GRADUATE CURRICULUM
Graduate Co-Directors:
Dr. Gilbert
Master's Director:
M.S. Medical Science Director:
Critical Changes
The program offers a rigorous education in the broad area of Biological Sciences, preparing students for entry to professional schools and careers in various sectors, including the government, industry, education, and non-profit.
Graduate research assistantships and teaching assistantships in the department are available to qualified students admitted to the graduate program. In addition, students may also qualify for support from grants and contracts in connection with their research programs.
The Department of Biology accepts applications for both Fall and Spring semesters. To be considered for a Graduate Assistantship, applicants must submit all application materials to the department by the posted deadlines. Foreign applicants should allow at least two months for the processing of application materials. Applicants may obtain additional information by contacting the Biology Graduate Office at [email protected]
Critical Changes for M.S.
1. The program has dropped from 40 Credit Hours to 32 Credit Hours required for degree completion.
2. A Research concentration (RES) has been added to replace previous specialized concentrations.
3. All students are expected to build an Individual Development Plan (IDP) during their first semester.
4. The biochemistry requirement has been removed.
What is the Research Concentration?
Any student who is working under the mentorship of a member of our Graduate Faculty in a laboratory setting can move into this concentration.
Is there a no concentration option?
What is an Individual Development Plan (IDP)?
myIDP
What happened to Bioinformatics and Biotechnology?
The Department of Biology offers a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) programs in the broad field of Biology. Students work with Graduate Faculty on diverse research projects, generally belonging to one or more of the following areas: Microbiology & Virology, Cellular Biology, Immunology, & Physiology, Molecular Biology & Genetics, and Bioinformatics & Systems Biology. Top applicants are interviewed and either accepted directly into a research program by the Graduate Director and the faculty advisor or by an Admission Committee after completing two 8-week
laboratory rotations. Students must maintain a GPA of 3.0. The degree involves developing of a rigorous curriculum tailored to the student preparation and needs, passing the Qualifying Exam, an approved Dissertation Proposal and Dissertation, and a minimum of one publication in a peer-reviewed journal. The Ph.D. degree must be earned within ten years.
Critical Changes for P.h.D.
1. One integrated Ph.D. program in Biological Sciences has replaced the previous concentrations.
2. The discipline-specific core requirements have been replaced with core classes that have broad applicability.
3. The firm 33 credit hour curriculum has been replaced with a firm core requirement augmented by a flexible curriculum plan per Individual Development Program (IDP).
What is an Individual Development Plan (IDP)?
myIDP
Degree Requirements
This general program offers a flexible curriculum that fits individual students' needs and opportunities to engage in research, scholarship, and/or creative activity. The degree requires the development of a student-centered curriculum and a culminating capstone project (approved by the faculty advisor.)
CORE
8 hours of Core Biology Courses
Core Biology Courses. Choose TWO of the following:
BIOL 6100 Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience
BIOL 6240 Endocrinology
BIOL 6248 Cell Physiology
BIOL 6278 Immunology
BIOL 6458 Microbial Ecology and Metabolism
BIOL 6580 Microbial pathogenesis
BIOL 6564 Advanced Genetics
BIOL 6575 Virology
BIOL 6800 Principles of Cellular Biology
1 hour of BIOL 6000 Life Science Professional Skills
2 hours of BIOL 8700 Biology Seminar
ELECTIVES
Biology 6000 & 8000 classes *
Up to four hours may come from BIOL 6916 Internships in Biology
Up to nine credit hours may come from coursework outside of Biology (e.g., Chemistry, Public Health, Policy, Business, Law, and Criminal Justice)
*BIOL 6900 and BIOL 7000 level courses are never applicable toward this degree program
CAPSTONE
To satisfy this requirement, the student must select a Major Professor (BIOL6997 or BIOL 6998) or a committee (BIOL 6996) and enroll in one of the following:
4 hours BIOL 6996 Non-Thesis Capstone Literature Review
4 hours BIOL 6997 Non-Thesis Capstone Internship
4 hours BIOL 6998 Non-Thesis Capstone Project
CAPSTONE REGISTRATION
CAPSTONE COMPLETION
EXIT
The RES master program provides students with the theoretical foundation, research experience, and technical skills that drive many of the career options available for MS level professionals. In addition to classwork, students conduct a research project under the guidance of a Biology Graduate faculty. This research-oriented training will benefit students interested in pursuing a Ph.D. degree in Biology or related discipline, a research career in academia, the government sectors, and those that wish to move into industry.
