Course details

Summary

The Master of Science (MSc) is a two-year degree which encompasses both coursework and research. The first year involves mainly coursework and preliminary research preparation. Students will have the opportunity to contribute to existing fields of research, or to begin to develop new areas.

Genetics combines the classical approaches of Mendelian genetics and cyto-genetics with the recently developed discipline of molecular genetics. Very much a practical science, it also has a complex and interesting theoretical foundation.

Papers and Thesis

GENE 411 Current Topics in Genetic

GENE 412 Current Topics in Genetics

GENE 495 Master's Thesis Preparation

Two of:

ANAT 456 Developmental Biology

BIOC 462 Molecular Biology

BIOC 463 Contemporary Technologies in Biochemistry

BTNY 467 New Zealand Plant Ecology and Evolution

MICR 461 Molecular Microbiology

PLBI 401 Special Topic

STAT 435 Data Analysis for Bioinformatics

ZOOL 410 Evolutionary Genetics

Note: With approval from the Programme Director, another 400-level paper may be substituted for one of the papers listed above.

Thesis: GENE 5

Note: The papers are normally taken before undertaking the thesis.

Entry criteria

Admission to the programme shall be subject to the approval of the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Sciences).

Every applicant must either: be a graduate with an average grade of at least B for the appropriate 300-level papers, or have alternative qualifications or experience acceptable to the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Sciences).

An applicant seeking admission to the thesis-only option of the programme on the basis of the degree of Bachelor of Science with Honours or the Postgraduate Diploma in Science or equivalent must have achieved a grade of at least B+ for the research report, thesis preparation, or dissertation requirement of the qualification concerned.

English Language Requirements

IELTS - Score of 6.5 in the academic module (with no individual band below 6.0); Internet-based TOEFL Score of 95 with a minimum writing score of 22.; Paper-based TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) score of 587 (TWE 4.5); Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE) – Overall score of 176 (with no individual band below 169); Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English (CAE) – Overall score of 176 (with no individual band below 169); APIEL Advanced Placement International English Language Examination - Grade 4 or higher; Pearson Test of English (PTE) Academic - Overall score of 64 with no communicative skills score below 57; University of Otago Foundation Studies Ltd: Completion of 'English for Postgraduate Academic Purposes' with a grade of C or higher.