administrative support for all necessary monetary commitment to the new program.

See attached for letter from the Dean. Departmental support of the Head and the entire department is represented by this proposal which has been approved officially by the department.

17. Indicate when the program will be delivered (fall/winter/summer semesters; day or evening offerings).

Fall/Winter/Summer sessions. Courses taught day or evening. Research activities at any time.

18. Indicate if the program will be delivered face‐to‐face on NMU main campus, hybrid, online, or global campus.

Primarily face‐to‐face, although some online courses could be used if they are available.

19. State the planned implementation date for the proposed program.

Fall 2017

ADDITIONAL MATERIALS NOT MENTIONED IN GPC FORM BUT RELEVANT TO REVISION

LETTERS FROM AFFECTED DEPARTMENTS We have attached letters from the STEM departments most

likely to use this program (in addition to Biology).

ASSESSMENT PLAN FOR REVISED M.S. Integrated Biology PROGRAM (this is not bulletin information)

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The Assessment Plan for this program is modelled after the approaches taken in the MS Biology thesis

program. Assessment will comprise three elements:

1. Successful completion of BI500 where the students will learn the fundamentals of production of a

scientific research proposal. This outcome will be evaluated via a rubric applied to the summative

proposal produced in the course by the instructor;

2. The production of a successful thesis research proposal which will be evaluated by the student’s

thesis committee using an established rubric. This outcome is distinct from #1 because proposals

generated in BI500 have not been through the thorough evaluation of the thesis advisor and the thesis

committee who have specialized discipline‐specific knowledge. Approval of this proposal implies that

the project is ready to be conducted at a professionally appropriate level;

3. The final outcome is a successful thesis defense process which is comprised of three elements: public

seminar presentations, written scientifically formatted thesis, oral evaluation. This defense is evaluated

by the student’s thesis committee using an existing rubric used by the Biology Department which is

applicable to projects with varying themes. It evaluates both essential understanding, conduct and

analysis of the research project as well as the ability to effectively communicate the results in a scientific

and professional manner.

Rubrics for each element have already been developed and are in use for the MS Biology program,

contain subscores which provide substantial information about the learning in the program, and are

available upon request. Data will be collected on an annual basis for students who attempt each of the

outcomes outlined above.

ADDITIONAL RELEVANT INFORMATION THAT WOULD APPEAR IN THE M.S. INTEGRATED SCIENCES

STUDENT HANDBOOK

Students in this program are eligible for consideration of award of funding (teaching assistantships,

grant support, etc.) from their home department (defined as the home department of their major

advisor).

The student advisory committee will be comprised of a minimum of three graduate level NMU faculty

with at least one being based in the Biology Department and at least one being based in a different

department. Non‐NMU faculty who hold graduate faculty status may be placed on advisory

committees, but the majority of the committee membership must be NMU graduate faculty.

BULLETIN COPY OF EXISTING PROGRAM (Biology‐Biochemistry)

Biology/Biochemistry

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For department information or additional degree requirements, click here

For course description, click on the course.

Total Credits Required for Degree 32

Required Couses in the Major: 16

CH 450 Biochemistry I 4

CH 454 Biochemical Techniques 4

BI 500 Planning and Proposing Scientific Research 2

BI 589 Research in Biology * 1‐4

BI 599A Thesis in Biology 1‐4

Electives:

Choose from the following: 14

BI 404 Virology (3 cr.)

BI 405 Immunology (3 cr.)

BI 413 Biochemistry of Development (4 cr.)

BI 418 Molecular Biology (4 cr.)

BI 423 Parasitology (3 cr.)

BI 425 Endocrinology (3 cr.)

BI 426 Human Histology (4 cr.)

BI 427 Ecological Animal Physiology (4 cr.)

BI 431 Plant Physiology (4 cr.)

BI 511 Advanced Animal Physiology (3 cr.)

BI 518 Gene Structure and Function (2 cr.)

BI 590 Graduate Seminar in Biology * (1 cr.)

BI 595 Special Topics in Biology * (1‐4 cr.)

BI 596 Special Topics in Biology * (1‐4 cr.)

CH 435 Gas and Liquid Chromatography (2 cr.)

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CH 436 Modern Spectroscopy (3 cr.)

CH 437 Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (1 cr.)

CH 452 Biochemistry II (4 cr.)

*Elective courses of unspecified content will only be counted toward a degree if approval of student's

thesis advisory committee has been obtained prior to enrollment in the course.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION POSTED TO THE CURRENT BULLETIN WHICH ADDRESSES BOTH EXISTING

BIOLOGY DEPARTMENT THESIS GRADUATE PROGRAMS:

Master of Science in Biology or Biology/Biochemistry

The thesis program in Biology may be broadly based and include course work in several areas of biology, or it may provide for concentration within a specific area of biology. The master of science degree program in biology with a biochemistry emphasis is designed to meet the needs of biochemically oriented students. Biochemical specialization can be focused toward molecular biology, cytology developmental biology, microbiology or physiology (animal or plant) at the discretion of the student and the student’s graduate advisory committee.

One of the strengths of these master’s degree programs is that they provide the opportunity for students to participate in an in‐depth graduate research project. Many of these projects utilize field‐oriented research because of the unique geographical setting of the university. Laboratory research is also supported in such areas as neurobiology, genetics, virology, immunology and physiology. Department facilities include a green house, aquatics laboratory, herbarium, Lake Superior research boat, the Longyear Forest, confocal microscope, molecular biology labs, a small‐animal colony, and a zoological collection. The members of the Biology Department faculty all have doctoral degrees, and most are actively involved in the department’s graduate program.