CORE
1 hour of BIOL 8000 Responsible Conduct in Research
2 hours of BIOL 8700 Biology Seminar
2 hours of one Concept (e.g., BIOL 8710) or two Topic (e.g., BIOL 8900) classes
ELECTIVES
Biology 6000 & 8000 courses per Individual Development Plan (IPD). IDP is developed by the student with the major professor and approved by the Graduate Director.*
*BIOL 6900 and BIOL 7000 level courses are never applicable toward this degree program
RESEARCH PAPER
To satisfy this requirement, the student must select a Major Professor and enroll in:
8 hours BIOL 8800 Research
4 hours BIOL 8888 Research Report. A committee chaired by the Major professor grades this report.
RESEARCH REGISTRATION
RESEARCH PAPER
EXIT
This M.S. Thesis option provides intensive research training through course work and the development of an original scientific project under the mentorship of a Graduate faculty and a Thesis committee. Students can apply up to 20 research hours towards the degree. The degree involves the defense of a Thesis proposal and then a Thesis. This rigorous preparation can be used as a path to the advancement of careers that require independent research experience and may allow students to become more competitive applicants for professional schools that are in high demand (e.g., schools of Medicine, Pharmacy, and Law). Students must identify a faculty mentor before enrolling in the program and can enroll in the Research Project option first and then change to the Thesis track.
CORE
1 hour of BIOL 8000 Responsible Conduct in Research
2 hours of BIOL 8700 Biology Seminar
2 hours of one Concept (e.g., BIOL 8710) or two Topic (e.g., BIOL 8900) classes
ELECTIVES
Biology 6000 & 8000 courses per Individual Development Plan (IPD). IDP is developed by the student with the major professor and approved by the Graduate Director.*
*BIOL 6900 and BIOL 7000 level courses are never applicable toward this degree program
RESEARCH
20 hours of BIOL 8800 Research and BIOL 8999 Thesis Research. Students register to BIOL 8800 before the Thesis Committee chaired by the Major Professor approves the Thesis Proposal and BIOL 8999 after the proposal is approved.
THESIS DEFENSE
Thesis is submitted to the Thesis Committee and is publicly defended. Typically done while taking BIOL 8999 Thesis Research
RESEARCH REGISTRATION
THESIS RESEARCH
THESIS DEFENSE
Guidelines
Request for Scheduling Thesis Defense
Thesis Approval Form
Thesis Approval Form Submission Portal
Directions for ScholarWorks Upload upload are sent to student after Thesis Approval Form is submitted into the submission portal.
EXIT
The MBMS Program is designed to provide advanced case-based, hands-on medical instruction to students at GSU. It is intentionally a short gap year program and does not have research as a focus.
*Study Abroad Clinical Internship is highly recommended
REQUIRED PRE-REQS
BIOL 7800 Cell Molecular Biology (3)*
BIOL 7240 Applied Medical Physiology (3)**
BIOL 7250 Human Physiology Lab (1)*
*these may have been taken as an undergraduate at other institutions. Course equivalents will be determined by MBMS Director.
**Due to the nature of these applied courses, they must be taken within the GSU Biology department
SEMINAR
BIOL 6960 Medical Science Seminar (1)
BIOL 6000 Life Science Professional Skills (1)
CORE SCIENCE
BIOL 6686 Pathophysiology (4)
BIOL 6687 Surgical Anatomy (4)*
BIOL 6685 Functional Histology (4)
*Physician’s Assistant Admissions require 4 credit hours of a physiology and lab course and 4 credit hours of an anatomy course/lab. BIOL 7240/BIOL 7250 and BIOL 6930 Surgical Anatomy would meet these requirements. Check with your institution to verify prerequisite requirements as these may differ.
