M.S. Overview

Program Mission Statement

The Biomolecular Sciences M.S. Program fuses biological, chemical, and physical sciences into a single curriculum, removing traditional barriers for interdisciplinary scientific thinking and education, and to prepare graduates for success in cross-disciplinary research and development.

In our program, you will work closely to make cutting-edge research contributions in the biomolecular sciences, engage in an multidisciplinary education, establish collaborations across the program’s science departments, and have the potential to interact with local industry partners. With course offerings assembled from various departments (Biology, Chemistry and Biochemistry, and Physics) coupled with a core curriculum focusing on fundamental concepts in biomolecular sciences, you can develop a degree plan that supports your research and career interests.

Program Description

This interdisciplinary program provides training in areas including biochemistry, bioinformatics, biophysics, cell biology, computational biology, molecular modeling, and molecular biology to foster an integrated and quantitative approach to biomolecular studies.  The three courses of the core sequence will be taught by faculty in the departments of Biological Sciences (BMOL 601), Chemistry and Biochemistry (BMOL 602), and Physics (BMOL 603), in order to expose students in the program to the perspectives of each of these fields. The goal of the program is to provide graduates with an enhanced understanding of the complex nature of molecules in biological systems.

Student Responsibilities

Each student works under the guidance of an interdisciplinary supervisory committee chaired by the student’s major advisor. In addition to completing the required coursework, students must complete one of the two culminating activity options offered by the program: Thesis or Project.