Graduate School Bulletin

Spring 2024

Requirements for the Ph.D. Degree in Biochemistry and Structural Biology

A. Course Requirements
Core courses:

1. Graduate Biochemistry I (MCB 520)

2 Biomembranes (MCB 517)

3. Computational Methods in Biochemistry and Structural Biology (BSB 515)

4. Structural Biology and Spectroscopy (BSB 512)

5. Cell Biology (MCB 656) or Molecular Genetics (MCB 503)

6. Experimental Projects in Biochemistry and Structural Biology (BSB 509/BSB 510), a two-semester course in which the students spend 2-3 months in each of three different faculty laboratories actively participating in the research work of the laboratory.

7. Enrollment every semester in Colloquium in Biochemistry and Structural Biology (BSB 601/BSB 602), a series of invited lectures by visiting scientists from other institutions.

8. Two electives from an approved list of biochemistry, chemistry, molecular, and cell biology courses.

9. Enrollment for one semester of Journal Club (BSB 532) in the first and second years.

10. Enrollment for one semester of Student Seminar (BSB 603/BSB604) in the third, fourth and fifth years.

11. Enrollment in the second year in Ethics (GRD500)

B. Qualifying and Thesis Proposal Examination
During their fourth semester, all students take a qualifying examination that is based primarily on their thesis proposal research.

Each student is required to prepare and defend a research proposal based on their own research. The student prepares a detailed write up of the background and logic of the proposal, and how the research will be carried out, which then forms the basis for an oral proposal examination. Questions during the exam can cover material from the core courses and test the student’s ability to integrate basic concepts and information.  The qualifying examination and the thesis proposal examination together constitute the preliminary examination specified in the regulations of the Graduate School.

C. Advancement to Candidacy
When the above requirements have been satisfactorily completed, a recommendation for advancement to candidacy for the Ph.D. will be forwarded to the Graduate School.

D. Dissertation
During the second year, the student initiates a dissertation research project in the laboratory of a particular member of the program faculty. After the student has passed the proposal examination, a research committee is appointed to guide the dissertation research, and when the research nears completion, a dissertation examining committee is approved by the Dean of the Graduate School.

E. Dissertation Defense
The dissertation defense, which completes the requirements for the Ph.D., consists of a public seminar presentation of the dissertation work followed by an oral examination before the dissertation examining committee.

F. Teaching Experience
All students in molecular biology and biochemistry, whether or not they are supported by teaching assistantships, are required to gain experience in teaching by assisting in laboratory sections, leading discussion sections, or helping to formulate and grade examination papers. The teaching experience may be in either undergraduate or graduate courses, and generally extends over a period of two semesters.

G. Residence Requirement
The University requires at least two consecutive semesters of full-time graduate study. The demands of the course of study necessitate a longer period of residence.

 

Requirements for the MS in Biomedical Science

Completion of this track will require 30 credits from the approved PhD curriculum in Biochemistry and Structural Biology and a thesis.