This degree 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. 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 Applications open now. Priority application deadline is February 1, 2026, and final application deadline is March 31, 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: If applicant received a degree more than two years prior to application to the Graduate School and has been residing/working in a country where the primary language is not English, he or she must submit current TOEFL or IELTS scores. 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). Apply Now Schedule of Classes Required Courses (22 hours) BCMB 6XXX, Organizational Leadership (3 hours) – NEW BCMB 6XXX, Project Management (3 hours) – NEW BCMB 7XXX, 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 6XXX, 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)
