M.S. in Biology

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INNOVATION IN SCIENCE

Be a pioneer. Explore new ideas, develop new techniques, and ride the cutting edge of scientific enquiry. When you Go West, there’s no telling what you’ll discover.

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At UWG, students in our M.S. program are part of a progressive and supportive community. Students work closely with faculty advisors to pursue advanced research, set milestones, and achieve their goals.

Our state-of-the-art building features well-appointed research labs, technology-enhanced classrooms, and graduate student offices.

Contemporary Curriculum

Our program allows you to curate a custom plan of study based on relevant classes from many biological subdisciplines.

Face-to-Face Learning

Course work is taught in person by our highly-trained biology faculty with decades of real-world experience.

Experiential Learning

Students participate in a capstone group project and paid internships that prepare you for, and often lead to, full-time positions after graduation.

MS Biology Information

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It’s all about flexibility: the M.S. in Biology program offers two tracks that allow students to pursue different career goals. Our thesis track prepares students to work in research and academic careers with government agencies, universities, environmental consultants, and laboratories. Our non-thesis track is geared toward students who want to expand their biological knowledge primarily through coursework in preparation for teaching, industry, or professional degree programs, including medical and veterinary schools. To apply to our program or view admission requirements and deadlines, visit UWG Graduate Admissions. Contact biology@westga.edu to learm more.

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Degree requirements:

  • BIOL 6984 Graduate Biology Seminar 1 credit hour per course—2 credit hours required
  • BIOL 6983 Graduate Research 1-12 credit hours per course—12 credit hours required
  • BIOL 6999 Thesis—1 credit hour required
  • Graduate Courses in Biology—15 credit hours required
  • At least 15 credit hours must be at 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.

Thesis Track Degree Information

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Degree requirements:

  • BIOL 6984 Graduate Biology Seminar: 1 credit hour per course—2 credit hours required
  • BIOL 6995 Comprehensive Exam—1 credit hour required
  • Graduate Courses in Biology—27 hours required
  • At least 15 credit hours must be at 6000 level

Note: The comprehensive examination will be administered by the advisory committee before the end of the last semester of the degree program.

Non-thesis Track Degree Information

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Land Your Dream Job

There’s no telling where you’ll go! Many alumni from our program have pursued advanced degrees or worked in the public and private sectors. Employers of alumni include: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Georgia Department of Transportation, and the University System of Georgia. In addition, others have gone on to work with various environmental contractors and in experimental clinical trials.