Overview

The graduate program in Biological Sciences 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 Biological Sciences program are to:

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

Learning Outcomes

Students in the M.S. in Biological Sciences will be able to:

1. integrate advanced concepts in biological sciences 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

Curriculum

Graduation from the M.S. in Biological Sciences requires completing 30 credits, distributed as follows:

• Biological Sciences Core Courses (9 credits)
• Elective Courses (15 credits)
• Thesis (6 credits)

Biological Sciences Core Courses (9 credits)

• BIO611 Molecular Biology and Genomics (3 cr.)
• BIO613 Cell Biology 3cr (3 cr.)
• BCH612 Biochemistry: Macromolecular Structure and Function (3 cr.)
• BIO600 Graduate Seminar (0 cr.)

Elective Courses (15 credits)

• BIO605 Research Tools (3 cr.)
• BIO621 Model Organism Genetics (3 cr.)
• BIO622 Human Genetics and epidemiology (3 cr.)
• BIO631 Tumor Markers and Target Cancer Therapeutics (3 cr.)
• BIO632 Advances in Epigenetics and Therapeutics (3 cr.)
• BIO633 Signaling in cancer malignancy and metastasis  (3 cr.)
• BIO623 Quantitative imaging of cells (3 cr.)
• BIO660 Bioinformatics tools and applications (3 cr.)
• BIO625 Proteomics (3 cr.)
• BIO645 Diagnostic Microbiology and Immunology (3 cr.)
• BIO648 Fungal Genetics and Pathogenicity (3 cr.)
• BIO646 Microbial Pathogenesis (3 cr.)
• BIO681 Special topics in Biology (3 cr.)

Thesis (6 credits)

• BIO699 Thesis (6 cr.)

The thesis can be in the following fields of research: Microbial Genomics, Cell Biology, Biochemistry, Cancer Biology, Cancer Therapeutics, Clinical Microbiology, Environmental Microbiology, Human Genetics, Fungal Genetics, and Neurobiology.

Recommended Study Plan

(Students Admitted in the Fall Semester)

Year One

Fall (6 credits)

• BIO611 Molecular Biology and Genomics (3 cr.)
• BIO613 Cell Biology (3 cr.)
• BIO600 Graduate Seminar (0 cr.)

Spring (6 credits)

• BCH612 Biochemistry: Macromolecular Structure and Function (3 cr.)
• Elective Course (3 cr.)

Year Two

Fall (12 credits)

• Elective Course (3 cr.)
• Elective Course (3 cr.)
• BIO699 Thesis (6 cr.)

Spring (6 credits)

• Elective Course (3 cr.)
• Elective Course (3 cr.)