Department of Biochemistry Molecular Biology
Master’s Degree Program
The Department of Biochemistry Molecular Biology offers a special Master’s of Science Program designed to enhance the scientific education of its B.S.-level students who have strong academic records and have been conducting research in a laboratory in this department. Normally, the M.S. requirements are completed 15 months from receipt of the B.S.
The Department of Biochemistry Molecular Biology admits/appoints only M.S. candidates. Ph.D. candidates who wish to conduct their thesis research under the direction of faculty members in this department should enroll in one of the interdepartmental graduate programs on campus, e.g. Molecular and Cellular Biology, Plant Biology, or Neuroscience.
Basis of Admission to BMB M.S. Program
The goal of the M.S. Program is to provide additional scholarly training to qualified majors who have received their B.S. from this department. Students from other departments and institutions are not admitted. Laboratory research experience is a prerequisite for admission to the M.S. program, and thesis research projects are expected to develop from each student’s undergraduate independent research activity to be carried out with the same mentor. Undergraduate majors interested in the M.S. Program should discuss it with their academic advisor in the sixth semester, if possible. In most cases, an undergraduate research project can be extended or adapted to provide the basis for the M.S. project.
Application steps: Upon mutual agreement between the candidate and mentor, the candidate applies for admission to the M.S. program through the Graduate School. This is usually done during the student’s 7th undergraduate semester. All of the Graduate School regulations apply; it is up to the student to become familiar with the Grad School rules and regulations. Applications for the BMB M.S. are accepted continuously. Applicants are not required to take the GRE as part of the admissions process. Application materials (including 3 letters of recommendation, with one from the mentor explicitly assuring that the student’s plan to work with them is agreeable to the faculty member) are reviewed and approved by a vote of the department’s Academic Affairs Committee.
Financial support
Financial support for BMB M.S. candidates is arranged individually by agreement between the student and his/her mentor and is not guaranteed by the department. Stipends are considered Research Assistantships because they serve as remuneration for work in the research laboratory.
BMB M.S. Requirements
General information regarding Graduate School requirements for the M.S. degree can be found on the Graduate School website, www.umass.edu/gradschool. Students are required to check this site, and to track their progress in the program by consulting the Master’s Degree Eligibility Form.
A minimum of 30 credits is required for the M.S. degree.
§ Of these, a minimum of 21 credits must be in the major field.
§ A minimum of 6 credits must be in 600 to 800 level courses.
§ More than half of the credits must have letter grades (not SATs).
§ The grade-point average must be 3.0 or above.
§ A maximum of 6 credits can come from Independent Study (596, 696, 796) courses.
§ A maximum of 10 thesis credits is accepted.
Specific BMB M.S. degree requirements:
A maximum of 6 credits, graded B or better, earned in courses numbered 500 or higher prior to admission and which are certified to be in excess of the requirements for the B.S. degree, may be applied to the M.S. requirements. The student must submit these credits on the approval form, signed off by the Chief Undergraduate Advisor, Undergraduate Academic Dean, Commonwealth College (if applicable), and the Registrar’s Office; this should be done within the first semester of the M.S. program.
Departmental coursework requirements: Biochem 642, 4 credits (Fall), and Biochem 623, 4 credits (Spring), both graded B or better; Biochem 691A and Molclbio 691 each semester.
A grade of F in any course will result in administrative withdrawal from the program.
The membership of the Thesis Committee must be submitted to and approved by the Graduate Dean. [3 members, 2 BMB Grad Faculty, and 1 Grad Faculty outside of BMB]
The Thesis Outline must be submitted no less than 4 months prior to the anticipated Thesis Defense Date.
The Thesis Defense Date must occur no later than 4 weeks prior to the anticipated Degree Date.
The Graduate School now requires electronic thesis submission; it is the student’s responsibility to meet this requirement.
Unless special circumstances warrant an exception, students must complete all requirements for the M.S. degree within 18 months of matriculation.
