M.S. Degree Requirements

The Master of Science Degree 

Twenty-four credit hours of formal graduate courses are required, including BIOC 5753, 5824, 5853, and 5930.  In addition, a student must present an acceptable research thesis (six hours of BIOC 5000) and pass a final oral examination covering it and related material.  Research advisers are selected at the end of the first semester.

A non-thesis Master of Science degree is also available.  It does not require a research thesis, but requires a report and extensive technical training in the laboratory.  The non-thesis MS is not recommended for students wishing to pursue a PhD later.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS 

M.S. (non-Thesis)
For the non-Thesis M.S. degree, the Graduate School Plan II (Report Option) is followed.  This option requires 32 credit hours consisting of 30 hours of course work and 2 hours of research.  To meet requirements in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, non-Thesis students are required to complete BIOC 5753, 5824, 5853 and 5930 (8 credits) and 5000 (2 credits).  A grade of B or better must be obtained in each of these MS level courses.  In addition, non-Thesis M.S. students are required to pass with a B or better two advance level Biochemistry and Molecular Biology courses chosen from BIOC 6763, 6740, 6773, 6783, or 6792.  Students receiving a C or lower in and advanced level course will have the opportunity to take additional advanced BIOC courses to meet the requirement of passing two advanced courses with a B or better.  Non-Thesis M.S. students must enroll in 2 hr of BIOC 5000 in their last semester.  Students are expected to enroll at least two times in BIOC 6110 and once in BIOC 6820 and to participate in seminar programs continuously after the first semester of enrollment.

M.S. (Thesis)
For the Thesis-M.S. degree, Plan I (with thesis) of the Graduate School is followed.  The thesis M.S. degree requires a total of 30 credit hours with 24 hours of course work and 6 credit hours of research.  BIOC 5753, 5824, 5853, and 5930 (4 credits) must be included in that total and a B or better is required in each of these 5000-level courses.  Thesis M.S. students also are required to complete 6 hours of research (BIOC 5000) with a B or better.  Thesis M.S. students are required to pass with a B or better two advanced level Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Courses chosen from BIOC 6763, 6740, 6773, 6783, and 6792.  Students receiving a C or lower in an advanced level courses will have the opportunity to take additional advanced BIOC courses to meet the requirement of passing two advanced courses with a B or better.  Students are expected to enroll at least two times in BIOC 6110 and once in BIOC 6820 and to participate in seminar programs continuously after the first semester of enrollment.

REQUIRED EXAMINATIONS
M.S. (non-Thesis)
Students electing this Program will take BIOC 5824 followed by a series of four laboratory rotations (2 credit hours each semester, BIOC 5930) to acquire laboratory skills in basic techniques of biochemistry and molecular biology. In the final semester, they will write a report presenting the theoretical and experimental aspects of the techniques developed in those rotations and present the report orally to the faculty in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology in open Seminar. Students are expected to register for Research (BIOC 5000) for this research writing project. The written and oral reports must be approved by the student’s Graduate Committee and an oral exam must be passed.

M.S. (Thesis)
Students entering the M.S. Thesis Program must identify a faculty advisor and complete Research for a thesis. They must present a final oral defense of their completed Master’s research thesis before the advisory committee. The defense will be open to the public and must be announced at least two weeks in advance. Supervisory or examining committee report forms must be filed at the conclusion of the defense with the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Department.