This Double Dawg program links a UGA undergraduate BS in Life Sciences or Chemistry to a BCMB MS degree in Therapeutics Discovery. This program is designed for people who are seeking career advancement in drug development and are ready to deepen their expertise and gain the practical, advanced skills required to stay competitive in today’s drug discovery and biotech industries. Students in this program will gain an understanding of the therapy development pathway, from discovery to development and through clinical trials to approval and commercialization and be equipped to success in careers in pharma, biotech, labs, drug development efforts and more. This small cohort, one-year, 30-credit graduate degree is taught by UGA’s world-class faculty and includes industry-focused training and hands-on experience with students building critical career connections as well as relevant scientific and professional skills. In this program, you will gain advanced scientific expertise, leadership skills, and industry connections to accelerate your career. Key features include: Hands-on summer internship with a biotechnology or pharmaceutical company (paid opportunities anticipated in Athens as well as throughout the U.S.) Industry-focused training in drug discovery, therapeutic development pathways, and laboratory techniques Leadership, project management, and communication coursework to prepare you for collaborative biotech environments Mentored research opportunities with UGA faculty and the option to serve as a TA for tuition support and living expenses Links to the approved Double Dawg programs and those awaiting approval: BCMB BS / BCMB MS (approved!) BIOL BS / BCMB MS (submitted!) CBIO BS / BCMB MS (pending) CHEM BS/ BCMB MS (pending) GENE BS / BCMB MS (pending) MIBO BS / BCMB MS (pending) PBIO BS / BCMB MS (pending) Applications open at the start of the spring semester with an application deadline of March 31, 2026. The Application Link will be available on January 1, 2026. No GRE required. Admission requirements include: Three letters of recommendation (at least one from a Principal Investigator or Industrial Scientist strongly encouraged) Official undergraduate transcript (minimum GPA 3.0) Statement of Purpose (career goals, scientific interests, and research experience) For international students: International UGA students who are currently enrolled and have been enrolled at least one year at a regionally accredited U.S. institution may have the English language proficiency requirement waived, if their work shows a strong quality of performance (e.g., cumulative GPA of at least 3.0). Schedule of Classes for the Fifth Year *Please find sample five year plans for each major on the Double Dawg links above. Required Courses (22 hours) BCMB 7160, Organizational Leadership (3 hours) – NEW BCMB 7150, Project Management (3 hours) – NEW BCMB 7110, Spring Break Visit to Biotechs in Boston, (1 hour) – NEW BCMB 7210, Summer Internship, (3 hours) – NEW BCMB(CBIO)(GENE) 8113, Advanced Genetics, Cell Biology, Biochemistry, and Molecular Biology (1a) (2 hours) BCMB(CBIO)(GENE) 8114, Advanced Genetics, Cell Biology, Biochemistry, and Molecular Biology (1b) (2 hours) CBIO 7XXX, Foundations in Drug Discovery (4 hours) – NEW PHAR 6010, Pharmaceutical, Biotechnology, and Device Industries (4 hours) Elective Courses (8 hours) Choose a minimum of 8 hours from either of the following groups. Track One: Small Molecule Drug Discovery CBIO 6500, Medical Parasitology (3 hours) CHEM 6120, Chemistry of Drug Design and Drug Action * CHEM 6615, Soft Materials (3 hours) CHEM 8390, Special Topics in Organic Chemistry (1-4 hours) PMCY 6300, Medicinal Chemistry (3 hours) PMCY 6410E, Robotic Technology in Drug Discovery and Toxicology (2 hours) *A course change proposal to create a split-level course, CHEM 4120/6120, will be completed in CAPA prior to offering this course. Track Two: Biologics BCMB(BCHE) 6030L, Bioprocess Technology (4 hours) CBIO(MIBO)(IDIS) 6100-6100D, Immunology (4 hours) PMCY 6600, Biological Therapeutics (3 hours) STAT 6315, Statistical Methods for Researchers (4 hours)
