Are labs required in the MS program?

No, labs are not required for the program. Those that transfer to the PhD program will go through a lab matching process to secure a lab. Students in the MS program are more than welcome to email lab supervisors to see if they are taking MS students in their labs. Some students ask to sit in on a couple of lab meetings to get an idea of what to expect. It is recommended that students email the lab supervisor to start building rapport. A list of labs and supervisors can be found on the research labs page via the PAU website.