Research excellence in the areas of Cellular Biochemistry, Structural Biology and Gene Expression

Requirements and Guidelines for the M.S. Degree


Biochemistry Master’s Program Description

Plan A Master's degree requires the completion of an original research thesis. While performing the thesis research, a Master's candidate must be enrolled as a full-time student. Completion of this program will provide a student with intensive didactic instruction and research experience in a specific area of Biochemistry or Molecular Biology.

Plan B Master’s degree: In lieu of a thesis based on original research, the Plan B candidate must complete two additional credits of course work. A maximum of 16 credits can be obtained by completing a BC695 Independent Study project under the supervision
of an advisor approved by the GAC.

In addition, a Plan B candidate must pass the Oral Comprehensive Examination that constitutes the required common final examination for this program.

The The Plan B Master's may be completed on a part-time basis. Students who are enrolled in the Master's Program and subsequently wish to transfer to the Ph.D. Program must submit a complete application for review by the Graduate Recruitment Committee.

Application information for graduate school is available online at:
http://www.graduateschool.colostate.edu/

Click here for checklist for Master’s Plan A

Admission Requirements- General

  • Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution with an overall grade point average of 3.0 (B) or above.
  • One year each of biology, organic chemistry, physics, and calculus will have been completed
  • Official transcripts/credential and certified translations (Int'l.) from all undergraduate and graduate institutions attended (Colorado State University transcripts are not required)
  • A full-year course in biochemistry (equivalent to BC 401 and 403) with grades of 3.0 (B) or better is required, but can be taken during the first year of graduate school
  • Three letters of recommendation preferably using the format recommended by the department. See Applying to the BMB Graduate Program
  • The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) (verbal and quantitative sections only)
  • A written "statement of purpose" that contains 1) a summary of professional/personal goals, 2) statement regarding educational goals, 3) statement explaining how this program will contribute to the applicant’s long-term goals, and 4) factors explaining your choice of Colorado State for graduate study
  • A completed resume that contains 1) collegeiate work (institutions, dates attended, degrees earned); 2) professional employment with dates of service (including military); 3) special skills or competencies (including certifications or licensures); 4) publications, exhibitions, prizes, awards, or other recognition; and 5) service activities (including community and charitable)

University Requirements for the Master's degree

  • A minimum of thirty (Plan A – with thesis) or thirty-two (Plan B-without thesis) semester credit
  • A minimum of twenty-four credits must be earned at Colorado State University, twenty-one of which must be earned after admission to Graduate School.
  • At least twelve credits must be in didactic (regular lecture, non-research) courses

Biochemistry Core Course Requirements for MS students
BC563 Molecular Genetics 4 credits
BC565 Molecular Regulation & Cell Function 4 credits
BC511 Structural Biology I 4 credits
BC601 Responsible Conduct in Biochemistry 1 credit


Courses required as Prerequisites
The following should have been completed as an undergraduate with a minimum grade of B:

  • One year each of biology, organic chemistry, physics, and calculus
  • A full-year course in biochemistry (equivalent to BC 401 and 403)
  • A semester course in physical chemistry (equivalent to C471) with grades of B or better is also required, but can be taken during the first year of graduate school.

Completion of Admission Deficiencies

Students who have not completed, with grades of B or better, a two-semester, upper-division course in biochemistry at an accredited university within the last three years must take both BC401 and BC403 and receive a grade of B or better in each course. Students who have not completed, with a B or better grade, a three-credit, calculus-based, upper-division course in physical chemistry at an accredited university within the last three years must take C471 (or C475 plus C477) and receive a grade of B or better.

Additional Departmental Requirements

BC793 Seminar

Enrollment in BC 793 is required each semester a student is in residence.

Electives:

A student must also complete a minimum of two credits in Biochemistry or other approved science courses at the 500 level or above. Courses will be selected in consultation with the student's advisor and Student Advisory Committee.

Enrollment Requirements:

While performing the thesis research, a Master's candidate must be enrolled as a full-time student. Completion of this program will provide a student with intensive didactic instruction and research experience in a specific area of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.

