The Master of Science in Cellular and Molecular Biology is ideal for students who want to pursue or advance careers in the rapidly expanding fields of biotechnology, basic science, and pharmacological research. Our program gives students the advanced training they need to succeed in these groundbreaking fields. In the past quarter century, no other branch of science has undergone the kind of advancement in technological progress that has been observed in cellular and molecular biology. We live in an age when the ability to sequence the genome of every new child entering the world is just beyond the horizon. This wealth of information will come with great responsibility and will dramatically reshape and broaden our understanding of human health and disease. With these advances have come massive investment and increased workforce demands within both public and private biomedical sectors. Broad in its application yet focused on clear training goals, the master’s degree in Cellular and Molecular Biology provides students with the theory and skills to navigate the rapidly changing landscape of biomedical research. Students gain hands-on training in the laboratory skills most desired by today’s bioscience employers, and they have the option to either complete a research thesis project under the guidance of a departmental faculty member or to choose a non-thesis option that culminates in a capstone. Students also have the opportunity to join active faculty-led research groups, tackling important questions in cancer biology, virology and vaccine design, microbial pathogenesis, DNA damage and repair, and embryonic development. Graduates from our program are well trained and have gone on to successful careers in research and development at biotech start-ups and in technical positions at large pharmaceutical companies. Our alumni are also well-positioned to enter doctoral programs for further study. The program has both thesis and non-thesis options. Students who elect the thesis option must carry out an original thesis research project under the guidance of departmental faculty. Students choosing a non-thesis option are required to take a written comprehensive exam in addition to laboratory coursework. The comprehensive exam will assess understanding of the coursework and evaluate one’s ability to synthesize research and theory in the field of cellular and molecular biology and to present this information in an effective written format. The central curriculum prepares you for an exciting future by stressing both the technical and conceptual aspects of a number of scientific specialties, including the following subject areas: Biochemistry; Cell biology; Genomics; Molecular biology.