Department of Biology & Microbiology

Volker Brözel, Department Head
Radhey Kaushik, Professor/Graduate Coordinator
Department of Biology and Microbiology
Alfred Dairy Science Hall 228, Box 2104A
605-688-6141
E-mail: biomicro@abs.sdstate.edu
www.sdstate.edu/biomicro

Graduate degrees available through the Department of Biology and Microbiology are the M.S. and the Ph.D. in Biological Sciences. Students may choose specializations in Biology or Microbiology.

The M.S. degree program prepares students for a variety of careers such as teachers, laboratory research assistants, positions with state and federal agencies, and many private industry positions. Some M.S. students choose to pursue a Ph.D. degree after completing their M.S. degree at SDSU. Similar career opportunities also exist for students completing their Ph.D. degree, however, job placement is typically at a higher level. University or college faculty positions generally require a Ph.D. degree.

Normally at least two years are needed to complete the requirements for the M.S. degree and at least four years (without a prior masters degree) for the Ph.D. degree. For some students, particularly those pursuing a career in secondary school teaching, a M.S. program with a non-thesis research option (Plan B) is available. Additional course work and a research paper are required in lieu of the thesis for the Plan B program. A list of undergraduate courses and graduate courses in the Biology/Microbiology Department is available in the Graduate Bulletin. Additional courses may be taken in closely related departments, such as Natural Resource Management, Plant Science, Animal Science, Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, and Mathematics and Statistics.

Graduate Faculty

Donald Auger, Associate Professor
Bruce Bleakley, Professor
Volker Brözel, Department Head and Professor
Heike Bucking, Professor
William Ray Gibbons, Professor
Greg Heiberger, Lecturer and Undergraduate Program Manager
Michael Hildreth, Professor
Radhey Kaushik, Professor, Graduate Coordinator
Feng Li, Professor
Wanlong Li, Associate Professor
Shinyi Marzano, Assistant Professor
Mark Messerli, Assistant Professor
Madhav Nepal, Associate Professor
Scott Pedersen, Professor
R. Neil Reese, Professor
Natalie Thiex, Assistant Professor
Dan Wang, Research Assistant Professor
Xiuqing Wang, Professor
Yajun Wu, Associate Professor
Yang Yen, Professor
Ruanbao Zhou, Associate Professor

Programs

Master’s Degree

Doctoral Degree