Overview

The graduate program in Molecular Biology aspires to endow graduates with the spirit of scientific exploration and the necessary research skills and ethical standards to attain successful careers.

Program Objectives

The objectives of the M.S. in Molecular Biology Program are to:

1. prepare graduates to remain abreast of the most recent advances in molecular biology. 
2. prepare graduates for further graduate studies and for careers in related fields.

Program Outcomes

Students in the M.S. in Molecular Biology will be able to:

1. Integrate advanced concepts in molecular biology and related fields
2. Develop analytical and critical-thinking skills
3. Evaluate recent advances in molecular biology and their impact on society
4. Conduct research in molecular biology and related fields as individual and part of a research team
5. Demonstrate effective verbal and oral scientific communication
6. Assess ethical issues in biological research

Program Requirements

The M.S. in Molecular Biology curriculum comprises a total of 30 credits, distributed as follows:

Molecular Biology Core Courses (9 credits)

• BIO805 / Protein Research Methods (3 cr.)
• BIO806 / Genomics Research Methods (3 cr.)
• BIO822 / Advanced Molecular Biology (3 cr.)

Elective Courses – Choose five courses (15 credits)

• BIO841 / Molecular Physiology (3 cr.)
• BIO820 / Applied and Industrial Microbiology (3 cr.)
• BIO825 / Diagnostic Microbiology and Immunology (3 cr.)
• BIO850 / Genomics and Proteomics (3 cr.)
• BIO826 / Advances in Cell Biology (3 cr.)
• BIO829 / Endocrinology and Metabolism (3 cr.)
• BIO834 / Environmental Health and Toxicology (3 cr.)
• BIO852 / Nutrition and Diet Therapy (3 cr.)
• BIO848 / Fungal Genetics and Pathogenicity (3 cr.)
• BIO845 / Diagnostic and Applied Physiology (3 cr.)
• BIO835 / Microbial Pathogenesis (3 cr.)
• BIO888 / Current Topics in Microbiology (3 cr.)
• BIO881 / Special Topics in Biology (3 cr.)

Thesis (6 credits)

BIO899 / Thesis* (6 cr.)

*The thesis can be in the following fields of research: Molecular Biology, Molecular Microbiology, Human Genetics, Fungal Genetics, Molecular Biochemistry and Pharmacology, Cell and Cancer Biology, Physiology and Nutrition.