Graduate Concentration in Biotechnology: M.S. Policy and Curriculum
Many students in the B.S. degree in Biological Sciences with a concentration in Biotechnology are engaged in independent research during their undergraduate years and have obtained substantial results. The rationale is that about another year of course work and research after graduation would add significantly to their productivity and development as scientist and potentially qualify them for a Master's degree. The combination of the Master's degree, the extensive research experience and the hands-on experience obtained in the laboratory courses of the B.S. program would provide these students with excellent credentials to obtain a job in the biotech industry and/or to pursue a Ph.D. The Concentration in Biotechnology will permit students who are enrolled in the B.S. in Biological Sciences, concentration in Biotechnology degree program to continue their studies at UD and obtain an M.S. in Biological Sciences in as little as one year after graduation. All students interested in pursuing this concentration must contact the Graduate Program Director of the Department of Biological Sciences prior to the start of Fall of their Senior year to ensure that they are registered for the appropriate course work during the last year in the B.S. program. Students admitted in the M.S. degree in Biological Sciences, Concentration in Biotechnology must:
- Be in good standing as students in the B.S. degree program in Biological Sciences with a concentration in Biotechnology at the University of Delaware. Applications from other students will not be considered.
- They will have completed at least a year of undergraduate research with a faculty member in Biological Sciences by the time they receive their B.S. degree.
- They must have taken or be enrolled in BISC 602 and BISC 654 for those interested in interested in Molecular Biology and Genetics or BISC 605 and BISC 612 for those interested in the Cell and Organ Systems Physiology (see Curriculum below) and have earned a grade of B or better in these courses consistent with Departmental Graduate Program Policy during their senior year as B.S. Biological Sciences, Concentration in Biotechnology students. According to graduate program policy, failure to earn a B or better in these required courses during the senior year makes the student ineligible to take the preliminary examination in June after their senior year and thus they are ineligible to pursue the concentration in Biotechnology.
- They must take the general GRE examinations. We have no minimum GRE score for admission although most admitted students have GREs over 1100 combined.
- They must apply by January 15 of the year they plan to matriculate into the M.S. program. Earlier applications are encouraged. Admission decisions are usually made for this program by March 1.
- One of the letters of recommendation must be from their undergraduate thesis mentor. For more information about the application process and other matters relating to graduate education in the Biological Sciences, see the Department Graduate Program Policy.
Entrance into the M.S. in Biological Sciences, Biotechnology Concentration is dependent on the following additional requirements:
- Students must satisfactorily complete all requirements for the B.S. degree in Biological Sciences with a concentration in Biotechnology.
- Students must have earned a grade of B or better in the two required graduate courses they have taken during the senior year (either BISC 602 and BISC 654 or BISC 605 and BISC 612)
- Date of matriculation is June 1. A preliminary examination testing competence in Molecular Biology and Genetics or Cell and Organ Systems Physiology will be given in June.
- They must continue to work in the same laboratory where they performed their research as undergraduates.
- The research mentor will support the student at least during the first summer. Students are expected to perform their research full time during the summer after completion of the preliminary examination.
Expectations and requirements for obtaining a Master's degree:
- Students must form their thesis committee and meet with them to formulate their thesis direction before September 1 following admission into the program.
- They must pass the graduate preliminary examination of either the Molecular Biology and Genetics Concentration or Cell and Organ Systems Concentration. The possible grades are pass, conditional pass, retake and fail. All conditional passes must be fulfilled satisfactorily within six months into the program. Students receiving a retake grade must retake the exam (only one allowed) during the Fall semester of the same year and no later than December 15. The only possible outcomes of the retake are pass, conditional pass and fail. All conditions must be met within six months of the exam and no later than the defense of the M.S. thesis. Failure to pass the preliminary examination either the first or second time is likely to lead to a recommendation from the Department to the Graduate School that the student be terminated from the M.S. program.
- Students must take at least 30 credit hours of course work, research and thesis as specified by either the concentration in Molecular Biology and Genetics or the concentration in Cell and Organ Systems (see below under Curriculum).
- Students are expected to engage in full time research towards the thesis both during the first summer in the graduate program after completing the preliminary examination and Winter term of the first year.
- To obtain the Master's degree, they must write and successfully defend a thesis based on their research.
- Students can obtain their Master's degree as early as May 31 of the year after matriculation but must complete their Master's degree within three years of matriculation.
The M.S. in Biotechnology requires certain courses as described below, the successful completion of the graduate preliminary examination and a public defense of a research based thesis.
Concentration in Biotechnology Curriculum for students interested in Molecular Biology and Genetics
Fall semester of Senior year of the B.S. degree
- BISC 602 Molecular Biology of Animal Cells (core)
- BISC 604 Nucleic Acids Laboratory
- Other requirements and electives as needed
Spring semester of Senior year
- BISC 654 Biochemical Genetics (core)
- BISC 619 Gene Expression Laboratory
- Other requirements and electives as needed
First Summer of Master's program
- BISC 868 Research (6 credits)
Fall Semester of Master's program
- BISC 868 Research (8 credits)
- BISC 665 Advanced Molecular Biology and Genetics (core) (3 credits)
- BISC 827 Graduate Student Seminar (core) (1 credit)
Total: 12 credits
Spring Semester of Master's program
- BISC 869 Masters thesis (6 credits)
- BISC 868 Research (2 credits)
- BISC 827 Graduate Student Seminar (core) (1 credit)
- BISC 6XX elective (core) - (3 Credits) must be one of the following (all these courses are also approved for the Molecular Biology and Genetics Concentration)
- BISC 605 Advanced Mammalian Physiology
- BISC 612 Advanced Cell Biology
- BISC 615 Vertebrate Developmental Biology
- BISC 656 Evolutionary Genetics
- BISC 671 Cellular and Molecular Immunology (4 credits)
- BISC 679 Virology
- BISC 693 Human Genetics
- CHEM 645 Proteins: Structure and Function
- CHEM 646 DNA-Protein Interactions
Total: 12 credits
Total required M.S. credits: 30
Thesis Requirement
Students are encouraged to write and defend a thesis within one year but must do so within three years after matriculation into the M.S. degree program.
Concentration in Biotechnology Curriculum for students interested in Cell and Organ Systems
Fall semester of Senior year of the B.S. degree
- BISC 605 Advanced Mammalian Physiology (core)
- BISC 604 Nucleic Acids Laboratory
- Other requirements and electives as needed
Spring semester of Senior year
- BISC 612 Advanced Cell Biology (core)
- BISC 619 Gene Expression Laboratory
- Other requirements and electives as needed
First Summer of Master's program
- BISC 868 Research (6 credits)
Fall Semester of Master's program
- BISC 868 Research (8 credits)
- BISC 827 Graduate Student Seminar (core) (1 credit)
- BISC 6XX Elective (core) - must be one of the following courses (3 credits)
- BISC 602 Molecular Biology of Animal Cells
- BISC 615 Vertebrate Developmental Biology
- BISC 656 Evolutionary Genetics
- BISC 665 Eukaryotic Molecular Biology and Genetics
- BISC 671 Cellular and Molecular Immunology
- BISC 679 Virology
Total: 12 credits
Spring Semester of Master's program
- BISC 869 Masters thesis (6 credits)
- BISC 868 Research (2 credits)
- BISC 806 Advances in Cell and Organ Systems (core) (3 credits)
- BISC 827 Graduate Student Seminar (core) (1 credit)
Total: 12 credits
Total required M.S. credits: 30
Thesis Requirement
Students are encouraged to write and defend a thesis within one year but must do so within three years after matriculation into the M.S. degree program.
