Cell/Molecular/Genetics/Biochemistry Concentration

The Cell/Molecular/Genetics/Biochemistry (CMGB) concentration exposes students to several vital disciplines that are among the many research strengths of the biology faculty. The four required CMBG courses cover basic competencies, while the six focus areas help students tailor their studies to their specific research and career interests. The focus areas offer recommendations for courses to fulfill the two CMBG electives. Students also select two elective courses from among the other concentration areas. This concentration will prepare students for diverse careers in research, medicine and industry.

Focus Areas within the CMGB Concentration:

Biochemistry

The Biochemistry Focus Area is for students with an interest in the link between the basic sciences, such as chemistry and physics, and the biomedical disciplines. These courses focus on the structural basis for signal transduction, enzymology and membrane transport.

Required Courses

BIO 214 Principles of Cell Biology
BIO 244 Genetics or BIO 444 Human Genetics
BIO 270 Developmental Biology
BIO 311 Metabolism

Focus Area Courses

BIO 404 Structure & Function of Biomolecules

Select one of the following electives

BIO 318 Biology of Cancer
BIO 415 Proteins
BIO 421 Biomembranes

Recommended Plans of Study

Biochemistry - 4 year, Fall-Winter Co-op (PDF)
Biochemistry - 4 year, Spring-Summer Co-op (PDF)
Biochemistry - 4 year, No Co-op (PDF)
Biochemistry - 5 year, Fall-Winter Co-op (PDF)
Biochemistry - 5 year, Spring-Summer Co-op (PDF)

Cell Biology

The Cell Biology Focus Area is for students with an interest in the anatomy and behavior of the smallest unit of life: the cell. The required coursework provides a comprehensive overview of the molecular mechanisms that underlie the morphogenesis and physiology of cells in health and disease.

Required Courses

BIO 214 Principles of Cell Biology
BIO 244 Genetics or BIO 444 Human Genetics
BIO 270 Developmental Biology
BIO 311 Metabolism

Focus Area Courses

BIO 433 Advanced Cell Biology

Select one of the following electives

BIO 318 Biology of Cancer
BIO 346 Stem Cell Research
BIO 430 Cell Biology of Disease
BIO 421 Biomembranes

Recommended Plans of Study

Cell Biology - 4 year, Fall-Winter Co-op (PDF)
Cell Biology - 4 year, Spring-Summer Co-op (PDF)
Cell Biology - 4 year, No Co-op (PDF)
Cell Biology - 5 year, Fall-Winter Co-op (PDF)
Cell Biology - 5 year, Spring-Summer Co-op (PDF)

Genetics

The Genetics Focus Area is for students with an interest in the mechanisms by which the genome is inherited and stably expressed during normal and abnormal (disease) development. These courses will explore how variation in the genome leads to phenotypic changes among individuals, and how these changes are selected upon and fixed by natural selection.

Required Courses

BIO 214 Principles of Cell Biology
BIO 244 Genetics
BIO 270 Developmental Biology
BIO 311 Metabolism

Focus Area Courses

BIO 447 Advanced Genetics & Molecular Biology

Select one of the following electives

BIO 413 Genomics
BIO 444 Human Genetics
BIO 445 Microbial Genetics
BIO 451 Genetic Regulation of Development

Recommended Plans of Study

Genetics - 4 year, Fall-Winter Co-op (PDF)
Genetics - 4 year, Spring-Summer Co-op (PDF)
Genetics - 4 year, No Co-op (PDF)
Genetics - 5 year, Fall-Winter Co-op (PDF)
Genetics - 5 year, Spring-Summer Co-op (PDF)

Molecular Biology

The Molecular Biology Focus Area is for students with an interest in the molecular basis of biological processes. These courses will explore the molecular and structural levels of processes common to all living organisms. Students will learn approaches for asking questions about basic biology and the biology of disease.

Required Courses

BIO 214 Principles of Cell Biology
BIO 244 Genetics
BIO 270 Developmental Biology
BIO 311 Metabolism

Focus Area Courses

BIO 447 Advanced Genetics & Molecular Biology

Select one of the following electives

BIO 314 Pharmacology
BIO 318 Biology of Cancer
BIO 331 Bioinformatics I
BIO 404 Structure & Function of Biomolecules
BIO 415 Proteins

Recommended Plans of Study

Molecular Biology - 4 year, Fall-Winter Co-op (PDF)
Molecular Biology - 4 year, Spring-Summer Co-op (PDF)
Molecular Biology - 4 year, No Co-op (PDF)
Molecular Biology - 5 year, Fall-Winter Co-op (PDF)
Molecular Biology - 5 year, Spring-Summer Co-op (PDF)

Neurobiology

The Neurobiology Focus Area is for students with an interest in the anatomy, cell biology and biochemistry of the nervous system. These courses will also explore the anatomical, cellular and molecular basis of nervous system functions.

Required Courses

BIO 214 Principles of Cell Biology
BIO 244 Genetics or BIO 444 Human Genetics
BIO 270 Developmental Biology
BIO 311 Metabolism

Focus Area Courses

BIO 421 Biomembranes
BIO 462 Biology of Neuron Function

Recommended Plans of Study

Neurobiology - 4 year, Fall-Winter Co-op (PDF)
Neurobiology - 4 year, Spring-Summer Co-op (PDF)
Neurobiology - 4 year, No Co-op (PDF)
Neurobiology - 5 year, Fall-Winter Co-op (PDF)
Neurobiology - 5 year, Spring-Summer Co-op (PDF)

Pharmaceutics

The Pharmaceutics Focus Area is for students with an interest in entering the pharmaceutical industry, either after graduation from Drexel or after advanced graduate training. The required courses focus on the basic scientific concepts required by all pharmaceutical scientists.

Required Courses

BIO 214 Principles of Cell Biology
BIO 244 Genetics or BIO 444 Human Genetics
BIO 270 Developmental Biology
BIO 311 Metabolism

Focus Area Courses

BIO 314 Pharmacology
BIO 404 Structure & Function of Biomolecules

Recommended Plans of Study

Pharmaceutics - 4 year, Fall-Winter Co-op (PDF)
Pharmaceutics - 4 year, Spring-Summer Co-op (PDF)
Pharmaceutics - 4 year, No Co-op (PDF)
Pharmaceutics - 5 year, Fall-Winter Co-op (PDF)
Pharmaceutics - 5 year, Spring-Summer Co-op (PDF)

No Focus Area

Students also have the option to pursue No Focus Area and instead take electives that most interest them to receive broad training in the Cell/Molecular/Genetics/Biochemistry Concentration.

Required Courses

BIO 214 Principles of Cell Biology
BIO 244 Genetics or BIO 444 Human Genetics
BIO 270 Developmental Biology
BIO 311 Metabolism

Recommended Plans of Study

No Focus Area - 4 year, Fall-Winter Co-op (PDF)
No Focus Area - 4 year, Spring-Summer Co-op (PDF)
No Focus Area - 4 year, No Co-op (PDF)
No Focus Area - 5 year, Fall-Winter Co-op (PDF)
No Focus Area - 5 year, Spring-Summer Co-op (PDF)

CMGB Degree Requirements

B.S. in Biological Sciences: CMGB Checklist (PDF)
Biological Science Course Descriptions