Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, MS

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.

a. Literature requirement (2-4 s.h.)

Select two courses from the following:

b. Thesis requirement (6 s.h.)

BIOL 7000 - Thesis (3 s.h.)
BIOL 7000 - Thesis (3 s.h.) or an Elective (3 s.h.)

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.

Literature requirement (2-4 s.h.)

Select two courses from the following:

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.

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.