Accelerated Master's Program (4+1)
Earn the undergraduate and master's degrees in 5 years instead of 6.
Accelerated Master's Program (4+1)
The Department of Biology offers students with excellent academic records the opportunity to apply for admission to an accelerated five-year B.A./M.S. degree program (4+1).
- This program requires that students apply in the fall or spring of their junior year.
- Admitted students then take graduate-level BISC courses in their junior and/or senior year, working toward both undergraduate and graduate degrees in an expedited, five-year program.
The Graduate School labels this program: GradSHARK Launch PAAD (Program for Accelerated Advanced Degrees)
About the Accelerated Master's Program with the Department of Biology
A master’s degree makes you more competitive in the job market, helps you more easily land promotions into management and leadership, and earn a higher salary.
It dramatically reinforces the benefits of being a life-long learner with improved core skills of research, analysis, and communication, allowing you to more easily tackle complex projects in all areas of your life.
Earnings and Unemployment Rates by Educational Attainment, 2023
| Type of Degree | Median Weekly Earnings ($) | Unemployment rate (%) |
| Doctoral | 2,109 | 1.6 |
| Professional | 2,206 | 1.2 |
| Master's | 1,737 | 2.0 |
| Bachelor's | 1,493 | 2.2 |
| Associate's | 1,058 | 2.7 |
| some college | 992 | 3.3 |
| High School diploma | 899 | 3.9 |
| Less than high school | 708 | 5.6 |
Source: Department of Labor Statistics
For many, earning a master’s degree is a decision about the return on investment for the time and money to earn a graduate degree. With our accelerated program, we shave a year off tuition and time from the typical path towards the master’s degree….making it a great return on investment!
In addition, participation in the 4+1 Accelerated Master's program may allow a student the opportunity to extend, complete, and publish biology research begun as an undergraduate. The program may also be appropriate for students who are working professionals, in need of advanced coursework for professional advancement. Students who graduate with a Master’s in Biology from the University of Mississippi go on to work in Healthcare, Education and STEM-related fields.
- Biology major
- 3.0 GPA
- 90 completed credit hours as an undergraduate before enrolling in the Take 5 program
Students must be accepted into the GradSHARK Launch PAAD program in Biological Science, including completion of the requisite Course Enrollment Form.
- The form must be received by the Graduate School prior to the start of the first term in which graduate-level courses will be taken.
- The form requires approval from your Undergraduate Advisor and the Graduate Program Coordinator for Biology.
During each subsequent term, students must submit a new enrollment form for this program if they wish to take courses that can count towards a graduate degree.
- BISC 504: Biometry (4 credits)
- BISC 510: Theoretical Ecology (3 credits)
- BISC 520: Medical Microbiology (3 credits)
- BISC 522: Microbial Ecology (3 credits)
- BISC 528: Conservation Physiology (4 credits)
- BISC 533: Advanced Neuroscience (3 credits)
- BISC 538: Hormones & Behavior (3 credits)
- BISC 540: Chemical Ecology (3 credits)
- BISC 541: Cell Biology of Neurodegenerative Diseases (3 credits)
- BISC 542: Microbial Diversity (4 credits)
- BISC 543: Functional Neuroanatomy (3 credits)
- BISC 547: Advanced Histology (4 credits)
- BISC 579: Introductory Molecular Genetics (3 credits)
- BSIC 579: Symbiosis: from Parasitism to Mutualism (3 credits)
- BSIC 614: Advanced General Microbiology (4 credits)
- BISC 615: Ichthyology (4 credits)
- BISC 658: Systems Biology: Theory & Practice (3 credits)
- BISC 662: Multivariate Analysis of Ecological Data
- BISC 675: Advanced Microbial Physiology (3 credits)
If you'd like more information about the Accelerated Master's Program (4+1) with the Department of Biology, we're happy to help out.
Academic Advisors
Ann Margaret Compton acompton@olemiss.edu or Kordarius Montez Parker kmparker@olemiss.edu
Undergraduate Program Director
Dr. Carol Britson, cbritson@olemiss.edu
Graduate Program Coordinator
Dr. Jason Hoeksema, hoeksema@olemiss.edu