MS Biological Sciences
The Master of Science in Biological Sciences is a research intensive program designed to address one of the most important issues of our times. The program goal is to train students for scientific careers focused on understanding the aging process as well as detecting, preventing, and treating age-related conditions such as Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s disease, cancer, stroke and arthritis.
This program is the first of its kind in the nation and is presented in partnership with the Buck Institute for Age Research, the premier and internationally acclaimed research center focused on developing early diagnostic tests and treatments for age-related disease. Students in this program train as scientists in interdisciplinary research encompassing genetics, biochemistry, molecular biology, age-associated disease and technical disciplines such as genomics, proteomics, protein interaction networks and bio-informatics. Students in the master’s program work directly with Institute scientists to study and conduct research in the Buck Institute’s life sciences research laboratories.
For more specific information about the program, click here.
Curriculum
The Master’s Degree program requires a successful completion of 36 graduate units. The proposed categories are listed below.
- 12 units course work
- 4 units graduate seminar
- 17 units graduate research
- 3 units graduate thesis
The program is taught by faculty in the Department of Natural Sciences and Mathematics or faculty from the Buck Institute. Transfer credits of 3-6 units may be accepted for students who have completed graduate level courses at another accredited institution.
Additional Requirements for the Master of Science in Biological Sciences>
A complete admissions file must contain:
- Bachelor of Science degree in Biology, or its equivalent, from a regionally accredited institution of higher learning
- An official copy of general Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores
In addition, all candidates for admission are expected to have satisfied the following requirements:
- Two semesters calculus
- Two semesters physics
- Two semesters organic chemistry
- One semester biochemistry
- One semester statistics
Competency in the above subjects may be demonstrated by either completion of a college course with a grade of “B” (3.0), successfully testing out of a course through challenge exams, or completion of Dominican core competency courses. The Department Chair will make the determination regarding a candidate’s core competency requirements.
Students who need the core competencies may be concurrently enrolled at Dominican in the MS program and in a core competency course. The following courses are considered co-requisites – MATH 1700, PHYS 2100, CHEM 3900, and MATH 2400. These must be taken in the first two semesters of the program.