M.S. in Biology Program Mission*

The graduate program in Biology provides quality graduate education through student‐faculty

collaboration in biological research and scholarly activity. Graduates will have a strong understanding of

biology and the principles that guide the design and execution of high‐quality research. Graduates will

have substantial research experience and will be able to successfully communicate scientific information

to the public and the scientific community.

M.S. in Biology or Biology/Biochemistry Program Requirements


must be 500‐level courses in biology. A minimum of 20 credit hours of biology courses are required.

Graduate students must carry out a plan of study which includes research and thesis. Candidates must

perform original research under the direction of a research adviser and present a seminar and thesis

based on the research at the conclusion of their program. The student's advisory committee must

approve a formal research proposal providing a review of literature and clear explanation of methods

Page 18 of 19

prior to the start of data collection. The candidate will defend his or her thesis at an oral examination.

The thesis must be accepted by the Biology Department and the Office of Graduate Education.

Biology

Biology/Biochemistry

M.S. in Biology or Biology/Biochemistry Admission Deadlines and Requirements








1.





Admission Requirements:



students must have either: a) a bachelor's degree in the biological sciences, or b) a minimum of 24 credit

hours in undergraduate Biology courses, or equivalents, with a minimum GPA in these courses of

3.0. Transcripts of applicants will be evaluated on an individual basis.

Applicants are also expected to have a background in other sciences, with a total of 16 credits of

coursework from at least two of the following areas: chemistry (general chemistry, organic chemistry, or

biochemistry), geography (geographic information systems), geology (physical geology, soils or

hydrology), physics or statistics. At least 12 of these credits are expected to be accompanied by a

lab. Other courses may be accepted with the approval of the department.



Biology Graduate Committee, which after consideration will make recommendations to the Department

for final approval of admission recommendations. The Department may admit students with deficient

backgrounds with conditions that need to be met in a defined period of time.




admission.

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3. Student’s entering the biology/biochemistry degree must have completed CH 342 Physical Chemistry

II or its equivalent with a grade of “B.” Credit for this course will not count for the degree.


5. Students must have a thesis adviser prior to admission. Applicants are strongly encouraged to

communicate with the thesis adviser early in the application process. To identify the adviser, students

should contact a faculty member and establish the willingness of that person to serve as the adviser, as

indicated by a memorandum from the faculty member to that effect.

*Note: There is currently no separate Mission Statement for the MS Biology‐Biochemistry graduate

program

January 31, 2016

Dear Committee Members,

I am pleased to endorse the proposed Master of Sciences Integrated Biosciences program. It has the

potential of increasing the number of graduate students (albeit slightly) without any additional increase

in faculty. It will provide Science faculty from outside the Biology department with the opportunity to

mentor students in graduate research. And has the potential to increase the University’s research

profile. In short, this is a win‐win situation for faculty and students.

Michael Broadway PhD Dean, College of Arts & Sciences Northern Michigan University

memo

Olson Library, Northern Michigan University

To: Jill Leonard

From: Kevin McDonough

Date: 1/28/2016

Re: New Programs in Biology

Comments:

Jill I have reviewed your proposal for a new Master of Science in Integrated Biosciences. Since it doesn’t involve the development of any new biology courses, and will rely primarily on journal literature, the Library’s current holdings should be sufficient. Certain research or class assignment topics may not be covered adequately by existing journal subscriptions, but articles can be obtained fairly quickly through Interlibrary Loan (ILL). ILL does have associated costs through copyright clearance fees, but at this time I would be guessing as to whether this new Master program will cause an increase in these fees. The elective requirements are quite broad, covering five departments, but you noted all of these course have been approved for graduate credit. As a result, the issue of library resources for these courses has already been addressed.

February 5, 2016

Dear Dr. Jill Leonard:

I am writing today to express support for the proposed Master of Sciences Integrated Biosciences which

is a major modification of the existing Master of Science Biology – Biochemistry. I have shared the

information you provided me with the rest of the NMU Physics Department and there is no concerns or

reservations about the inclusion of our PH 410 and PH 598 courses as a part of this new Master’s

program.

While our participation is likely to be small in this program, we are happy to support it. We hope this

proves to be quite successful and beneficial to the Biology Department, the other STEM fields, and

Northern Michigan University.

Respectfully,

David W. Donovan, Ph. D.

Professor of Physics, Chair of the Physics Faculty

Northern Michigan University

1401 Presque Isle Ave

Marquette, MI 49855

(906) 227-2453

[email protected]

February 9, 2016

To Members of the Graduate Programs Committee:

Dr. Jill B.K. Leonard shared the Biology Department’s proposal to revise the existing MS Biology-Biochemistry into a renamed MS Integrated Biosciences program. She circulated the proposal to members of the Department of Earth, Environmental, and Geographical Sciences in the STEM disciplines who might be interested in contributing to this program. I have heard only supportive comments from EEGS faculty members regarding the MS Integrated Biosciences program. They see the potential to collaborate on research, teach courses for graduate students, serve as committee members, and advise Master’s students.

The revised program seems to be a great fit for the STEM departments at NMU, and the EEGS Department supports the proposal.

Sincerely,

Susy S. Ziegler Associate Professor and Head, Department of Earth, Environmental, and Geographical Sciences Associate Dean, College of Arts & Sciences

Documents

GPC (Submitted 26 February 2016) · GPC (Submitted 26 February 2016) ... overseen by an advisory board drawn from faculty in the natural sciences and mathematics/computer science