Transfer to Ph.D. program

Students that are enrolled in the Master's Program and subsequently wish to transfer to the Ph.D. Program must submit a completed application for review to the Graduate Recruitment Committee. However, students who obtain both their bachelors and masters degree from Colorado State University should consider pursuing their Ph.D. degree elsewhere if at all possible.

Waivers & Substitutions

Required core courses can be waived by the GAC if a student has completed an equivalent course with A/B grades within the previous two years. The credit requirements previously described must still be met.

Grading Policy

In courses such as BC793, BC695V and BC698V, for which there are no formal evaluative procedures, grades will be assigned by the faculty member responsible on the following basis. An average level performance will be graded as S for satisfactory. Performance which is unsatisfactory will be graded as U.

Advising for New MS Students

Plan A (with thesis) graduate students will be advised by the Graduate Advisor until their dissertation advisers have been selected. Plan B (without thesis) students will be advised by the Graduate Advisor throughout their program of study.

Plan A Master's Degree Procedures

Selection of Thesis Advisor

Students should make every effort to familiarize themselves with the research programs of the faculty during the first month in residency. In September members of the faculty will give presentations to the new students on research opportunities in their laboratory in order to aid students in selecting their thesis advisor. During the first semester in residence, M.S. candidates who do not already have a mentor may arrange up to three laboratory rotations of approximately five-weeks each, during which time the student and potential mentor will have an opportunity to get to know each other and decide whether the pairing is appropriate for the student’s thesis research. Students who have made previous arrangements to work with a particular faculty member (e.g. Track III admissions in combined BS/MS program) are not subject to this requirement. The selection of a thesis advisor should be made as soon as possible, but no later than the beginning of the second semester in the program. The final selection of an advisor must be approved by the GAC.

Student's Advisory Committee (SAC)

Composition

The SAC will be composed of three members, including the student's advisor, who will serve as chairperson, one additional departmental faculty member, and one faculty member from outside the department.
The student, after consultation with his/her advisor, will present to the department chairperson a list of possible candidates for the SAC. Formal appointment will then be made by the department chairperson after consultation with the student's advisor. The committee will be formed within one month after selection of the advisor. If circumstances so warrant, later changes in the composition of the SAC can be made.

Responsibilities of the SAC

The SAC shall be responsible throughout the remainder of the student's graduate career for advice on the student's course work program and evaluation of progress therein. For Plan A Master's students the committee will advise, counsel, and guide the student in the planning and execution of a research program. The first meeting of the student with his/her SAC should be held promptly after the SAC is formed.

GS6 Plan of Study form

The GS6 form listing a recommended course of study should be filed with the Graduate School as soon as possible, but no later than the beginning of the fourth semester.

Performance Evaluations by SAC

To assist the SAC in its evaluation of the student's progress in research, each student will meet at least annually with his/her SAC. An annual evaluation will consist of:
  • A written progress report. The report should briefly summarize the goals of the research; describe progress during the past year, emphasizing significant accomplishments and discussing problems encountered; indicate changes in direction which have occurred during the past year; and outline the specific goals and approaches to be used during the coming months. Students who have just commenced a research problem should state the goals of their project, summarize the background of the project, briefly describe the approach they intend to take, and indicate the significance of the project. The progress report should not exceed eight double-spaced typewritten pages, excluding tables and figures. The progress report should be in the hands of the SAC members at least one week before the scheduled SAC meeting.

  • Evaluation of performance in BC698V, Research. The SAC can make recommendations to the thesis adviser concerning an appropriate grade for BC698V. Persistent lack of progress is grounds for dismissal from the M.S. program.

The results of such evaluations, as well as the committee's recommendations for furthering the student's progress, will be submitted by the SAC in written form to the GAC to be included in the student's file.

 

Performance evaluations by faculty for all MS students

Comprehensive oral examination

All first year students in the M.S. program are required to take a comprehensive oral examination during the last week in May after completing all admissions requirements and the required courses. The purpose of the exam is to test each student's general knowledge of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology as well as his/her ability to utilize this information to solve problems. The material tested is covered in BC511, BC563 and BC565. This exam will be conducted by three faculty members. This examination will constitute the required common final examination for Plan B Students.

