The Master of Science with a thesis option is intended to prepare students for professional positions in state and federal agencies, the environmental consulting industry, and for further graduate studies. The Master of Science with a non-thesis option is intended for working professionals, especially public school teachers, and emphasizes course work. A broad range of faculty research interests, easy access to diverse biological environments, and a range of modern research facilities permit the student to select from a broad spectrum of research topics. Faculty interests include field biology, conservation biology, physiology, comparative morphology, plant ecophysiology, plant anatomy, micro- and molecular biology, vertebrate paleontology, evolution, ecology, systematics, and behavior.