Master's programme in Evolutionary Biology
120 credits
This Master’s programme is aimed at students who want to understand how evolution works – and why it matters. The programme provides an ideal foundation for doctoral studies as well as professions outside of academia.
How do biological systems evolve? On the Master’s programme in Evolutionary Biology you will learn how to unravel the history of life by examining diversification, adaptation, and how the evolutionary process itself evolves. Evolution affects biology at all levels, from molecules to ecosystems, and our courses and research projects provide unique opportunities to study this diversity. You will acquire conceptual and methodological skills in molecular and genome evolution, evolutionary developmental biology, and evolutionary ecology. As an evolutionary biologist, you will be uniquely suited to understand living systems, and to solve problems that require collaboration across disciplines. Our teaching promotes an active, inquiry-based learning that is integrated with our Department’s world-leading research on the evolutionary biology of microbes, plants, and animals.
Get some inspiration to what the Master's programmes leads to. You find completed Master's degree projects in biology on LUP Student Papers.
Recommended course of study
The programme comprises two years of full-time studies (120 credits), with at least 90 credits at advanced level in biology. Teaching is carried out in the form of courses, primarily in modules worth 15 credits and a degree project for one or two semesters.
Year 1
Autumn
- Evolutionary Biology - Patterns and Processes BIOR89
- Animal Ecology BIOR91 or Processing and Analysis of Biological Data BIOS14 and Modelling Biological Systems BIOS13
Spring
Year 2
Autumn
- Optional courses or start of Master's Degree project
Spring
Degree requirements
Courses corresponding to 120 credits, of which should encompass:
Compulsory Courses, 30 credits:
- Evolutionary Biology - Patterns and Processes BIOR89
- Evolutionary Biology - Methods and Applications BIOR90
Elective Courses, at least 30 credits:
- Bioinformatics and Sequence Analysis BINP11/17
- Animal Ecology BIOR91
- Genetic Analysis BIOR92
- Modelling Biological Systems BIOS13
- Molecular Ecology and Evolution BIOR25
- Molecular Genetics of Eukaryotes BIOR47
- Population and Community Ecology BIOR69
- Processing and Analysis of Biological Data BIOS14
Optional Courses, 0-30 credits
Master´s degree project in biology BIOM02/BION02/BION03, 30/45/60 credits
Degree title
Master of Science (Two Years)
Major: Biology with specialisation in Evolutionary Biology
Questions?
Lotta Persmark, Study advisor, biology and bioinformatics
Telephone: +46 46 222 37 28
Email: Lotta [dot] Persmark [at] biol [dot] lu [dot] se (Lotta[dot]Persmark[at]biol[dot]lu[dot]se)