Biology, M.S.

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A student entering this program is normally expected to have an undergraduate degree in biology. Students without a degree in biology or students lacking certain background courses in biology and related sciences may be expected to complete undergraduate courses to compensate for deficiencies. All students must take the GRE general test. Applicants to the Biology Graduate Program must have a minimum undergraduate cumulative post-secondary grade point average of 2.8 on a 4.0 scale and a minimum combined verbal and quantitative GRE score of 1000.

Graduate students must select an advising committee by the first pre-registration period following admission on any basis, or one will be selected for them by the Department Chair.

There are two plans for degree completion. The first plan, the thesis track, is designed for students who plan to continue on with further graduate education or who plan to enter research-related careers. The second plan, the non-thesis track, is designed for students who do not plan to continue their education in biology. This plan is often preferred by secondary educators, persons interested in scientific sales, or those interested in laboratory management positions. In either case, the student, in consultation with her or his advising committee, will design a course of study to specifically meet the needs of the individual student. The specifics of the two degree programs are provided below.

Requirements

All applicants to the Biology Graduate Program must submit the following:

Three Letters of recommendation
Resume
A narrative statement (up to 1 page in length) including three components: 1) their reasons for pursuing a graduate degree in Biology; 2) the specific area(s) (sub-discipline) of Biology in which they are interested; and 3) the type of degree (thesis track or non-thesis track) they wish to pursue.

Thesis Track for the M.S. Degree in Biology

BIOL 6984 - Graduate Biology Seminar 1 (One credit hour per semester)
BIOL 6983 - Graduate Research 1.0 - 12.0 (Minimum)
Seven 3-Hour Graduate Courses in Biology 21
BIOL 6999 - Thesis 1.0 - 3.0

Note:

A combination of 5000-level and 6000-level courses may be used to complete graduate degree requirements, but a substantial portion of the degree program should be at the 6000 level. A topic for thesis research should be identified before the end of the second semester of the degree program. The degree candidate should submit a brief thesis proposal to the advisory committee at this time and should schedule qualifying exams before the end of the third semester. The advising committee may approve up to two course substitutions from departments other than biology if such substitutions are appropriate to the research interests or career goals of the student.

Non-Thesis Track for the M.S. Degree in Biology

BIOL 6984 - Graduate Biology Seminar 1 (One credit hour per semester)
BIOL 6995 - Comprehensive Exam 2
Ten Three-Hour Graduate Courses in Biology 30 *

Note:

* Up to three of these courses may be in a minor field (i.e., Education or Business) with permission of the advisory committee. A combination of 5000-level and 6000-level courses may be used to complete graduate degree requirements, but a substantial portion of the degree program should be at the 6000 level. The comprehensive examination will be administered by the advisory committee before the end of the last semester of the degree program.

Professional School Transition Plan

The M.S. degree in biology typically requires two years for completion by full-time students. Occasionally students who begin the M.S. degree in biology are accepted to professional schools (medical school, dental school, veterinary school, etc.) before they can complete the degree. The Department of Biology offers an option for students who are accepted to professional school prior to completion of the M.S. degree that allows transfer of credits back to West Georgia for basic science courses completed as a part of the professional school curriculum. Students pursuing this option will typically pursue the non-thesis track, although under exceptional circumstances it may be possible for students to complete a thesis-track degree through this route. To qualify, students must complete at least 60% of their graduate course work at West Georgia, and must complete their comprehensive examination before beginning the professional school program. Official transcripts from the first year of professional school should be forwarded to the Graduate Coordinator for the Department of Biology who will request application of appropriate courses toward completion of the M.S. degree. Contact the Department of Biology for additional details.