Biology, M.S.

The master of science (M.S.) in biology prepares students for careers in the biological sciences and provides a strong foundation for further academic training, such as medical school or a doctoral program. An advisory committee works closely with each student to tailor a specific plan of study to meet each student’s needs and goals. 

M.S. students conduct research under the guidance of a faculty advisor and write a master’s thesis based on their research. 

PROGRAM DISTINCTIONS

• Faculty in the department are funded by major funding agencies such as the National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation, and the USDA, as well as from a variety of private funding agencies. In the 2019-20 academic year, UNCG Biology faculty received more than $3.5 million in federally funded research grants.
• Biology faculty and students are nationally and internationally recognized for their research activities and consistently publish in highly cited journals such as Nature, the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science, Current Biology, Genetics, among many others.   
• Strong ties with other departments such as Nutrition, Chemistry, and Biochemistry, Math, Physics, and Geography, create cross-discipline research and educational opportunities.

THE STUDENT EXPERIENCE

• The biology M.S. program allows you to perform research under the direct guidance of internationally recognized faculty.
• Individualized plans of study are developed that meet the specific curricular and research training needs of each student. 
• UNCG houses state-of-the-art facilities that include confocal, fluorescence, and electron microscopes; environmental sampling and analytical equipment; high-throughput sequencing systems; quantitative PCR instrumentation; nucleic acid sequencers; advanced documentation systems for biotechnology; growth chambers; greenhouses; and animal-care facilities.
• The Biology Department’s Plant and Pollinator Center is a research, teaching, and community outreach facility that supports research activities addressing global issues of food security, growing an agricultural economy, and environmental sustainability. 

AFTER GRADUATION

• Graduates of the M.S. in biology at UNCG have gone on to pursue advanced degrees in medicine and other health-related professions or pursue doctoral studies at top programs throughout the nation.  
• Graduates of the M.S. program are also successful at finding employment as researchers, technicians, and educators in both the public and private sectors.

APPLY TO Biology, M.S. 

Due dates:

• Fall Applications – April 1
• Spring Applications – November 15

*Students interested in spring admission are encouraged to contact the Graduate Program Director prior to submitting their application since enrollment in the MS program may be closed for the year and financial support in the form of an instructional assistantship may not be available.

Documents to be submitted to Graduate School for Admission to the MS in Biology program:

1. Graduate Application
2. Official Transcripts*
3. GRE scores are not required
4. Three letters of recommendation
5. Personal Statement: Include highlights of educational background, related work/professional experience, career goals, and reasons for choosing the MS in Biology at UNCG, and indicate faculty members in the Biology Department whose research activities are of particular interest.
6. International applicants whose first language is not English must provide evidence of English language proficiency.

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