About

The master of science in molecular biology and biotechnology is a 30-semester-hour thesis program, which includes research in developmental biology, genetics, and cell physiology. The program is known for its rigorous, well-rounded training in biology. Faculty in the program continue to innovate their teaching methods and refine the curriculum to provide the best training for their students.

The thesis-based MS degree provides training and experience in communication, problem solving, critical thinking, and integrating information derived from multiple sources. These are highly marketable skills in their own right, and they equip you with a tool set necessary for accomplishment and success in virtually any professional endeavor.

Approximately $10,000 in assistantship support covering the fall and spring semesters is competitively available to students entering the program. An additional $2,500 is available during the summer through a combination of teaching and research assistantships and departmental resources. In addition, a limited number of Graduate Scholar Awards of $4,000 per year, awarded through the Graduate School, have been available in the past for the strongest applicants.

ECU Advantage

This is the only program of its type in North Carolina, and we believe our educational program is second to none in terms of fully preparing you for one of the many career opportunities available in biotechnology today. Our record of achievement is highlighted by the many graduates of our program who are pursuing active and rewarding careers in all facets of the biotechnology industry including management, research, development and sales.

A degree in this program can provide you with an opportunity to address some of our society's most urgent needs. The ready availability of an increasing number of recombinant human blood proteins is having a profound effect on critical health care issues, and developments in plant biotechnology are addressing important agricultural needs of our nation and the world. Future developments in biotechnology, including stem cell technology, biosensors, recombinant vaccines and biofuels promise to extend these advancements into areas of tissue regeneration, national security, energy resources and sustainable agriculture.

What You Will Study

Program Coordinator: Michael Brewer (2503 Life Sciences and Biotechnology Building; 252-328-1833; brewermi14@ecu.edu)

Program participants develop competency in genetics, biochemistry, and basic molecular technology as preparation for employment in industry or continuation to a terminal degree program.

The degree requires a minimum of 30 s.h. as follows:

Thesis option requirements:

Students must complete a minimum of 30 s. h. of course work (15 s. h. must be at the 6000-7000 level), and a research-based thesis, comprehensive defense of a thesis proposal, seminar based on thesis research, thesis defense, and show competence in teaching. Up to 9 s. h. of graduate courses from other departments may be used to meet curriculum requirements upon approval by the department's director of graduate studies.

    1. Core - 21-23 s.h.
    • BIOL 6880 - Introduction to Research
    • BIOL 6881 - Introduction to Research II
    • BIOL 7100 - Foundations in Biochemistry, Genetics and Cell Biology
    • BIOL 7101 - Laboratory Methods in Biochemistry, Genetics and Cell Biology
    • BIOL 7900 - Ecological Statistics
      • a. Literature requirement (2-4 s.h.)

      Select two courses from the following: 

      • BIOL 6100 - Advances in Molecular Biology
      • BIOL 6120 - Advances in Molecular Biology
      • BIOL 6130 - Advances in Developmental Biology
      • BIOL 7890 - Current Literature in Molecular Biology
      • BIOL 7895 - Current Literature in Cell Biology
      b. Thesis requirement (6 s.h.)
      • BIOL 7000 - Thesis (3 s.h.)
      • BIOL 7000
    2. Electives - 7-9 s.h.

    Select electives from the below list: 

