Biotechnology

The Master's Degree in Biotechnology at WVSU is a unique graduate program in the life sciences that will emphasize skills that a 21st century biologist will need. Students will learn state of the art biotechnology and use acquired techniques to conduct research that addresses environmental, agricultural and biomedical problems. The goal of the Master's Degree Program in Biotechnology is to provide instruction in the broad field of biotechnology as well as specialized training in the current concepts and technological advances of a sub-discipline of biotechnology.

This program will prepare students for diverse careers in the Biotechnology, Pharmaceutical, and Environmental Sciences, and Health Care industries as well as Education (MA).

Twenty one students are currently enrolled in the Biotechnology Program at WVSU. 95% of our students are fully financially supported with teaching and research assistantships including tuition and partial fee waiver plus a  $6,000/semester stipend.  Our 13 Ph.D. Faculty members partake in a complete array of biotechnology research. In addition, our affiliation with the research scientists of the Gus R. Douglass Institute for Land Grant Research provides our students the opportunity to choose from surprisingly diverse research projects including the following:

• Dr. Mark Chatfield – Plant Physiology, Microbiology, Molecular Biology
• Dr. Sean Collins - Social Insect Biology, Insect Population Biology, Ecology
• Dr. Jonathan Eya - Fish Biology and Nutrition, Aquaculture, Nutrigenomics, Nutritional Immunology
• Dr. Gerald Hankins - Tumor Biology, Gene Therapy
• Dr. Rob Harris - Muscle Physiology
• Dr. David Huber - Environmental Microbiology, Environmental Microbial Genomics, Microbial Diversity, Biofilms, Anaerobic Digestion
• Dr. Umesh Reddy - Plant Genomics
• Dr. Tim Ruhnke (Biotechnology Graduate Program Coordinator) - Systematics and Evolution of Parasitic Platyhelminths, Environmental Parasitology
• Dr. Barbara Liedl - Horticulture, Plant Breeding and Genetics, Plant Reproductive Barriers, Speciation, Sustainable Agriculture
• Dr. Padma Nimmakayala - Quantitative Genetics, DNA marker assisted plant breeding

Graduate students may select either one of the following program tracks:

1. MASTER of SCIENCE: emphasizes research and includes writing a thesis, defending that thesis, and a final public presentation
2. MASTER of ARTS:  continues with 6 additional electives with a final comprehensive exam covering all Master’s coursework.

Tuition:

Full-time, out-of-state - $6,934 per semester

Full-time, in-state student - $2,931 per semester

Graduate teaching and research assistantships award the following:

• WVSU pays tuition and partial fees 
• $6,000 stipend per academic semester

Application materials: 

1. Application Form
2. Statement of Purpose
3. Recommendation Form
4. Official Transcripts
5. GRE Score (Verbal 140, Quantitative 150)
6. $22.00 application fee ($32.00 International)

International Applicants:

Should be aware that they need the equivalent of a 4-year U.S. bachelor's degree.

Also, in addition to the application materials above you must also submit the following documents:

(required for consideration of full admission to the program)

1. WVSU Affidavit of Support
2. Proof of immunization
3. TOEFL Score (80)
4. course-by-course evaluation of all post-secondary academic transcripts by an evaluator of foreign credentials in the United States, such as www.wes.org or www.ece.org.