Biochemistry
MS without thesis: 36.0 semester credits
MS with thesis: 48.0 semester credits
PhD: 96.0 semester credits
About the Programs
The Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology offers a challenging and broad-based graduate program of research and coursework leading to the MS or PhD degree. The aim of the graduate program is to train scientists to identify, address, and solve biomedical problems at the molecular level. The themes of molecular structure, molecular mechanisms, and molecular regulation are recurrent throughout the diverse research areas represented by the biochemistry faculty.
MS in Biochemistry
A minimum of two years of full-time study is required for an MS degree. Master’s graduates typically look forward to careers in clinical biochemistry, in pharmaceuticals and medical research equipment sales, or as research technicians in university and industrial laboratories.PhD in Biochemistry
The average duration of study for a PhD degree is five years. Graduates are well-rounded, independent scientists qualified to pursue careers in research in universities, the pharmaceutical and biotech industries, and government. In addition, PhD scientists may choose to focus on college teaching, research administration, science policy, or patent law.About the Curriculum
Background courses in biochemistry, molecular and cell biology, and integrative biology are taken during the first academic year. In addition, every student carries out short research projects in three different laboratories chosen by the student. This exposure to research not only gives the student broad research training, but also helps the student to select a thesis advisor at the end of the first academic year. In the second year, the student begins thesis research and takes several advanced courses, tailored to the student’s individual interests. All students participate in student seminars and are encouraged to attend seminars in the department and University.
Courses Repeatable for Credit
As well as taking all required courses, MS and PhD students may re-enroll in courses having the status “repeatable for credit” (such as journal club, seminar and research courses) for the duration of their program in order to meet the total number of credits required for graduation.
For more information about this program, including scheduling a plan of study, visit the College of Medicine's Biomedical Graduate Studies website.
MS and PhD Degree Requirements
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| MS Degree Requirements: Non-Thesis Option | 36.0 semester credits | |||
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| Required Courses | ||||
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| BIOC 502S | Biochemistry 1st Lab Rotation | 4.0 | ||
| BIOC 503S | Biochemistry 2nd Lab Rotation | 4.0 | ||
| BIOC 505S | Biochemical Basis of Disease | 1.0 | ||
| BIOC 506S | Biochemistry Journal Club | 1.0 | ||
| BIOC 507S | Biochemistry Seminar Series | 1.0 | ||
| BIOC 508S | Experimental Approaches to Biochemical Problems | 4.0 | ||
| BIOC 603S | Special Topics in Biochemistry | 2.0 | ||
| IDPT 500S | Scientific Integrity and Ethics | 2.0 | ||
| IDPT 501S | Biostatistics I | 2.0 | ||
| IDPT 521S | Molecular Structure and Metabolism | 5.0 | ||
| IDPT 526S | Cells to Systems | 5.0 | ||
| IDPT 850S | Literature Review Non-Thesis MS | 4.0 | ||
| MCBG 507S | Macromolecular Structure & Function | 2.0 | ||
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| Suggested Electives* | ||||
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| BIOC 503S | Biochemistry 2nd Lab Rotation | 4.0 | ||
| BIOC 504S | Biochemistry 3rd Lab Rotation | 4.0 | ||
| BIOC 510S | Cancer Biology | 3.0 | ||
| MCBG 506S | Advanced Cell Biology | 2.0 | ||
| MIIM 555S | Molecular Mechanisms of Microbial Pathogenesis | 3.0 | ||
| MIIM 604S | Special Topics in Virology | 3.0 | ||
| MIIM 630S | Advanced Molecular Biology | 2.0 | ||
| NEUR 609S | Advanced Neuroscience | 4.0 | ||
| PATH 601S | Cell and Molecular Pathobiology of Cancer | 4.0 | ||
| PHGY 503S | Graduate Physiology | 4.0 | ||
| PHRM 512S | Graduate Pharmacology | 3.0 | ||
| PHRM 525S | Drug Discovery and Development | 3.0 | ||
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| *Additional courses from the Biomedical Graduate programs may be taken as electives. Students should check with the College of Medicine's Biomedical Graduate Studies programs. | ||||
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| MS Degree Requirements: Thesis Option | 48.0 semester credits | |||
