Fifth-Year Master's Degree Option
Molecular Biology, Cell Biology and Biochemistry Five Year Integrated Baccalaureate-Masters Program
The Molecular Biology, Cell Biology and Biochemistry Graduate Program (MCBGP) offers a five year bachelors/masters degree program leading to either Master of Arts or Master of Science degrees in Biology. The program is designed to develop high-level knowledge in key areas of modern biological science, notably Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cell Biology, Biochemistry and Developmental Biology. Students will gain skill in reading and analyzing primary research literature, making and testing experimental hypotheses, designing potential research programs, and public presentations of papers and experimental data. The knowledge and skills learned in this program should be applicable to those interested in biotechnology-based laboratory research, businesses related to biotechnology, teaching, and intellectual property law.
Students will complete at least eight (8) courses in MCBGP related areas. Part of this requirement involves demonstrating skill and knowledge in the MCBGP core disciplines of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cell Biology, Biochemistry and Developmental Biology. Usually, this will involve taking BIOL 2030 Foundations for Advanced Study in Experimental Biology. Students may further augment their knowledge and skill by taking the related courses of Molecular Genetics (BIOL 2540), Advanced Cell Biology (BIOL 2050), Advanced Biochemistry (BIOL 2270) and Analysis of Development (BIOL 2310).
Students will also take at least two approved 2000-level graduate seminars in MCBGP related areas.
As part of completing the eight-course requirement, students seeking an MS will conduct two semesters of graduate level research (BIOL 2950 and BIOL 2960) in the laboratory of an MCBGP faculty member and write, present and publicly defend a thesis on this work. Those seeking MA degrees will meet the eight-course requirement largely or completely with classroom-based courses.
Students may use two courses taken during their undergraduate career at Brown to satisfy part of the course enrolment criteria as long as these two courses are approved by the MCBGP and as long as these courses were not already used to meet an undergraduate degree requirement. For example, students could count up to two of BIOL 1050 Advanced Cell Biology, BIOL 1270 Advanced Biochemistry, BIOL 1310 Analysis of Development, or BIOL 1540 Molecular Genetics taken as an undergraduate toward their masters degree course requirement as long as the courses were not already used to satisfy an undergraduate concentration requirement.
Students interested in this program are strongly urged to contact the MCBGP as early as the start of their junior year.
