Degrees Offered
PhD, MD/PhD, MS
Program Description
The Doctor of Philosophy program in biochemistry and molecular biology provides training opportunities in a variety of subdisciplines, including tracks in molecular biology, protein structure and function, membrane biochemistry, and physical biochemistry. These areas include but are not limited to: mechanisms and regulation of gene expression, DNA packaging and repair, protein and RNA structural biology, cancer and epithelial cell biology, stem cell biology, calcium and signal transduction pathways, metabolism and bioenergetics, the cellular matrix and migration, fluorescence spectroscopy, membrane and cytoskeletal biology, retrovirus structure and function, prion structure and function, computational biology, and bacterial pathogenesis. A rigorous curriculum and advanced research training prepare students for careers in biomedical research. Students accepted into the program receive graduate fellowships or assistantships that consist of an annual stipend, tuition remission, and health insurance.
The combined graduate program in biochemistry and molecular biology is an intercampus program combining training opportunities at the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) and the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC). Students in this joint program benefit from the extensive facilities and resources of both campuses and the opportunity to interact with a large pool of scientists.
Program Admission
In addition to meeting the Graduate School’s minimum admission requirements, applicants generally have strong undergraduate training in the biological sciences, chemistry, mathematics, and general physics. The program only admits students for the fall semester.
Information about applying to the program can be found here: Prospective Students
Degree Requirements
The MS and PhD degrees in biochemistry and molecular biology require the completion of 30 course credits. Students take required and elective courses in biochemistry and molecular biology. Students must maintain a 3.0 GPA to remain in good academic standing.
For thesis-master’s students, master’s thesis research under the supervision of a faculty mentor, culminating in the preparation and defense of the research thesis.
PhD candidates must successfully complete a minimum of 12 credits of doctoral dissertation research in addition to all required coursework.
As a complement to the coursework, all students participate in program or schoolwide seminars, career development workshops, discipline-specific journal clubs, and a research-in-progress student presentation series throughout their time in the program. Students participate in faculty presentations and each student conducts laboratory rotations to familiarize themselves with prospective research labs. By the end of the first year, students should select a thesis or dissertation mentor.
- PhD students are required to take an oral qualifying exam and pass a thesis proposal prior to continuing with full-time thesis research.
- MS students are required to present and defense a thesis in order to graduate.
Additional information regarding course work can be found here: https://lifesciences.umaryland.edu/biochemistry/program-of-study/
PhD course requirements
| GPLS 601 | MECHANISMS IN BIOMEDICAL SCIENCES: FROM GENES TO DISEASE | 8 |
| GPLS 608 | SEMINAR | 1 OR 2 |
| GPLS 609 | LABORATORY ROTATIONS | 1 TO 3 |
| GPLS 709 | ADVANCED BIOCHEMISTRY | 3 |
| GPLS 713 | BIOCHEMISTRY STUDENT SEMINAR | 2 |
| GPLS 899 | DOCTORAL DISSERTATION RESEARCH | 1 TO 12 |
| GPLS 907 | RESEARCH ETHICS | 1 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 47 |
GPLS 608 or CHEM 713 (UMBC): two semesters (2 credits total)
GPLS 609 or CHEM 602 (UMBC): 3 credits total
GPLS 713: two semesters (4 credits total)
GPLS 899 or CHEM 899 (UMBC): 12 credits minimum
Students have the option of taking GPLS 601 or the 2 semester Biochemistry courses at UMBC (CHEM 437 and CHEM 638)
2 advanced courses required (at least 1 at UMBC, minimum of 5 credits).
Students should consult with program director regarding selection of electives. Elective courses may be taken at UMBC.
MS course requirements
GPLS 608: two semesters (2 credits total)
GPLS 609: 3 credits total
GPLS 713: two semesters (4 credits total)
GPLS 799: 6 credits total
Students have the option to take elective courses at UMBC. Students should consult with program director regarding selection of electives