Candidates planning to apply for the MS degree program must have a bachelor’s degree with at least a 3.0 GPA. Common undergraduate degrees include biology, biochemistry and life sciences. Courses in genetics, biochemistry and biology are recommended. The GRE general exam is required; a subject test is not needed.

Program Requirements

Students must complete a minimum of 30 credit hours of approved course work and must maintain a minimum of 3.0 GPA and a B or better in all coursework. In addition to the 30 credits hours of approved course work, students must prepare and defend a Master’s thesis; complete first authorship on a refereed publication and approval of the department; or complete an additional six hours of non-research course work.

Curriculum

A minimum of 30 credit hours of approved courses, including no more than seven hours of research. At least 20 hours must be taken in Medical Genetics or approved equivalents, with grades of B or better, including at least four of the following five courses: Basic Human Genetics (Q580), Clinical Genetics (Q610), Molecular and Biochemical Genetics (Q612), Human Cytogenetics (Q620) and Population Genetics (Q630).

Students who have not had an undergraduate biochemistry course are encouraged to take B500 Introductory Biochemistry before taking Q612 Molecular and Biochemical Genetics. Up to eight graduate hours of non-research credit with grades of A or B may be transferred with the approval of the Advisory Committee and the Graduate School.