The current degree requirements are below. Remember you are required to fulfill the requirements from the academic year you were admitted. Please refer to the handbook from your year of admission as needed.

Total: 30 credit hours, including a thesis

Required Core Section (6 credit hours)

(3) MCB 555 Advanced Molecular and Cellular Sciences

(3) MCB 556 Advanced Molecular and Cellular Biology II

Other Requirements Section (8 credit hours)

(3) BIO 543 Molecular Genetics and Genomics (3)

(1) BIO 610 Introduction to Responsible Conduct of Research in Life Sciences (1)

(1) MCB 501 Seminar: Molecular and Cellular Biology Colloquium 4x*

*Take each semester - 4 times total

Electives/Research Section (10 credit hours)

(6 minimum) MCB 592 - Research

AND

(4 minimum) Graduate-Level Life Sciences Elective Courses

*Students should discuss elective course selection with their faculty advisor(s) to best support your research project.

SOLS course prefixes to choose from: ANB, BIO, ELS, EVO, HPS, MCB, MIC, NEU, & PLB - 500-level or above

*Up to 6 credits maximum can be 400-level

• • Refer to the MCB MS Course Offering Guide below for an extensive list of approved elective options

Culminating Experience Section (6 credit hours)

(6 exactly) MCB 599 - Thesis

*Note: it is very important you do exactly 6 thesis credit hours. These 6 can be divided and taken over multiple semesters, but they must sum 6 credits exactly (no more, no less) to avoid issues when graduating. If you need to enroll in thesis or equivalent hours after meeting your 6 total, please take BIO 592 Research hours instead, which has no maximum limit.

*According to Graduate College policy beginning for new students in Fall 2025, no more than 15 of the total 30 required credits can be graded on a Z/Y scale (typically research and thesis). Please plan your coursework accordingly.