Dual Degree Program: B.S. in Biology/M.S. in Health Sciences with a concentration in Nutrition

Want to strengthen your applications for professional school while also saving both time and money? An accelerated course of study might be for you.

This dual degree program involves the B.S.in Biology in the College of Arts & Sciences and an M.S. in Health Sciences (concentration in Nutrition) in The Lewis College. Highly talented and qualified students will have the opportunity to complete both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in five years. This program provides the opportunity for a select number of undergraduate students to complete all general education and pre-concentration requirements for a Biology B.S. in three and a half years. If qualified for admission into The Lewis College, students can begin taking coursework toward the M.S. in Health Sciences while completing their final year of bachelor’s work. Several graduate courses will substitute for undergraduate courses resulting in a reduction of nine (9) credit hours to complete both degrees. Admission to the graduate program in The Lewis College is contingent upon successful completion of the bachelor’s degree, on maintaining the required 3.5 GPA, on performance on the GRE, and on performance in the graduate level courses taken during the bachelor’s degree.

Program Objectives

This collaborating program aims to attract students that are capable of working at high levels late in their undergraduate program and have the potential to be successful graduate students.

Program Advantages

This program offers students a plethora of benefits when participating in this program. The close connection between the undergraduate and graduate programs will ensure that students make a smooth transition from bachelor's to master's programs.

Taking part in this 4+1 program allows students to:

Save time and money
Further pursue a field of interest in a lesser amount of time
Strengthen your marketability
Increase earning potential

Admission Requirements & Timeline

Students interested in the dual degree program must declare during their first two years the intent to complete the B.S. in Biology degree to qualify for admission into the M.S. in Health Sciences concentration in Nutrition program. Acceptance into the undergraduate advising stage of the dual degree program does not guarantee admission into the M.S. in Health Sciences program in The Lewis College.

B.S. in Biology undergraduates who have completed at least 30 hours of academic credit at Georgia State University (excluding AP or transfer credits) and who have earned a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.5 at Georgia State are eligible to apply for the dual degree program. Students may apply to the program at any time after completing 30 hours but prior to completing 90 hours of undergraduate coursework.

Participating students must maintain a 3.5 GPA, must be in good standing within the B.S. in Biology program and must take all courses specified for years one through three for their undergraduate major by the end of their junior year. By this time, participating students will have completed at least 90 hours of coursework applicable to the B.S. in Biology and have satisfied other requirements necessary for the Bachelor’s degree with the exception of the residency requirement and the completion of a total of 120 hours. For participating students, these requirements will be satisfied with the successful completion of remaining coursework during their senior year.

Participating students applying for admission to The Lewis College are expected to achieve a minimum GRE ranking of the 50th percentile on the quantitative and verbal sections of the exam and >4.0 on the analytical writing section of the exam and meet all other requirements for admission to the college. Typically, dual degree students will apply for the M.S. program in the spring of their junior year.

Admission to the M.S. in Health Sciences program will be effective after the completion of the bachelor’s degree. In their senior year, students will enroll in undergraduate courses in Biology and graduate courses in The Lewis College. The expectation is that students will complete the graduate degree requirements in their fifth year

Students will receive a B.S in Biology from the College of Arts & Sciences upon successful completion of all B.S. in Biology requirements and the residency requirements for a bachelor’s degree (120 hours). Full acceptance to the M.S. in Health Sciences program will be effective upon completion of the B.S. in Biology degree, contingent upon students having maintained the required GPA and on performance in the graduate-level courses taken during the bachelor’s degree (cumulative GPA of 3.0 must be maintained and any grade below a “C” will not count towards the degree). The M.S. degree will be awarded upon successful completion of graduate degree requirements (36 hours).

During the first 120 hours of the dual degree program, the students can receive the HOPE scholarship as long as they satisfy HOPE eligibility requirements. Students are eligible for graduate assistantship positions and tuition waivers after they have successfully earned their undergraduate degree and have been fully accepted into the graduate degree program.

Advisement

Admission to the dual degree program provides special advisement and enrichment opportunities that will orient participating students to the requirements of this accelerated program.

Dual degree students must participate fully in a special pre-master’s advisory program. Students in this program will receive rigorous advising through the Department of Biology and in consultation with The Lewis College graduate program director in the Department of Nutrition so that students successfully meet undergraduate graduation requirements and Master’s degree entry requirements and that their course selection will be appropriate preparation for graduate work.

While dual degree students are still working on their bachelor’s degree, they will be advised primarily by the Department of Biology and by the Office of Academic Assistance and University Advisement Center for the undergraduate college. After acceptance into the M.S. in Health Sciences program, students will be advised by the graduate program director in the Department of Nutrition or a designated faculty coordinator for the dual degree program.

Sample 5-Year Course Plan

Five-Year Course with B.S. in Biology/M.S. in Health Sciences (Nutrition)

Class	Fall	Spring	Summer
First Year	ENGL 1101 (3) MATH 1113 or higher (3) CHEM 1211K (4)* AREA C or E (3) AREA B PHIL 1010 (2) 15 credit hours	ENGL 1102 (3) BIOL 2107K (4) CHEM 1212K (4)* Area C or E (3) AREA B PERS 2001/2 (2) 16 credit hours
Second Year	BIOL 2108 (4) CHEM 2400 (3)* (H) CHEM 2100 (2)* (I) AREA C or E (3) Area I XXXX (3-4) 15/16 credit hours	BIOL 3800 (3)** BIOL 3810 (CTW) (3) PHYS 1111K (4) CHEM 2410 (3) (H) BIOL 2110K (4)* (F2) 17 credit hours
Third Year	BIOL 3900 (3) BIOL 3840 (3) BIOL 3XXX Lab (1) MATH 2201 or 1070 (3) BIOL 2120K (4)* (Area I) 14 credit hours	BIOL 3880 (3) PHYS 1112K (4) NUTR 2100 (3)* (Area I) AREA C or E (3) AREA C or E (3) 16 credit hours
Fourth Year	BIOL 4XXX (4) NUTR 6500 (3)******* CNHP 6000 (3) Area I XXXX (3-4) 13-14 credit hours	NUTR 6700 (3)******* BIOL 4960(1) or 4970 (1) BIOL 4XXX (4) BIOL XXXX (3) Area C or E (3) 14 credit hours
Graduate	NUTR 6104 (3) CNHP 8000 (3) NUTR Elective (3) NUTR Elective (3) Capstone (3)	NUTR 6102 (3) NUTR 7280 (3) NUTR 7101 (3) Capstone (3)	NUTR 6101 (3) CNHP 8010 (3) Capstone (3)+