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| Required Courses | ||||
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| BIOC 502S | Biochemistry 1st Lab Rotation | 4.0 | ||
| BIOC 505S | Biochemical Basis of Disease | 1.0 | ||
| BIOC 506S | Biochemistry Journal Club | 1.0 | ||
| BIOC 507S | Biochemistry Seminar Series | 1.0 | ||
| BIOC 508S | Experimental Approaches to Biochemical Problems | 4.0 | ||
| BIOC 600S | Biochemistry Thesis Research | 9.0 | ||
| BIOC 603S | Special Topics in Biochemistry | 2.0 | ||
| IDPT 500S | Scientific Integrity and Ethics | 2.0 | ||
| IDPT 501S | Biostatistics I | 2.0 | ||
| IDPT 521S | Molecular Structure and Metabolism | 5.0 | ||
| IDPT 526S | Cells to Systems | 5.0 | ||
| IDPT 600S | Thesis Defense | 9.0 | ||
| MCBG 507S | Macromolecular Structure & Function | 2.0 | ||
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| Suggested Electives* | ||||
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| BIOC 503S | Biochemistry 2nd Lab Rotation | 4.0 | ||
| BIOC 504S | Biochemistry 3rd Lab Rotation | 4.0 | ||
| BIOC 510S | Cancer Biology | 3.0 | ||
| MCBG 506S | Advanced Cell Biology | 2.0 | ||
| MIIM 555S | Molecular Mechanisms of Microbial Pathogenesis | 3.0 | ||
| MIIM 604S | Special Topics in Virology | 3.0 | ||
| MIIM 630S | Advanced Molecular Biology | 2.0 | ||
| NEUR 609S | Advanced Neuroscience | 4.0 | ||
| PATH 601S | Cell and Molecular Pathobiology of Cancer | 4.0 | ||
| PHGY 503S | Graduate Physiology | 4.0 | ||
| PHRM 512S | Graduate Pharmacology | 3.0 | ||
| PHRM 525S | Drug Discovery and Development | 3.0 | ||
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| *Additional courses from the Biomedical Graduate programs may be taken as electives. Students should check with the College of Medicine's Biomedical Graduate Studies program. | ||||
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| PhD Degree Requirements | 96.0 semester credits | |||
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| Required Courses | ||||
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| During the third year, students develop a plan for their doctoral research in conjunction with their thesis advisor. A formal, written thesis proposal is then presented to the student’s Thesis Advisory Committee. Acceptance of this proposal after oral examination by the Committee leads to the final stage of doctoral training. PhD candidates then spend the majority of their time on thesis research. After concluding their research, they must submit and publicly defend their thesis before the Thesis-Examination Committee. | ||||
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| BIOC 502S | Biochemistry 1st Lab Rotation | 4.0 | ||
| BIOC 503S | Biochemistry 2nd Lab Rotation | 4.0 | ||
| BIOC 504S | Biochemistry 3rd Lab Rotation | 4.0 | ||
| BIOC 505S | Biochemical Basis of Disease | 1.0 | ||
| BIOC 506S | Biochemistry Journal Club | 1.0 | ||
| BIOC 507S | Biochemistry Seminar Series | 1.0 | ||
| BIOC 508S | Experimental Approaches to Biochemical Problems | 4.0 | ||
| BIOC 511S | Writing for Researchers: Grants and Papers | 1.0 | ||
| BIOC 600S | Biochemistry Thesis Research | 9.0 | ||
| BIOC 603S | Special Topics in Biochemistry | 2.0 | ||
| IDPT 500S | Scientific Integrity and Ethics | 2.0 | ||
| IDPT 501S | Biostatistics I | 2.0 | ||
| IDPT 521S | Molecular Structure and Metabolism | 5.0 | ||
| IDPT 526S | Cells to Systems | 5.0 | ||
| IDPT 600S | Thesis Defense | 9.0 | ||
| MCBG 507S | Macromolecular Structure & Function | 2.0 | ||
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| Suggested Electives* | ||||
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| Students are required to take a minimum of one of the courses from the following list: | ||||
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| BIOC 510S | Cancer Biology | 3.0 | ||
| MCBG 506S | Advanced Cell Biology | 2.0 | ||
| MIIM 555S | Molecular Mechanisms of Microbial Pathogenesis | 3.0 | ||
| MIIM 604S | Special Topics in Virology | 3.0 | ||
| MIIM 630S | Advanced Molecular Biology | 2.0 | ||
| NEUR 609S | Advanced Neuroscience | 4.0 | ||
| PATH 601S | Cell and Molecular Pathobiology of Cancer | 4.0 | ||
| PHGY 503S | Graduate Physiology | 4.0 | ||
| PHRM 512S | Graduate Pharmacology | 3.0 | ||
| PHRM 525S | Drug Discovery and Development | 3.0 | ||
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| *Additional courses from the Biomedical Graduate programs may be taken as electives. Students should check with the College of Medicine's Biomedical Graduate Studies program. | ||||
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