The M.S. in Biology program at Winthrop University offers students broad training
in biology. Students may concentrate in areas ranging from conservation biology and
behavioral ecology to biomedical research in cancer, molecular biology and bioinformatics.
Students work closely with graduate faculty advisors who hold Ph.D.s in their areas
of specialization and are active researchers. Graduate courses are small (12 students
or fewer) allowing for maximum interactions between students and their professors.
Our graduate faculty members enjoy teaching and mentoring graduate students and many
have won awards for their teaching and scholarship.
Graduate Program Director:
Dr. Kristi Westover
westoverk@winthrop.edu
803/323-2111 ext. 6180
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Students have the opportunity to work in their departments and around campus as graduate assistants. |
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Over 92% of Winthrop's Biology graduate students have matriculated into the work-force or continued their education. |
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Travel support is available for graduate student presentations or performances. |
At the time of admission, thesis students are paired with a faculty advisor with whom they work to identify a thesis research project. Students take a foundational course in their first semester, which prepares them to develop and carry out research. Our program typically has about 20 students with individual faculty members supervising one to two students at a time. This allows faculty to work closely with students to help them select courses and develop projects which best fit their interests and career goals. The thesis option provides students with excellent preparation to continue their training in Ph.D. programs or professional schools which emphasize research and for careers at research institutions.
Time to completion: 2 - 2.5 years
Total Credits: 30
Format: Campus-based
The non-thesis option emphasizes breadth of training with students taking advanced coursework across the full range of biology subfields. Most non-thesis students carry out a one-semester project with a faculty member to gain research experience. Non-thesis students leave the program well-prepared to continue on to professional schools, enter biologically-oriented professions in research/government, or community college-level teaching.
Time to completion: 2 years
Total Credits: 33
Format: Campus-based
This option is intended for well-qualified students in the Winthrop BS in Biology program who will complete up to 9 hours of the work for the MS in Biology degree program while enrolled in the undergraduate degree program.
Time to completion: 2 years
Total Credits: 33
Format: Campus-based
Eligibility: Current Winthrop students in the BS in Biology program only
MS in Biology : April 15 for fall admission
Accelerated BS-MS Program: April 15 for fall admission
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Note: All admission materials must be received by the Graduate School office before an application will be reviewed. |
Note from the Biology Department: Admission to the Master of Science degree in biology requires the applicant to successfully complete an undergraduate major in biology, or its equivalent, and one year of general chemistry.
Application requirements for the Master of Science in Biology program include:
The online Graduate School application with the non-refundable application fee
Official transcript(s) from all institutions attended for undergraduate and graduate coursework. Note: Transcripts must be sent directly to Winthrop's Graduate School office from the issuing institution(s)
Two letters of recommendation
Submit an essay describing personal and professional goals
Official scores on the General Test of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE)
*This eligibility score scale does NOT apply to admission decisions for the Accelerated MS Biology program.
| GPA |
Points |
GRE-Verbal |
Points | GRE-Quantitative Score Percentile |
Points |
| 3.76-4.00 |
8 |
80% or above | 7 | 85% or above | 7 |
| 3.51-3.75 | 7 | 70-79% | 6 | 65-84% | 6 |
| 3.26-3.50 | 6 | 50-69% | 5 | 50-64% | 5 |
| 3.01-3.25 | 5 | 35-49% | 4 | 35-49% | 4 |
| 2.76-3.00 | 4 | 20-34% | 3 | 20-34% | 3 |
| 2.51-2.75 | 3 | 19% or below | 2 | 19% or below | 2 |
| 2.26-2.50 | 2 | ||||
| 2.01-2.25 | 1 | ||||
| Below 2.00 | 0 |
The official GRE score must be sent directly to the Graduate School office from the testing service. Eligibility for admission to the program is based on the following point scale:
The points from each of the three areas listed in the above table will be computed
and the total applied to the following scale*:
| Eligibility Score | Status |
| 12-22 |
Eligible for interview, then admit or deny |
| 4-11 |
Admission denied |
Applicants with admission scores between 12 and 22 will be contacted by Dr. Kristi Westover to schedule an appointment for an interview.
Application requirements for the Accelerated BS-MS in Biology program include:
Submit Intent to Pursue form no later than fall of senior year; consult the Graduate Program Director for the specific date when applications are due.
The online Graduate School application with the non-refundable application fee
3.0 GPA in the major with a minimum grade of B or better in all undergraduate courses undertaken for graduate credit.
3.0 overall GPA
GRE verbal, quantitative and writing scores at or above the 50th percentile.
Submit an essay describing personal and professional goals
Two letters of recommendation
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Ashley Graham
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M.S. in Biology graduates go on to careers in a wide variety of biology-related fields
or continue their training in doctoral and professional degree programs. Here are
some directions our students have gone in:
Ph.D. Programs:
Our M.S. graduates have gone on to doctoral programs all over the country, including:
Professional Programs:
Our graduates have gone on to programs in medicine, veterinary medicine and pharmacy.
Careers:
Our graduates have found jobs in:
Biomedical research (University of South Carolina, Vanderbilt University, Carolinas Medical Center, North Carolina Research Campus, Kanapolis Research Campus)
Government agencies (USDA, State of South Carolina, Mecklenberg County)
Museums (American Museum of Natural History, Schiele Museum, Museum of York County)
Private industry
College-level biology teaching
