Molecular Biology, M.S.

Additional Information

The M.S. program in Molecular Biology is a research-intensive degree. An applicant is generally expected to have an equivalent of a B.S. degree in a field related to Molecular Biology. Prior to admission to the program, an applicant must contact a Molecular Biology department professor directly to determine if they may be interested in serving as the student’s potential adviser. Once a future graduate adviser agrees to accept a student into their lab, an applicant can start an application to the Molecular Biology graduate program. Admissions to the program are allowed in the Fall, Spring and Summer semesters. 

An M.S. candidate will conduct a research project and present their results at departmental seminars and at scientific meetings. Student performance is monitored by a thesis committee that evaluates a student’s research proposal, seminar presentations, written thesis, final public seminar, and final oral defense of the thesis. In consultation with the faculty research adviser, a student may elect to serve as a teaching assistant. Graduate assistantships for M.S. degree students are at the discretion of their graduate adviser. Students pursuing the M.S. degree in Molecular Biology usually complete their program in two to three years.

Additional information on graduate student regulations and policies, including transfer credit and credit reserved from undergraduate courses, is located here: https://www.uwyo.edu/registrar/graduate-students/resources.html.

Requirements for M.S. degree in Molecular Biology

An M.S. degree student, in consultation with their graduate committee, must design a Program of Study that includes a minimum of 30 hours of graduate credit, including 26 credits of formal coursework and 4 credits of thesis research MOLB5960 . Specific requirements for the M.S. degree in Molecular Biology are listed below.

• 3 credits of Advanced Biochemistry MOLB5600  with a minimum grade of B.
  • This requirement may be fulfilled if a student has already received a minimum grade of B in Advanced Biochemistry as an undergraduate, or transfer credits for an equivalent biochemistry course taken at another university (equivalency is determined by the student’s graduate committee).
• 6 credits minimum of a 5000-level MOLB course from the following list: MOLB5400 , MOLB5440 , MOLB5450 , MOLB5460 , MOLB5610 , MOLB5670 , MOLB5680 .
• 4 credits of MOLB5050  Advanced Student Seminar (2 credits of MOLB5050 must be taken the first semester a student enrolls in the graduate program).
• Students are required to enroll in the departmental seminar course each semester: MOLB5051  during the academic year; MOLB5052  in the summer semester.
• 4 credits of Thesis Research MOLB5960 .
• Other credits as determined by the student in consultation with their graduate committee, such as MOLB5055 .