    • BIOL 5890 - Virology
    • BIOL 5900 - Biotechniques
    • BIOL 5901 - Biotechniques Laboratory
    • BIOL 6030 - Topics in Cell Biology
    • BIOL 6240 - Principles of Biochemistry I
    • BIOL 6242 - Principles of Biochemistry II
    • BIOL 6244 - Principles of Biochemistry Laboratory
    • BIOL 6300 - Neurophysiology
    • BIOL 6504 - Research Problems in Biology
    • BIOL 6514 - Research Problems in Biology
    • BIOL 6560 - Microbial Ecology
    • BIOL 6992 - Internship in Applied Biology
    • BIOL 6993 - Internship in Applied Biology
    • BIOL 7090 - Experimental Embryology
    • BIOL 7091 - Experimental Embryology Laboratory
    • BIOL 7781 - Bioinformatics
    • BIOL 7870 - Molecular Genetics
    • BIOL 7880 - Bioinformatics
    • BIOL 7970 - Teaching Natural Science in Higher Education
      • Notes:
      • A minimum of 3 s.h. must come from a course that is not research problems or an internship (BIOL 6504, 6514, 6992, 6993).
      • Additional courses may be selected as electives upon approval of the graduate director and candidate's advisor.
      • Internship credit (2-5 s.h.) can be applied toward electives credit. See below "Internship Option".
    Non-thesis option requirements:

    Students must complete a minimum of 30 s. h. of course work (17 s. h. must be at the 6000-7000 level), a final project, an oral defense of the final project, and show competence in teaching. The final project may take many forms (e. g., review paper, symposium, and internship) and requires approval of the Director of Graduate Programs. Up to 10 s. h. of graduate courses from other departments may be used to meet curriculum requirements upon approval by the department's director of graduate studies.

      1. Core - 15-17 s.h.
      • BIOL 6880 - Introduction to Research
      • BIOL 6881 - Introduction to Research II
      • BIOL 7100 - Foundations in Biochemistry, Genetics and Cell Biology
      • BIOL 7101 - Laboratory Methods in Biochemistry, Genetics and Cell Biology
      • BIOL 7900 - Ecological Statistics
        • Literature requirement (2-4 s.h.)

        Select two courses from the following:

        • BIOL 6100 - Advances in Molecular Biology
        • BIOL 6120 - Advances in Molecular Biology
        • BIOL 6130 - Advances in Developmental Biology
        • BIOL 7890 - Current Literature in Molecular Biology
        • BIOL 7895 - Current Literature in Cell Biology
      2. Electives - 13-15 s.h.

      The non-thesis option electives will be tailored to the individual's interests, career goals, and educational background in consultation with the student's faculty advisor and the director of graduate studies. A maximum of 5 s. h. of directed research courses (BIOL 6504, BIOL 6514) and /or internship (BIOL 6992, BIOL 6993) may be applied toward meeting the electives requirement.

      • BIOL 5890 - Virology
      • BIOL 5900 - Biotechniques
      • BIOL 5901 - Biotechniques Laboratory
      • BIOL 6030 - Topics in Cell Biology
      • BIOL 6240 - Principles of Biochemistry I
      • BIOL 6242 - Principles of Biochemistry II
      • BIOL 6244 - Principles of Biochemistry Laboratory
      • BIOL 6300 - Neurophysiology
      • BIOL 6504 - Research Problems in Biology
      • BIOL 6514 - Research Problems in Biology
      • BIOL 6560 - Microbial Ecology
      • BIOL 6992 - Internship in Applied Biology
      • BIOL 6993 - Internship in Applied Biology
      • BIOL 7090 - Experimental Embryology
      • BIOL 7091 - Experimental Embryology Laboratory
      • BIOL 7781 - Bioinformatics
      • BIOL 7870 - Molecular Genetics
      • BIOL 7880 - Bioinformatics
      • BIOL 7970 - Teaching Natural Science in Higher Education
    Internship Option:

    Qualified students will be encouraged to spend from six months to one year in an internship at an industrial or governmental research laboratory. From 2-5 s.h. of internship credit can be applied toward the degree.

      Comprehensive Assessment Requirement

      All graduate programs at ECU require students to successfully complete a comprehensive assessment. The Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, MS requires the following:      • Thesis option: Successful completion of the thesis (BIOL7000) and oral defense to satisfy this requirement.      • Non-thesis option: Successful completion of a project and oral defense to satisfy this requirement.

        For more information about this degree visit the university's academic catalogs.
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