Biology, B.S., Health Sciences with a concentration in Nutrition, M.S.

Biology

Dual Degree Administrator
[email protected]

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 offers 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, saving time and tuition expenses.

Participants have the opportunity 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.

Program Details

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.

Students need to apply to the M.S. in Health Sciences concentration in Nutrition program by the end of their third year of undergraduate studies. The application deadline is May 15.

The bachelor’s degree program is a 120-credit-hour program. The master’s degree program is a 36-credit-hour program. Undergraduate students in this dual-degree program can take up to nine graduate course credit hours, which can be applied toward both the bachelor’s degree program as well as the master’s degree program.

Graduate assistantships providing full or half tuition waivers and stipend may be available. Waivers for out-of-state tuition may be available. Students in this program may be eligible to receive scholarships, including the Lettie Pate Whitehead scholarship.

This program aims to offer students capable of working at high levels late in their undergraduate program to become successful graduate students.

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.

Careers

The dual degree program may lead to careers in the health care sector and food industry that may otherwise be unavailable with a Biology-only background. Students will be prepared for academic and research positions in universities, private research institutions, government agencies, private industries, and the public policy sector.

Researcher working with fruits, nutsand vegetables in lab