MEDICAL SCIENCE (MED) ELECTIVES
Choose TWO from the following:
BIOL 6930 Special Topics Orthopedic and Osteopathic Medicine (4)
BIOL 6428 Medical Microbiology (4)
BIOL 6115 Medical Neurobiology (4)
BIOL 6102 Neurobiology (4)
BIOL 6278 Immunology (4)
BIOL 6460 Parasitology (4)
BIOL 6074 Developmental Biology (4)
BIOL 6240 Endocrinology (4)
BIOL 6232 Cancer and Cell Cycle (4)
BIOL 6282 Tumor Immunotherapy (4)
BIOL 6248 Cell Physiology (4)
BIOL 6241 Hormones and Behavior
BIOL 6675 Virology
BIOL 6800 Advanced Cell Biology (4)
BIOL 6450 Microbial Pathogenesis (4)
BIOL 6284 Medical Biochemistry (4)
BIOL 6545 Bioethics (4)
HEALTHCARE-REALTED ELECTIVES (HEALTH)
Choose TWO from the following:
GERO 7200 Health and the Older Adult (3)
PH 7011 Intro to Epidemiology (3)
Biol 7021 Infectious Disease and Society (3)
HA 8160 Intro to Health Care System (3)
HA 8190 Health Policy & Ethics (3)
NUTR 6500 Macronutrients (3)*
NUTR 6700 Micronutrients (3)*
NUTR 7280 Nutritional Genomics (3)*
Biol 6744 Biostatistics or PH 7017 Fundamentals of Biostatistics (3)
Chem 6610 Biochem II (3)
CNHP 6010 Medical Terminology (3) online course
CNHP 7800 Interprofessional Collaboration for Advanced Practice (3)
CNHP 6400 Spanish for Healthcare Professionals (3)
CNHP 7810 Interpretation of Lab Values (3) online course
CNHP 6900 EKG Interpretation (3) online course
CNHP 8000 Trends Affecting Healthcare Policies (3) online course
KH 8385 Obesity and Related Diseases (3)*
KH 8771 Cardiovascular Physiology (3)*
KH 8770 Neuromuscular Physiology (3)*
KH 8870: Biomechanics of Orthopedic Injuries
KH 8385: Obesity and Related Disorders
KH 8770: Advanced Topics: Neuromuscular Physiology
KH 8771: Advanced Topics: Cardiovascular Physiology
KH 8773: Advanced Topics: Chronic Disease & Myopathies
KH 8600: Physical Activity Interventions & Behavior Change
*indicates prior approval from instructor is required
CAPSTONE
BIOL 6997 Non-Thesis Capstone Internship (4) *
BIOL 6998 Non-Thesis Capstone Project (4)
*Study Abroad Clinical Internship is highly recommended
CAPSTONE REGISTRATION
CAPSTONE COMPLETION
EXIT
CORE
BIOL 8000 Responsible Conduct in Research, 1 hour
Student Seminars (1-hour x 4)
One quantitative class. Choose one of the following:
- BIOL 6744 Biostatistics, 3 hours
- BIOL 6010 Mathematical Biology, 3 hours
- BIOL 6640 Fundamental of bioinformatics, 4 hours
- BIOL 8041 Research design and analysis, 4 hours
ELECTIVES
8000/6000 classes per Individual development plan (IDP).*
Preliminary IDP, is developed by the doctoral student and the Major Professor and approved by the Graduate Director. The Qualifying Exam committee can require additional classes based on identified areas of deficiencies.
*BIOL 6900 and BIOL 7000 level courses are never applicable toward this degree program
QUALIFYING EXAM
BIOL 9991 Doctoral Research Proposal, 2 hours
Students write and defend a research proposal as a prerequisite for admission to candidacy.
RESEARCH
Biol 8800 Research or
Biol 9999 Dissertation Research
Students register for BIOL 8800 Research until the Dissertation Committee, chaired by the Major professor, approves the Dissertation proposal. Students register for BIOL 8999 Dissertation Research after the dissertation proposal is approved.
DISSERTATION DEFENSE
BIOL 9999 Dissertation Research
Dissertation is submitted to the Dissertation Committee and is publicly defended. Typically done while taking BIOL 9999 Dissertation Research
RESEARCH REGISTRATION
QUALIFYING EXAM
DISSERTATION PROPOSAL
DISSERTATION
Guidelines
Request for Scheduling Dissertation Defense
Dissertation Approval Form
Dissertation Approval Form Submission Portal
Directions for ScholarWorks Upload upload are sent to student after Dissertation Approval Form is submitted into the submission portal.
EXIT
Contact Us
Main Office
Contacts
404-413-5300 (Atlanta)
[email protected] (Atlanta)
Perimeter campus
Office Hours
8:30 a.m. - 5:15 p.m.
Monday - Friday
Office/Delivery Address
100 Piedmont Avenue SE, 4th floor
Atlanta, GA 30303
Mailing Address
P.O. Box 4010
Atlanta, GA 30303