Biology, M.S. (Non-Thesis)

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Degree Requirements: 36 Credit Hours

Admission

Students are selected for the Master of Science in Biology degree program on a competitive basis. Meeting minimum requirements does not guarantee admission. Applications are usually evaluated during the eighth week of the semester prior to the semester of admission. Applications for graduate assistantships must be received by March 1 to receive full consideration for fall. Assistantships are awarded for a maximum of five semesters and are reviewed each semester. Students must comply with the College of Graduate Studies degree completion time line for a master’s degree. A student who has not matriculated for three or more consecutive semesters must reapply and meet all admission requirements in effect at the time of the new application for admission.

Admission Requirements

For unqualified admission to the College of Graduate Studies to pursue graduate work leading to the Master of Science degree in Biology, the applicant must have:

Regular

Completed requirements for the bachelor’s degree in a college accredited by the proper regional accrediting associations.
A 2.80 (4.0 scale) cumulative grade point average or higher on all undergraduate work.
An undergraduate major or the equivalent appropriate to the proposed field of study. Adequately prepared applicants will typically have completed 24 credits of biology, 9 credits of mathematics, 16 credits of chemistry (including organic chemistry), and 8 credits of physics (or geological science).
Two letters of recommendation from individuals familiar with the applicant’s potential to complete successful graduate work.
A statement of career goals to explain why you are interested in pursuing the degree and to explain your long term career plans.
Applicants are strongly encouraged to identify an advisor and submit the name to the graduate program director prior to the application deadline.

Provisional

Students who fail to meet one of the requirements 2-4 above may be admitted provisionally. To be converted to regular status, provisional students must earn a “B” or higher in their first six (6) credits of Biology graduate courses, approved by the Biology Program Director, with at least three (3) credits at the 7000-level. Directed Individual Study (BIOL 7890 ) or Biological Problems (BIOL 7893 ) cannot be taken for these six (6) credits. Students on provisional status may not hold a graduate assistantship.

Non-Degree

Non-degree students are accepted on an individual basis as space is available.

Thesis and Non-Thesis options are possible for the M.S. degree in Biology.

Program of Study (Non-Thesis Option)

The graduate student and the graduate committee shall jointly develop a Program of Study that includes 36 credits in graduate course work including the required courses listed below. Either faculty or the graduate program director may advise non-thesis students.

Non-Thesis Option, 36 Credit Hours

Core Requirements [Credit Hours: 8]

BIOL 5000G-level
BIOL 5000G-level and fulfills scientific process category

Specialty Requirements [Credit Hours: 6]

Select two of the following:

Other Requirements [Credit Hours: 5]

BIOL 7610 - Graduate Seminar (1 Credit Hour)
BIOL 7890 - Directed Individual Study (1-4 Credit Hours)
or BIOL 7893 - Biological Problems (1-4 Credit Hours)

Note: “Non-Thesis” must be part of the course title

Electives [Credit Hours: 17]

Select 17 credit hours of courses at the 5000G level or above.

Total Credit Hours: 36

Note that a limit of six (6) credits of any contamination of Directed Individual Study (BIOL 7890 ) and Biological Problems (BIOL 7893 ) and a limit of four (4) credits of Graduate Seminar (BIOL 7610 ) can be used toward the 36 credit degree requirement. Research (BIOL 7895 ) and Thesis (BIOL 7999 ) cannot be used toward the Non-Thesis option.

Other Program Requirements (Non-Thesis Option)

To continue with the second year, each candidate for the Master of Science Non-Thesis degree in Biology in conjunction with the Graduate Committee must complete a Program of Study and identify an advisor who will oversee the Directed Individual Study (BIOL 7890 ) and/or Biological Problems (BIOL 7893 ) , with an extensive scientific writing component requirement. Note: “Non-Thesis” must be part of the course title.
Each candidate must receive Graduate Committee and Director of the Biology Graduate Program approval to take courses that do not apply to the MS Degree.
Students entering the Master of Science Non-Thesis option in Biology can switch to the Thesis option within their first two academic semesters assuming that they are in good standing. They can apply to switch programs by completing the Department of Biology Change of Degree Plan checklist and completing steps 4a. through 4e. under the “Other Program Requirements” of the Thesis option by the end of the second semester. After the second academic semester, students may switch to the Thesis option by completing the required change of option paperwork and completing steps 4a. through 4e. under the “Other Program Requirements” of the Thesis option in the term the change of option is requested. If the change of option is approved, all guidelines for the Thesis option apply.

Advisement

Graduate students are advised by their program. Graduate students should reach out to their graduate program director for information regarding the structures in place to facilitate advisement. For more information visit the Graduate Academic Advisement catalog page.

Graduate students can also contact the Jack N. Averitt College of Graduate Studies for more information about their program director.
Phone: 912-478-COGS (2647)
Email: gradschool@georgiasouthern.edu