Master of Science - Biochemistry

Plan Description

Our graduate programs offer exceptional research opportunities for advanced training in a wide variety of chemistry related disciplines including Organic, Physical, Analytical, Computational, Materials, Biochemistry, and Chemical Education. The graduate student to faculty ratio in the department is nearly one-to-one. Consequently, our diverse student body receives a high level of individualized interaction with excellent faculty through customized research projects, specialized course work, professional development, and graduate seminars. In addition, many of our research programs offer exciting interdisciplinary collaborations with local scientists, as well as with scientists nationally and internationally.

Learning Outcomes

www.unlv.edu/degree/ms-biochemistr

Plan Admission Requirements

Admission to the program requires an undergraduate degree in chemistry, chemical engineering, biology, biochemistry or a related discipline, with a cumulative GPA of 2.75, or of 3.00 for the last two years of undergraduate work. An application must be submitted to the Graduate College, with official transcripts of all college-level work. Two letters of recommendation from individuals able to assess the applicant’s potential as a graduate student should be sent directly to the department along with an additional set of transcripts. The GRE General Aptitude Test results must be received by the department prior to regular admission.

Individuals with apparent deficiencies in their undergraduate background may be required to enroll in selected courses in addition to those listed in the following section to satisfy M.S. degree requirements.

All domestic and international applicants must review and follow the Graduate College Admission and Registration Requirements.

Plan Requirements

Total Credits Required: 30

Course Requirements 

Graduate Seminar Course – Credits: 2

CHEM 791 - Graduate Seminar 

Elective Courses – Credits: 18

Complete 18 credits of advisor-approved coursework electives. These courses may include but are not limited to:

CHEM 770 - Protein Chemistry 

CHEM 771 - Metabolism and Energetics 

CHEM 772 - Nucleic Acid Chemistry 

CHEM 773 - Physical Biochemistry 

CHEM 672 - Biochemistry Laboratory 

BIOL 701 - Ethics in Scientific Research 

Independent Study – Credits: 4

CHEM 795 - Independent Study 

Thesis – Credits: 6

CHEM 798 - Thesis 

Degree Requirements 

1. Students must complete a minimum of 30 credit hours with a minimum GPA of 3.00.
2. No grade lower than C is acceptable, and only one grade below B- is permitted.
3. At least 12 credits of electives must be in courses at the 700-level.
4. In consultation with his/her advisor, a student will organize a thesis committee of at least three departmental members. In addition, a fourth member from outside the department, known as the Graduate College Representative, must be appointed. An additional committee member may be added at the student and department’s discretion. Please see Graduate College policy for committee appointment guidelines.
5. Each student is required to present a departmental seminar on the student’s research prior to graduation. This requirement is in addition to the two credits of Graduate Seminar. Students are expected to attend weekly departmental seminars.
6. Each student is required to meet at least once per semester with the student’s examination committee. At the meeting in the semester prior to the expected term of graduation, the student will be asked to make a detailed presentation on research progress. The committee will then make recommendations to be addressed by the student during the remainder of the student’s research program, in writing the thesis, and in the final examination. The committee may request another meeting prior to the final exam if deemed necessary.
7. It is expected that each student be a teaching assistant for a minimum of two courses prior to graduation. It is also expected that each student publish at least one research-based manuscript in a peer-reviewed journal.
   

Plan Graduation Requirements

1. The student must submit all required forms to the Graduate College and then apply for graduation up to two semesters prior to completing his/her degree requirements.
2. The student must submit and successfully defend his/her thesis by the posted deadline. The defense must be advertised and is open to the public.
3. The student must submit his/her approved, properly formatted hard-copy thesis to the Graduate College, and submit the approved electronic version to ProQuest by the posted deadline.