Our Biochemistry M.S. program, which students may complete on a part-time or full-time basis, involves approximately two years of coursework and a research project performed under the supervision of a faculty advisor. Upon entering the program, students progress through the following timeline:
Consult with faculty and the program director and choose an advisor
Select a graduate advisory committee, who will assist in course and thesis planning
Choose a thesis project by the end of the first semester
Begin conducting supervised research in the advisor’s laboratory
Upon completion of the research project, write and submit a thesis
Pass a final exam in the form of an oral thesis defense, conducted by the graduate advisory committee
Curriculum
M.S. students take courses designed for graduate students with an emphasis on research design and experimentation. Students must amass at least 30 credit hours.
This program is designed to provide students with the skills required to advance to positions as bioscience researchers and trainers across a broad spectrum of positions. This provides a framework for the progressive development of a mastery of the current state of the subject matter of biochemistry, cell and molecular biology, an ability to synthesize this information and apply this foundation to the identification of key areas of investigation and experimentation in bioscience.
The program relates the above framework to the development of the ability to design, implement and interpret experimental approaches that address the questions identified. Students will also develop skills in the various means of communicating both the core of bioscience knowledge and the expression of experimental design, results and interpretation to a variety of potential audiences.
Student learning outcomes
Candidates will demonstrate the achievement of an appropriate level of competence in the ability to appraise, modify and/or create and implement experimental protocols and to design and develop experiments. The program will also foster growth and development in the following areas:
Oral communication skills
Written communication skills
General knowledge of science
Problem solving skills
Continuation to Ph.D.
Students who plan to eventually work towards a doctorate in biochemistry and molecular biology should apply directly to our Ph.D. program and forego the Biochemistry M.S. degree. Applicants who are unsure but desire experience in biomedical research before making the decision will be well served by our M.S. program.
Outstanding performance in the Biochemistry M.S. program can help students gain admittance to a doctoral program at VCU or elsewhere.
M.S. students wishing to gain admission to the Ph.D. program should contact the program director, Tomasz Kordula: tomasz.kordula@vcuhealth.org.
Resources
Supporting our students is at the core of the School of Medicine's mission. We provide a wide variety of resources to help enhance our graduate students' experience and ensure their safety, as well as resources to support our faculty.
