BA MA Program

Concurrent Bachelors / Masters in EBIO

Description of the BA-MA Program

The concurrent Bachelors-Masters Degrees (BA-MA) in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology is designed to encourage the highly motivated undergraduate who is majoring in Ecology & Evolutionary Biology to take advanced courses at an accelerated pace, engage in an independent research project, and obtain concurrent bachelors and masters degrees in 5 years. If you are interested in obtaining a BA-MA degree, you are strongly encouraged to speak with the Graduate Program Director early in your undergraduate career. There are a limited number of positions.

What do you gain...

by getting the concurrent Bachelor-Master Degrees? The principal advantage is an opportunity to complete a coherent research project during your stay at the University. The primary focus of EBIO's BA-MA is the research opportunity that it affords. EBIO's BA-MA degrees are not awarded for just completing a number of courses but requires that you 1) conduct a research project with thesis and 2) demonstrate a level of professional knowledge commensurate with the graduate degree obtained. A second advantage is that you will take graduate-level courses not open to undergraduates. These graduate-level courses provide students with in-depth knowledge and encourage active discussion of research topics. A third advantage is that you can complete the BA and MA in a shorter time than if separate degrees were sought. A final advantage is that the criteria for admission, although rigorous, are straight forward and simplified relative to EBIO's other graduate degrees. You can also participate in the Honors Program.

We believe that this 5 year BA-MA degree program will better position you to find employment in areas such as environmental consulting, community college/high school teaching, and businesses with an environmental or biomedical emphasis. This degree will also better prepare you for post-graduation professional study.

What are the Admissions Requirements?

Earliest admission would be at the end of the second semester of the sophomore year (45 or more credit hours completed). No admissions will be made during the senior year. Only full-time CU Boulder students are eligible. Admission will be based on the following criteria:

All CU MAPS deficiencies and first/second year A&S core requirements have been completed by the end of the sophomore year.

Grade Point Average must be 3.5 or greater over the 3 semesters (full-time status) prior to application.

You must declare an EBIO Major.

Completion of the EBIO entry-level curriculum (EBIO 2050, EBIO 2060, EBIO 2070, and EBIO 2080 with labs). If you are a second semester sophomore, you may not have had time to complete all of these courses. In this case, submit a program of study for the early completion of these requirements. You should also complete a written statement as to why you want to participate in the BA-MA program.

Letters of support from
- 1) the research advisor and
- 2) two other persons who can comment on your academic performance and potential.
An interview with the Admissions Committee.

Deadlines for application are March 15 and October 15.

How to Apply for the BA MA Degree

Before applying to the program, check that:

CU deficiencies and all first and second year core requirements are/will be completed by the end of the sophomore year.

your average Grade Point Average is 3.5 or greater over the three semesters (full-time status) prior to application.

you have completed the EBIO EBIO entry-level curriculum (EBIO 2050, EBIO 2060, EBIO 2070, and EBIO 2080 with associated labs). Being enrolled in the courses is acceptable as well. If you are a second semester sophomore, you may not have completed all entry level courses. In this case, submit a schedule for when they will be completed.

Find a faculty member within the Department who will sponsor you and act as your research advisor. This person must be rostered in the Graduate School (which includes most of EBIO's faculty).

A written statement as to why you want to participate in the BAMA program. For example, what are your long range professional goals and how will this program help in advancing them? Since this is a research degree, you should include any past or current research experience. If you do not have prior research experience, you should discuss research possibilities with your advisor before applying to the program. Give this statement and a copy of your current transcript to the Director.

Letters of support from 1) the research advisor and 2) two other persons who can comment on your academic performance and potential. You should deliver each of these 3 letters in a sealed envelop to the Director on or before the application deadlines of October 15 or March 15.

Once the application is complete, the Admissions Committee will schedule your interview. A decision will be made within two weeks of the application deadline.

If you have questions about the application process, please ask Jill Skarstad . You can pick up an application form and a copy of these instructions from the Director. Information can also be obtained from EBIO's Undergraduate Advising and Resource Center (N122D Ramaley).

What does the BA-MA degree involve?

To be awarded this degree, you must maintain a GPA of 3.3 or better and complete at least 144 credit hours. A minimum of 30 credit hours must be taken at the graduate level (5000+), but 6 of those hours can be counted toward both the BA and MA degrees (thus the total is 144). EBIO requires that two of these courses be graduate seminars (EBIO 6000+). You must attend the EBIO's Friday afternoon colloquium series, pass a comprehensive exam at the end of your fourth year, conduct an original and independent research project, and submit a thesis on the research completed. Academic evaluation and research oversight is the responsibility of the Thesis Committee. This Committee functions in the following manner:

It is composed of the research advisor and two other EBIO faculty members, each of whom holds an appointment in the Graduate School. Although welcome, an additional member from outside the Department is not required.
The Thesis Committee meets
- 1) immediately following admission to discuss course work and the research project for the next semester;
- 2) at the end of fourth year to review your progress and administer/evaluate a comprehensive exam on a research proposal which you submit to your committee, and
- 3) during the last semester when you submit and defend your thesis. Additional meetings are optional.
Other requirements include completion of all Arts and Sciences core and EBIO major requirements by end of 4th year.

For more information on degree requirements, deadlines, and a schedule for completing the degree reveiw our timeline here .

NOTE: Since the information presented on this web page is in summary form, consult with the Program Director for a complete description of the degree requirements.

Look here for Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about the Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology's concurrent BA-MA degrees , or contact the Director.
What happens following admission to the program? Read the suggested schedule for on-time completion of the degree. This page includes information on the forms which have to be submitted and the deadlines that have to be met.
For more information on the the BA-MA degrees, send e-mail to the Graduate Program Coordinator or contact her directly. The Graduate Program Director is Jill Skarstad and her office is Ramaley N125.