Program Description
The Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology offers a graduate program leading to the M.S. degree. This is a research-oriented
degree program comprised of graduate course work and supervised research leading to a Master's thesis. The Master of
Science program involves approximately one year of course work and a research thesis performed under the supervision
of a faculty advisor. After consultations with faculty and the Chair, students should choose an advisor as quickly as
possible. Full-time students can begin immediately to carry out supervised research in the laboratory of their
advisor. A thesis project should be chosen by the student by the end of the first semester in consultation with the
advisor. Before the start of the second semester, the student selects a Graduate Advisory Committee (The student’s
advisory committee must approve of the filing of a graduation application and of the dissertation document before the
graduate program director can sign the graduation application or final examination scheduling forms (
http://www.vcu.edu/biochem/students/g-forms.shtml for the form) which consists of the Faculty Advisor, at least one
member of the Biochemistry & Molecular Biology faculty and at least 1 member from another department. The Graduate Advisory Committee
assists the student with their course plan, advises on the thesis project, approves the thesis, and conducts the final
examination.
Final Oral Examination
MS candidates must pass a final oral examination. A Dean’s representative must be present at the final MS examination.
This individual should be a member of the graduate faculty who does not hold a primary appointment in the Department
of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology. In addition, the M.S. degree can be completed on a part-time basis. A written thesis approved by
the student's Graduate Advisory Committee completes the requirements leading to the M.S. degree.
Thesis
Upon completion of their research project, the student writes a dissertation which is reviewed by the Graduate
Advisory Committee. The Graduate Advisory Committee must meet during the semester in which the student intends to
defend and approve the thesis before the defense can be scheduled. The student’s advisory committee must approve of
the filing of a graduation application and of the dissertation document before the graduate program director can sign
the graduation application or final examination scheduling forms (http://www.vcu.edu/biochem/students/g-forms.shtml).
The dissertation is then defended in a final oral examination which is open to the public, but only the student's
Graduate Advisory Committee votes on passage of the exam. It is expected that students will present reports of their
work at scientific meetings and publish their findings in scientific journals.
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology MS Program Support/ Financial Aid
Students in the M.S. program do not receive financial support from the Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, although a student
working on a thesis project can be employed as a research assistant on their advisor's research grant. In addition,
various forms of financial aid are available for graduate students through the University Services/Financial Aid
Office. A form to request financial aid through that mechanism is included in the application package.
MS Curriculum in Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
MMS students in Biochemistry & Molecular Biology take courses designed for graduate students with an emphasis on research design and experimentation. MS students must
amass at least 24 credit hours (exclusive of research credits). The VCU School of Graduate Studies stipulates that “Generally, a maximum of one third
of the didactic hours required for a master’s degree or any graduate certificate program may be transferred from another VCU program or outside
institution……… Acceptance of transfer credit is made at the school level.” The GPC will review all requests for transfer of credit and forward them to
the School of Graduate Studies for approval. For students holding the MD, DDS, or other professional degrees, successful completion of biochemistry/
cell biology is equivalent to the BIOC 503-504 series.
The following graduate courses are required:
- BIOC 505: Experimental biochemistry/ research rotation (typically year 01, one rotation required)
- BIOC 690: Biochemistry Seminar (each semester)
- BIOC 691, 901: Special Topics in Biochemistry/ student seminar (each semester)
- MICR 512: Laboratory Safety (typically year 01)
- MICR 510: Scientific Integrity (typically year 02)
- BIOC 697: Directed research in Biochemistry (each semester)
The following graduate courses are recommended:
- Biochemistry, Cellular & Molecular Biology I (BIOC 503)
- Biochemistry, Cellular & Molecular Biology II (BIC 504)
- Physical Properties of Macromolecules (BIOC 602)
Some graduate courses listed above may be taken after the comprehensive examination.
The core set of required courses can be supplemented with elective courses offered by the department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology or other departments. Electives may include: Enzymology, Advanced Topics in Molecular Biology, Signal Transduction, Techniques in Molecular Biology & Genetics, Bioinformatics, Statistics, Immunology, Microbiology, Molecular genetics, Mammalian physiology, Advanced organic and physical chemistry, among others.
A typical course plan for the full-time M.S. student is described below.
| Credit Hours |
| Fall, Year 1 |
|
BIOC
503 Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular
Biology
|
5.0
|
|
BIOC
505 Experimental Biochemistry ("Rotation")
|
2.0
|
|
BIOC
690 Biochemistry Research Seminar
|
1.0
|
|
BIOC
691, 901 Special Topics in Biochemistry
(Department Seminar)
|
1.0
|
|
MICR 512 Laboratory Safety
|
1.0
|
|
BIOC
697 Directed Research in Biochemistry
|
Variable
|
| |
|
| Spring, Year 1 |
|
BIOC
504 Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular
Biology
|
5.0
|
|
BIOC
602 Physical Properties of Macromolecules
|
3.0
|
|
BIOC
606 Signal Transduction
|
3.0
|
|
BIOC
690 Biochemistry Research Seminar
|
1.0
|
|
BIOC
691, 901 Special Topics in Biochemistry
(Department Seminar)
|
1.0
|
|
BIOC
697 Directed Research
|
Variable
|
| |
|
| Summer |
|
BIOC
697 Directed Research in Biochemistry
|
6.0
|
| |
|
| Fall, Year 2 |
|
BIOC
605 Advanced Topics in Molecular Biology
(optional)
|
2.0
|
|
BIOC
697 Directed Research in Biochemistry
|
variable
|
|
BIOC
604 Enzymology (optional)
|
3.0
|
|
BIOC
690 Biochemistry Research Seminar
|
1.0
|
|
BIOC
691, 901 Special Topics in Biochemistry
(Department Seminar)
|
1.0
|
|
MICR
510 Scientific Integrity
|
1.0
|
| |
|
| Spring, Year 2 |
|
BIOC
697 Directed Research in Biochemistry
|
variable
|
|
BIOC
690 Biochemistry Research Seminar
|
1.0
|
|
BIOC
691, 901 Special Topics in Biochemistry
(Department Seminar)
|
1.0
|
MS candidates are required to amass 24 credit hours (exclusive of research credits). More advanced or other courses can be added by approval of the student's advisor.
Training in the Responsible Conduct of Research
Beginning in Fall 2005, all MS students are required to complete the following
training in the responsible conduct of research:
- MICR 510, Scientific Integrity, 2
cr, Fall Semester, year 02
- Collaborative Investigator Training Initiative (CITI)
: this is an on-line course that provides training in Human Subjects Research. The
course must be completed during the Fall Semester of year 02. Students should submit
the “Certificate of Completion” before starting the Spring Semester of year 02.
Consult the following link to access the course:
http://www.research.vcu.edu/irb/education.htm
- Research Training. Org: this is an
on-line course that provides training in Animal Subjects Research. The course must
be completed during the Fall Semester of year 02. Students should submit the
“Certificate of Completion” before starting the Spring Semester of year 02. Consult
the following link to access the course:
http://www.research.vcu.edu/iacuc/lata.htm
Continuing for the PhD
Students who plan to eventually work towards the Ph.D. degree in Biochemistry & Molecular Biology at VCU should apply directly to our Ph.D. program and forego the M.S. degree. Applicants who are unsure if they want to earn a Ph.D., and desire experience in biomedical research before making this decision, will be well served by our M.S. program. Outstanding performance in our M.S. program could help gain admittance to a doctoral program at VCU or elsewhere.
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