Biology, M.S.
College of Arts & Sciences
[198]
Earning an M.S. degree in biology can be a stepping stone to a career in the biosciences or in preparation for a professional degree. The Master of Science (M.S.) degree program in Biology offers a flexible curriculum that can incorporate courses from other departments and colleges at Georgia State. Students must complete at least 32 credit hours of approved coursework.
Students may apply under a specific area/concentration, though a concentration is not required. Upon admission, a master’s student is assumed to be non-thesis until acceptance into the thesis option. The non-thesis program emphasizes coursework, and a capstone paper or project is required. The capstone can either be literature-based or laboratory-based.
The thesis option emphasizes research. Acceptance into the thesis option requires approval of a thesis proposal. Completion of the thesis option requires an approved thesis as well as a successful defense of the thesis. The thesis option is only recommended for students who are planning to pursue a Ph.D.
For information about the M.S. in Medical Sciences in Biology program, which is designed for students who plan to apply to medical school, go to https://cas.gsu.edu/program/medical-sciences-in-biology-ms/.
Biology, M.S.
College of Arts & Sciences
[198]
Students who began the program in summer 2020 or before must follow the curriculum listed in the course catalog of the year that they entered.
Students who began the program in fall 2020 can either be grandfathered into the curriculum of the 2020-2021 course catalog or choose to follow the new curriculum.
Students who began the program in spring 2021 or after should follow the new curriculum below.
Option 1: MS in Biology (General Track)
Core: 11 Credit Hours
Electives: 17 Credit Hours**
Capstone: 4 Credit Hours
Option 2: MS in Biology (Research Concentration without thesis)
Core: 5 Credit Hours
Electives: 15 Credit Hours**
Research: 12 Credit Hours
Option 3: MS in Biology (Research Concentration, with Thesis)
Core: 5 hours
Electives: 7 Credit Hours**
Research & Thesis: 20 Credit Hours
Non-Research concentrations will have a set of core courses required of all students in that concentration ( e.g., Bioinformatics, Biotechnology and Medical Sciences). The MS in Biology (without concentration) will require 2 Core Classes chosen from the following list. These courses represent foundational concepts in Biology and align with the discipline focus of the Biology Department.
Visit the catalog for curriculum details.
Tuition:
Students are charged graduate tuition and fees. A breakdown of the fees can be found on the Student Financial Services site. In-state tuition and fees are about $16,000+ per year. Out-of-state tuition is about $45,000+ per year.
Student Funding Support:
The department offers competitive graduate assistantship opportunities, which include a stipend and tuition waiver. If you are interested in these graduate assistantship opportunities, please apply as early as possible.
Upon completion of this degree program, graduates will be well versed in research in their area of focus and able to:
Scholarships:
The Scholarship Resource Center offers guidance and support to students seeking financial assistance through scholarship opportunities, including this scholarship library.
Fellowships:
The department periodically offers fellowships, which are announced to all students.
The Office of Graduate Programs’ Fellowship Advisor works with students interested in applying for nationally prestigious and competitive fellowships.
Cost Calculator:
Our calculator can help you get an idea of the costs associated with attending the university.
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