Program Overview: The Molecular and Cellular Biology Program offers graduate study leading to the Ph.D. in interdisciplinary studies in molecular and cellular biology.   M.S. degrees with a concentration in molecular and cellular biology are also available in the Departments of Biological Sciences, Chemistry and Biochemistry, and Environmental and Plant Biology.

Ph.D. study and research are guided by a doctoral advisory committee. A great deal of the responsibility for determining the program of study is left to the committee. However, a required core curriculum consists of a year of Biochemistry (CHEM 5901, 5902), Advanced Cell Biology (MCB 7600), Molecular Biology (MCB 7200), Molecular and Cellular Biology Laboratory (MCB 7300), Biological Research and Science Ethics (PBIO 5170) and Scientific Writing (PBIO 5180). You are required to register for MCB 7410 Seminar in Molecular and Cellular Biology when offered and must present at least one seminar each year. You must receive doctoral advisory committee approval of a written research proposal in the program and pass written and oral qualifying examination. You must defend your final dissertation before the doctoral advisory committee at a public forum. In addition, you are required to present the dissertation research as a program seminar. 

M.S. study and research concentration in molecular and cellular biology are guided by a master’s advisory committee. The required core curriculum consists of Biochemistry (CHEM 5901 or CHEM 5890), Molecular Biology (MCB 7200) and Molecular and Cellular Biology Laboratory (MCB 7300); Cell Biology (PBIO 5310 or MCB7600) as appropriate, and Biological Research and Science Ethics (PBIO 5170).  You are required to register for MCB 7410 Seminar in Molecular and Cellular Biology when offered and present at least one time each year. You also must pass a written qualifying exam. You are required to present your thesis at a public forum and orally defend it before your master’s advisory committee.

For both the Ph.D. and M.S. study, additional course requirements may exist in the home department (see admissions policy)

Admissions Policy: Admission to the Ph.D. program or the M.S. concentration, in Molecular and Cellular Biology, requires simultaneous admission to a home department in Biological Sciences, Chemistry and Biochemistry, or Environmental and Plant Biology. You must have a B.A., B.S., or M.S. in a biological or physical science. Criteria considered are coursework completed, grades, letters of recommendation, and scores on the Graduate Record Examination. Unconditional admission requires an overall grade-point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. Financial aid is contingent upon unconditional admission. International students for whom English is not the primary language are required to submit a Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score and must have earned a minimum TOEFL score of 620 (paper), 260 (computer-based), 95 (internet-based).  For entrance in the fall Semester submit completed applications and supporting materials before December 30^th of the prior year. 

Change Policy: Changes in status require approval of the MCB and home department graduate committees and may require readmission and/or acceptance to the new home department of choice.

Transfer Policy: Requirements for transfer are the same as for admission.

Opportunities: The PhD trains students for numerous careers in academics or academic, industrial and medicinal research, using interdisciplinary approaches