The M.S. program is a thesis-based, full-time program designed to be completed in two years. The M.A. program is course-based and is designed for full- and part-time students. Current undergraduate students at Saint Joseph's with majors in biology or environmental science may be able to complete a combined 5-year B.A./M.A. or B.S./M.S. degree. Undergraduate students interested in the B.S./M.S. or B.S./M.A. (4+1) programs should contact their academic advisor before the end of their junior year.

Students in the M.S. and M.A. programs are required to take both lecture and seminar-style courses. Most lectures also have a lab component. M.S. students must complete a research thesis, while M.A. students are not required to complete one, but have the opportunity to conduct research for credits. 

Full-time M.S. students are eligible for master's teaching assistantships (MTAs) that provide a partial tuition scholarship (up to 6 credits per semester), and a stipend for working as a teaching assistant in undergraduate lab courses. Students must apply first and be admitted to the M.S. program (preferably before April 1st) to be considered for the MTA. 

Students applying for the M.S. program also have the option to conduct biomedical research with scientists at Lankenau Institute for Medical Research (LIMR) through the SJU-LIMR Fellowship. This fellowship offers a stipend and a small tuition scholarship for up to two years to students who carry out their thesis project at LIMR. The application can be found within the application portal for the M.S. program.

Other funding opportunities may be available to both M.A. and M.S. candidates. Students may get funded through their research mentors through external grants. Qualified students may also find employment as student workers helping out in undergraduate teaching laboratories.