BMB does not have a language requirement.
Requirements for the BMB 5th Year Masters
Assumes completion of B.S. in May
Year 1 / Summer / Fall / SpringBiochem 596 1 cr
Begin paperwork for transfer of 500+ coursework if applicable / Biochem 642 4 cr
Biochem 691A 1 cr
MCB 691A 1 cr
Biochem 596 2 cr
Biochem 699 5 cr Journal Clubs or
Electives course, up to 3 cr / Biochem 623 4 cr
Biochem 691A 1 cr
MCB 691A 1 cr
Biochem 696 3 cr
Biochem 699 5 cr
Journal Clubs or
Electives course, up to 3 cr
Min Credits: 1 / Min Credits: 14 / Min Credits: 15
Year 2 / Summer
Opt’l additionl coursework
Master’s Thesis
Master’s Thesis Defense
Timeline:
June: Register for 1 credit of Biochem 596;
Prepare paperwork, if applicable, for transfer of up to 6 credits of courses numbered 500 or higher taken in the undergrad program, but not meeting any requirement of the B.S.
September: Register for courses
Begin discussion with mentor of committee assignment and thesis topic and outline
January: Register for courses
Finalize Thesis Committee appointments
Early February: Memo to Grad School concerning constitution of the Thesis Committee; approval by Grad School follows.
March 1st: Submit Thesis Outline signed by all Committee members and the Graduate Program Director
July 1st: Schedule Master’s Thesis Defense to be held by August 1st
Memo to Grad School indicating the approval of the Master’s Thesis signed by Thesis
Committee Chair and Graduate Program Director
August 31st: (or last working day of August): submit completed Master’s Degree Eligibility Form and Master’s Thesis to Graduate Records Office.
September 1st: Degree Awarded
CHECKLIST FOR BMB MASTER’S DEGREE
Adapted from the Graduate School, Office of Degree Requirements
[It is up to the student to become familiar with all rules and requirements of the Graduate School.]
University of Massachusetts Amherst
534 Goodell Building, Amherst, MA 01003
(413) 545-0025 www.umass.edu/gradschool
REQUIREMENTS FOR BMB MS CANDIDATES:
______Course work completed. (Grades for courses being taken in the current semester will be reported at the end of the Final Examination Period.)
______Master’s degree eligibility form completed and filed with the Office of Degree Requirements by the deadline. The applicant, department graduate program director, and department head/ chairman must sign the eligibility form.
______Any transfer credits listed on the eligibility form must have been approved by the Graduate
Records Office.
______The total number of credits listed on the eligibility form must be at least 30.
______Minimum of 21 credits in the major field
______Minimum of 12 credits in 600-800 level courses for non-thesis students; minimum of 6 credits in 600-800 level courses for thesis students (in addition to thesis [699] credits)
______More than half of credits listed on the eligibility form must have letter grades (not SATs).
______The grade-point average for courses listed on the eligibility form must be 3.0 or above.
______Enrolled as an active student.
______Bursar fees paid - any outstanding Bursar fees must be paid directly to the Bursar.
______No holds on record.
______Thesis Committee appointed by the Graduate Dean.
______Thesis Outline received by the Graduate School.
______There has been 4 months between submission of Prospectus/Outline and Thesis Defense date.
______Registered for the appropriate number of thesis (699) credits.
______Maximum of 6 credits in Independent Study and Special Problem (596, 696, 796) courses if a thesis is submitted.
______General Examination/Thesis Defense passed - a memo stating that the exam/defense was passed and the date on which it was passed must be signed by the Graduate Program Director and filed with the Office of
Degree Requirements. The exam must be scheduled and passed by the posted deadline.
There are now two methods by which you can submit a master’s thesis. We recommend electronic submission through the University of Massachusetts Amherst Scholarworks site at http://scholarworks.umass.edu/theses. If that is not possible, please use the traditional paper submission process.
It is recommended that the student check the Graduate School’s web-site frequently for any updates or changes.
2