Annual Student evaluations

The overall performance of each first-year student is evaluated by the entire faculty at a special faculty meeting during the last week in May. This evaluation will include a review of the student's academic record, participation in seminars, progress in laboratory research (Plan A), and performance on the comprehensive oral examination. Possible outcomes are: (a) clear approval to continue in the M.S. program, (b)academic probation, or (c) dismissal from the graduate program if it is determined that the student is making unsatisfactory progress toward the degree and that satisfactory progress cannot reasonably be anticipated (per graduate school policies). A student who is placed on academic probation must be re-evaluated by the entire faculty at the end of the Fall semester for a decision as to his/her continuation in the program.

Performance in Required Courses

All graduate students must maintain a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA. A student with a grade point average below 3.0 in formal course work (not including research, group study, independent study or seminar) will be placed on academic probation, or may be dismissed from the program. Students receiving grades below B in any prescribed course will be required to retake the course and earn a grade of B or better on the retake.

Academic Probation

Students who fail to maintain a 3.0 GPA in their graduate coursework will be placed on probation by the Graduate School and will have one semester in which to improve their cumulative grade point averages to no less than 3.0 in graduate courses. Track III students in combined bachelor’s/master’s degree programs who have accumulated at least 120 credit hours of coursework are subject to this requirement. Failure to bring the cumulative graduate GPA to at least 3.0 will result in dismissal from the Graduate School with no re-enrollment permitted prior to completion of the bachelor’s degree. Track III students who are dismissed from the Graduate School, and who are still in good standing within their undergraduate programs, will be permitted to complete their undergraduate degrees. These students can petition the Registrar to reinstate courses to be applied toward their undergraduate degrees.

 

Teaching Obligations

Unless they have incurred a previous commitment, candidates for the Master's degree are not required to teach in the department. However, Master's candidates who wish to gain teaching experience are encouraged to participate in the department's teaching efforts. For each semester the student teaches, he/she may register for an appropriate number of credits in BC784V - Supervised College Teaching.

 

Stipends

In general, students in the M.S. program are not guaranteed support during the tenure of their graduate study. However, a Plan A M.S. student may receive tuition and stipend up to the level paid to Ph.D. students from the research grant support of his/her advisor. In contrast, part-time students who participate in the Plan B Master's may sustain support through external employment and are responsible for paying their own tuition.

 

Defense of Thesis - Plan A Master's

Eligibility

The thesis advisor must agree that the thesis is of such quality and completeness as to warrant setting a date for the defense. The student must have completed a typed draft of the thesis and submitted a copy thereof to each committee member at least two weeks prior to the examination.


Examining committee

The SAC will be the examining committee with the student's advisor serving as chairperson. The defense of thesis, however, is open to the public and the chairperson has the prerogative of allowing non-committee members to ask questions of the candidate.

Procedures

The student will present a formal seminar concerning the thesis research. Following the presentation, the committee will probe in detail the student's comprehension of, approach to, and solution of the dissertation research problem. The committee, in executive session, shall determine if the thesis and its defense were satisfactory. In the event of an unsatisfactory performance, the committee may allow one re-examination and may require the student to complete further work.

Submission of Thesis

After passing the Defense of Thesis, the thesis will be prepared in final form following all of the rules of the Graduate School for its preparation. Three copies of the thesis are required by the department (two for the department, and one for the advisor) in addition to any copies required by the graduate school or library.



Plan B Master’s Degree (without thesis) Requirements

Course requirements

In lieu of a thesis based on original research, the Plan B candidate must complete 32 credits of course work.
A maximum of 16 credits can be obtained by completing a BC695 Independent Study project under the supervision of an advisor approved by the GAC.

In addition, a Plan B candidate must pass the Oral Comprehensive Examination that constitutes the required common final examination for this program.

BC 695 Independent Study

A Plan B Master's student who wants to do an independent studies project must complete a form that indicates his/her academic and experiential background as well as a prioritized list of mentors with whom she/he would like to study. The forms will be reproduced and distributed to the faculty indicated by the student. The faculty member may contact the student for further information before conveying preferences to the Graduate Affairs Committee, which will match preferences and finalize the assignments.

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