M.S. Degree in Biochemistry with Emphasis in Biotechnology
Objective
The Department of Biochemistry at The Ohio State University in partnership with several biotechnology companies will train students with a suitable bachelors degree for a career in the rapidly growing biotechnology industry. Students will spend a total of seven quarters (21 months) in this program. During the first five quarters, the student is expected to complete course work that places a strong emphasis on laboratory research. The curriculum is designed to hone the student's skills in using biochemical and recombinant DNA techniques for biotechnology research. Subsequently, the student will spend two quarters (6 months) as an intern with a participating biotechnology company. The six-month internship will provide practical experience and enhance placement opportunities for the student.
Companies that have participated in the internship program
Financial commitments
Students admitted to the program are self-supporting during the first five quarters of the program. However, the Department of Biochemistry might provide financial aid in the form of Teaching Assistantships to qualified applicants. In addition to a competitive monthly stipend, tuition and fees will be paid for recipients of Teaching Assistantships. During the last two quarters of the program, the companies hosting the student interns will provide a monthly salary during the internship.
Elegibility and Application Procedure
Eligibility for admission
Interested students should submit an application to the Department of Biochemistry (see Contact Information) along with a complete set of transcripts, three letters of recommendation, GRE scores and other information pertinent for the Admissions Committee. Applicants must have graduated with a Bachelors degree in biochemistry, chemistry, biology or an allied major at the time of admission. Considerable background in Organic Chemistry is desirable.
Qualifications for internship
To be eligible for an internship, a student must maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 and pass a qualifying exam by the end of the first year. Once these requirements are fulfilled, the participating companies will hold personal interviews to assess the students' readiness for an internship at their site. It is important to note that admission to the Master's Degree program does not guarantee an internship with a participating biotechnology company.
Contact information
You should apply on-line through The Ohio State University Graduate school at the following link: http://gradadmissions.osu.edu .
For further information on admission requirements and deadlines see: Graduate Admission Information
However, please have your reference letters sent directly to our Departmental Office Attn: Graduate Admissions. For further information on the M.S. degree options call the Department office at (614) 292-6771 or contact Dr. Donald Dean, Chair of the Graduate Studies Committee, at dean.10@osu.edu, (614) 292-8829.
Requirements for Graduation, Timetable and Syllabi of Required Courses
Requirements for graduation (45 cr)
Core curriculum
| 30 cr hr |
| Electives | 8 cr hr |
| Seminar | 8 cr hr |
Internship research
| Varies |
Timetable
The following timetable represents the typical two-year schedule for the completion of this degree option.
1st Year:
| Autumn quarter: | Core curriculum |
| Winter quarter: | Core curriculum |
| Spring quarter: | Core curriculum |
| Summer quarter: | Laboratory research and internship eligibility exam |
|
2nd Year:
| Autumn quarter: | Electives |
| Winter quarter: | Internship |
| Spring quarter: | Internship |
| Spring quarter: | Graduation |
Internship
To be eligible for an internship, a student must maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 and pass a qualifying exam by the end of the first year. Once these requirements are fulfilled, the participating companies will hold personal interviews to assess the students' readiness for an internship at their site. It is important to note that admission to the Masters degree program does not guarantee an internship with a participating biotechnology company.
The student's performance during the internship will be evaluated by his/her supervisors at the host company. A pass/fail grade will be required from the company. If the host company was dissatisfied with the intern's performance, the student will not be eligible to graduate. He/she must resort to the course of action prescribed for those who were ineligible for internship (see below).
Other Requirements
To graduate, the students who failed to secure an intern position must complete a thesis project under the guidance of one of the faculty members in the department.
Core Curriculum
- Biochemistry 706: Advanced Biological Chemistry Lab
- Biochemistry 761: Proteins
- Biochemistry 770: Protein Engineering
- Molecular Genetics 701: Molecular Genetics: DNA Transactions
- Biochemistry 702: Molecular Genetics: Regulation of Gene Expression
- Plant Pathology 703: Agricultural Genomics
- Biochemistry 850: Seminar
In this seminar course, students are expected to present research work, either of peers (articles) or of his or her own work (original data). It is expected that participation in this course will hone the students' skills with regard to design of hypotheses and critical analysis of raw data.
Electives
- Biochemistry 763: Membranes
- Chemistry 632: Spectroscopic methods
- Microbiology H610: Bioinformatics
