MCDB&G curriculum
The MCDB&G program is part of the Molecular, Cellular and Structural Biology (MCSB) Program, a joint admissions program that allows entering graduate students to choose between faculty in two graduate programs: MCDB&G and Biochemistry, Molecular Biology & Biophysics (BMBB). During their first year in the program, students take a combined set of classes taught by faculty from both MCDB&G and BMBB and can rotate through faculty labs from either program.
Incoming students begin taking classes in fall semester. Course work usually consists of six to seven courses that are completed by the end of the second year. Students typically take two to three courses during each semester of the first year. Specialized courses (one per semester) may be taken in the second year. Students are expected to maintain a “B” average in graduate courses and to maintain full-time student status (6-14 credits per semester). The Graduate School and program requires a GPA of 2.8.
Coursework
Year One
BioC 8001 (syllabus) - Biochemistry: Structure, Catalysis and Metabolism
BioC 8002 (syllabus) - Molecular Biology and Regulation of Biological Processes
GCD 8151 (syllabus) - Cell Structure and Function
Year Two
Registration includes required courses and typically two 3 – 4 credit elective courses to be chosen in consultation with the advisor and/or DGS.
Fall - Required courses
MCDG 8900 – Student Research Seminar (1 credit)
MCDG 8950 – Teaching Practicum (1 credit) (If assigned a TA position)
Electives Options (choose course) – note that this is a partial list
Grad 8101 – Preparing Future Faculty (3 credits)
GCD 8171 – Literature Analysis (2 credits)
GCD 8213/BioC 8213 – Selected Topics in Molecular Biology (4 credits)
SCB 8181 – Stem Cell Biology (3 credits)
BIOC 5361 – Microbial Genomics and Bioinformatics (3 credits)
BIOC 5527 – Introduction to Modern Structural Biology (4 credits)
BIOL 5485 – Introductory Bioinformatics (3 credits)
EEB 5042 – Quantative Genetics (3 credits)
EEB 5963 – Modeling Nature and the Nature of Modeling (3 credits)
NSC 5461 – Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience (3 credits)
NSC 5561 – Systems Neuroscience (3 credits)
PubH 6450 – Biostatistics I (4 credits)
Stat 5021 –- Statistical Analysis (4 credits)
Spring - Required courses
MCDG 8900 – Student Research Seminar (1 credit)
MCDG 8950 – Teaching Practicum (1 credit) (If assigned a TA position)
Electives Options (one 3 or 4 credit course) – note that this is a partial list
Grad 8101 – Preparing Future Faculty (3 credits)
Grad 8102 – Practicum for Future Faculty (3 credits)
GCD 8008 – Mammalian Gene Transfer and Expression (2 credits)
GCD 8073 (syllabus) – Adv. Human Genetics (3 credits)
BIOC 5309 – Biocatalysis and Biodegradation (3 credits)
BIOC 5353 – Microbial Biochemistry and Biotechnology: Small Molecules
(3 credits)
BioC 5352 – Microbial Biochemistry and Biotechnology: Proteins (3 credits)
BIOC 5530 – Selected Topics in Molecular Biophysics (1-3 credits)
BIOC 5444 – Muscle (3 credits)
BIOC 8216 – Signal Transduction and Gene Expression (4 credits)
EEB 5221 – Molecular and Genomic Evolution (3 credits)
MICa 8003 – Immunity and Immunopathology (4 credits)
MICa 8004 – Cellular and Cancer Biology (4 credits)
MATH 8540 – Topics in Mathematical Biology (3 credits)
NSC 8211 – Developmental Neurobiology (3 credits)
PHCL 5111– Pharmacogenomics (3 credits)
PubH 6450 – Biostatistics I (4 credits)
Stat 5021 – Statistical Analysis (4 credits)
