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Biology BS/Marine Sciences MS(non-thesis)

The Biology B.S. and Marine Sciences M.S. (non-thesis) is intended for those students who have a strong interest in pursuing careers related to biological aspects of the marine environment. This program will provide students with the knowledge and quantitative skills necessary to participate in a range of environment- and marine-related fields: natural resources, aquaculture, public policy, water quality monitoring programs, and private consulting. While we recognize the importance of preparing students to conduct research, we also recognize that there are many career paths available to students with advanced knowledge of the marine environment that can be obtained through a combination of graduate-level coursework and a focused internship or research project. We anticipate that students will be well prepared to either pursue doctoral degrees in Oceanography (or other related fields) or to seek employment as field/lab technicians, educators, resource managers, environmental consultants, or in government agencies. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook, these occupations are projected to increase over the next decade as there is a societal need to address marine-related problems in a rigorous and interdisciplinary way.

View 5-year Sample Program of Study

Admission to Program

Biology majors may apply to the Biology B.S./Marine Sciences M.S. (non-thesis) Double Dawgs pathway in the fall semester of their junior year. Students who meet the following eligibility requirements specified below should arrange to meet with either the Marine Sciences undergraduate coordinator or a Biology program advisor and should also meet with the Marine Sciences graduate coordinator early in the semester to discuss program feasibility and to be advised on coursework requirements.

To be eligible for the Biology B.S./Marine Sciences M.S. (non-thesis) Double Dawgs pathway, students must
• Have completed at least 60 credit hours before the start of their junior year
• Have a minimum GPA of 3.2 at the time they apply to the Double Dawgs pathway
• Have completed the following foundation science and mathematics courses (or their equivalent) with a B average: (CHEM 1211-1211L/ CHEM 1212-1212L), (BIOL1107-1107L/ BIOL 1108-1108L), (PHYS 1111-1111L/PHYS 1112-1112L) or (PHYS 1211-1211L/ PHYS 1212-1212L), and MATH 2250.

Curriculum

Graduate-level courses that may be used to satisfy undergraduate and graduate program requirements.

Up to 9 hours of any MARS 6000-level courses (or their respective cross listing) and MARS 7380 can be used to satisfy both undergraduate and graduate program requirements, with the exception of MARS 6740L and MARS 6750.

Additional requirements that are unique to this Double Dawgs program:

Students must enroll in the MARS 7100 Non-Thesis M.S. Research Project or Internship Experience course in either the summer semester of their fourth year or in the fall semester of the 5th year. Students are encouraged to seek out internship or research project opportunities once accepted into the graduate program in the spring semester of the fourth year. Also, MARS 6100 (or permission of the department) is required prior to taking the core graduate course MARS 8030.

Admission to Graduate Program

Students will formally apply to the Marine Sciences M.S. (non-thesis) program by the end of the fall semester of year four with acceptance contingent on having successfully completed the undergraduate Biology major. Prospective students are required to submit a statement of interest as part of the application process. Students will also be required to submit three letters of reference; one must be a letter of support from a prospective faculty advisor in the Department of Marine Sciences. The Marine Sciences Graduate Affairs Committee will review applications using the same acceptance criteria that are used for traditional applicants to the program.

Program Advisor

  • Name: Bev Vantine
  • Email: bev.vantine@uga.edu
  • Phone: 706-542-7162
  • Address: Marine Sciences Building, Room 206
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Undergraduate Major Information

  • Major: Biology B.S.
  • Department/College: Biological Sciences

Advising Contact

  • Name: Elizabeth Fuller
  • Email: elfuller@uga.edu
  • Phone: 706-542-1691
  • Address: Biology program Advising Office, 411 Biological Sc

Graduate Major Information

  • Major: Marine Sciences M.S.
  • Department/College: Marine Sciences

Advising Contact

  • Name: Cliff Buck
  • Email: csbuck@uga.edu
  • Phone: 912-598-2418
  • Address: Skidaway Institute of Oceanography