Curriculum & Courses

Program of Study

All candidates for a Ph.D. degree in Molecular Biosciences are required to complete or have completed the specified core courses and elective courses, or their equivalent, as directed by the student's Doctoral Advisory Committee. All candidates must attend every Molecular Biosciences Seminar when in residence on campus. Each Ph.D. student must complete a minimum of 15 hours of Molecular Biosciences approved course work (including the specified 9 credits in Core Technical courses, 1 credit in Responsible Conduct in Research and 4 credits from the Techniques in Molecular Biosciences course). Students must also take the Seminar in Molecular Biosciences every semester plus a minimum of 18 hours of dissertation research credits along with any other academic studies required by the student’s Doctoral Advisory Committee. The committee may alter or require additional academic work as it deems appropriate to meet the student’s specific program needs. The committee will also provide a written plan of study by semester for each student.

• MBS Core Courses (Required of All MBS Students)
• MBS 6213 Advanced Cell Biology
• MBS 6233 Specialized Biochemistry
• MBS 6243 Molecular Genetics and Genomics
• MBS 6251-3 Techniques in Molecular Biosciences
• MBS 7111 Seminar in Molecular Biosciences (every semester)
• MBS 7151 Responsible Conduct in Research
• MBS 8891-12 Dissertation

MBS Curriculum Courses

7121-3 Topics in Molecular Biosciences (1-3 credit) (Fa. Sp)

In depth study of specific areas such as the molecular biology of plant and animal disease resistance, signal transduction, molecular biology of addiction, metabolic engineering, bioproduction strategies, immunology and vaccines, and protein targeting. Course will be team taught and multidisciplinary involving extensive discussion and critical analysis of current literature by the students. May be repeated. Prerequisite: 2 MBS core classes or instructors' permission.

7111-3 Seminar in Molecular Biosciences (1 credit) (Fa, Sp)

Discussion of current topics in Molecular Biosciences, aimed at integrating material from various related disciplines. A minimum of 3 seminars for credit is required of Ph.D. students.

7151 Responsible Conduct in Research (1 credit)

Responsible Conduct in Research is a 1 credit hour course offered during the fall semester. It is designed for graduate and postdoctoral trainees, and for faculty. This seminar course is required for all graduate students in the Molecular Biosciences program.

6/7131-3 Independent Research in Molecular Biosciences (1-3 credits)

Independent Research in Molecular Biosciences. Independent investigations by a student or students directed by faculty and researchers that culminate in the development of or training in new techniques for the production of published findings. As with other independent study courses, the supervising faculty member, number of credit hours and project description will vary. May be repeated. Prerequisites: admission to the Ph.D. program or consent of instructor.

6/7141-3 Molecular Biosciences Internship (1-3 credits)

Molecular Biosciences Internship. Off-campus directed experience with Molecular Biosciences and research with agencies, industries, consultants, municipalities, nonprofit groups or applicable institiutions and operations. Independent work experiences by students directed by faculty and mentored by sponsors that culminate in elaboration of their focus area through professional exposure and training. As with similar independent study courses, the supervising faculty member, number of credit hours and project description will vary. May be repeated. Prerequisites: admission to the Ph.D. program or consent of instructor and sponsor.

8891-12 Doctoral Dissertation (1-12) (Fa, Sp, Su)

Prerequisites: graduate standing and consent of adviser.

In addition to the above, all students will be required to undergo laboratory rotations in Molecular Bioscience faculty laboratories. Students will be required to take a minimum of 3 rotations of 1 credit (5 weeks each) during their first semester. The student will be expected to have chosen a graduate advisor or co-advisors by the end of the second semester.

6213 Advanced Cell Biology (3 credits)

Current frontier areas in the biology of microbial, animal and plant cells covering, among other subjects, signal transduction, protein trafficking, membrane structure and transport, cellular compartmentation, cell to cell communication, etc. Prerequisite: Cell Biology (5133) or equivalent.

6233 Specialized Biochemistry (3 credits)

An advanced study of biochemical pathways and metabolic flow control in microbial, animal and plant cells. Emphasis will be on specialized pathways branching off from primary metabolism and leading to the formation of biologically active metabolites and specialty proteins. Aspects of chemical ecology of specialized metabolism will also be covered. Prerequisite: Biochemistry (5243) or equivalent.

6243 Molecular Genetics and Genomics (3 credits)

An advanced treatment of genetics in microbial, animal and plant systems, focused on the biochemical and molecular aspects of genetic structure and function. Information derived from current and recent genomic analyses and genomic comparisons will be included. Prerequisite: Biochemistry (5243) or equivalent.

6253 Transgenic and Genomic Techniques (4 credits)

Training in all major technical and analytical skills required for contemporary molecular biology research, from in vitro transformation of plant, microbial and animal cells and organisms to basic skills in genomics, metabolomics and proteomics. Prerequisite: Biochemistry (5243) or equivalent.

6273 Professional Skills and Bioethics (3 credits)

An interactive course to develop skills in scientific communication and research presentations, peer reviews, discussion of controversial scientific issues, interpretation of scientific literature, analysis of intellectual property and ethical issues in the biosciences, and entrepreneurship. Prerequisite: instructor’s discretion.