One degree, three different options to earn it.
The hallmark of the Applied Molecular Biology program is a two-semester, seven-credit laboratory course that teaches students the state-of-the-art techniques of molecular biology in the context of an independent research project. In addition, the students take four lecture courses and prepare a scholarly paper on their research project. UMBC undergraduates may count up to twelve credits, i.e., three of the lecture courses, toward both degrees. The program not only prepares its graduates to become middle-level researchers in the biotechnology industry, but it also provides excellent training for students intending to enter a Ph.D. program after graduation. Shown below is a breakdown of what AMB MS students have done with their degree.
Research and Program Specialties
Biotechnology remains a major growth industry. Professionals trained to use the tools of modern molecular biology are in great demand. Much of this demand is for master’s level graduates who have the theoretical knowledge and laboratory expertise to carry out research projects. To meet the need for this kind of science professional, the M.S. program in Applied Molecular Biology was established at UMBC in 1981. The program complements existing M.S. and Ph.D. programs and takes advantage of vigorous, ongoing research programs in molecular biology and related areas at UMBC.
Facilities and Special Resources
The two-semester Advanced Molecular Biology Laboratory course is taught in the Applied Molecular Biology Laboratory, a laboratory facility dedicated to students in the program and contains all of the equipment necessary for conducting research in molecular biology. Students also have access to research facilities in the Biological Sciences.
Program Admissions
At a minimum, applicants must have a grade point average of 3.0 and a B.A or B.S. in biological sciences. International applicants must have a TOEFL 80 or higher, or IELTS 7 or higher. Enrollment in the program is limited to 12 students per year. Students are encouraged to apply early in the spring semester, because admission decisions are made on a rolling basis. You may apply with unofficial documents, if accepted all original application documents must be sent directly to the Graduate School.
Degree Requirements
Listed below are the courses to fulfill the 30 credit requirement
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- BIOL 430 (Biological Chemistry) or CHEM 437 (Comprehensive Biochemistry I)
- BIOL 635L Advanced Molecular Biology Laboratory I
- BIOL 636L Advanced Molecular Biology Laboratory II
At least one of the following BIOL 6XX courses:
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- BIOL626 (Approaches to Molecular Biology)
- BIOL612 (Synthetic and Systems Biology)
- BIOL614 (Eukaryotic Molecular Genetics)
2 additional BIOL6XX electives* (one must be a Writing Intensive course) approved by the AMB director, for a
total of 3 6XX BIOL electives.
The requirement for BIOL 430 may be waived for students who have already taken a comparable course in biochemistry and received a grade of B or better. Since all M.S. degrees awarded by the Graduate School require a minimum of 30 credits, three replacement credits may be earned by conducting additional research (APMB 695) during the January winter session or by substituting an elective course approved by the Graduate Program Director.
The different options
The BS/MS Accelerated Program is for UMBC undergraduates who want to double count credits for their
BIOL BS and a Master’s in Applied Molecular Biology. The following courses are eligible for automatic
transfer, for a total of twelve credits counting toward the MS degree: BIOL 430 (or CHEM 437), BIOL 426,
BIOL 412, and BIOL 414. Other BIOL 4XX courses (*see list below) will also be eligible for transfer.
Depending on which of these courses the student has taken as an undergraduate will determine what other
lecture-based courses are needed. BIOL 635L and BIOL 636L are required for all MS students, fall and spring
respectively.
The full-time, one year accelerated master’s Program requires students to take BIOL 430, a BIOL 6XX course,
and BIOL 635L the first semester. In the second semester, students will take 2 BIOL 6XX courses and BIOL
636L and graduate in May. One of the three 6XX must be either BIOL 612, BIOL 614, or BIOL 626 and two
other BIOL 6XX courses (*see list below).
There is also a part-time, two-year option. In this scenario, students take BIOL 430 and three other BIOL 6XX
courses. One of the three 6XX must be either BIOL 612, BIOL 614, or BIOL 626 and two other BIOL 6XX
courses (*see list below) during the first year. In the second year of the program students enroll in BIOL 635L
and 636L the first and second semester, respectively and graduate in May.
*Qualifying 6XX electives for transfer include:
BIOL611: Bacterial Physiology
BIOL615: Systems Biology
BIOL620: Advanced Topics in Cell Biology
BIOL621: Advanced Topics in Molecular Genetics
BIOL625: Immunology
BIOL628: Computer Applications in Molecular Biology
BIOL629: Adv. Topics in Molecular Biology
BIOL643: Topics in Advanced Developmental Biology
BIOL644: Development and Cancer
BIOL645: Signal Transduction
BIOL656: Plant Molecular Biology
BIOL663: Theoretical and Quantitative Biology
BIOL 666: Population and Quantitative Genetics
BIOL 670: General Virology
BIOL 686: Genome Science
Genomics/Bioinformatics courses from UMB
Financial Assistance
Applicants should contact the Office of Financial Aid at UMBC if they wish to explore sources of financial aid. Students may be eligible for student loan programs. Halftime teaching assistantships in a given semester may be available for students with a reduced course load that semester, for example, because the course was previously completed at UMBC. Contact the graduate program director for information.
For More Information
Visit: https://gradschool.umbc.edu/admissions/programs/apmb/
Details about how to enroll, declare intentions junior year, Apply?
Apply now!
Contact:
Brandy Darcey
Graduate Program coordinator
410-455-3669
bdarcey@umbc.edu
Cynthia Wagner
AMB program director
410-455-1024
cwagner@umbc.edu
Stephen Miller, Ph.D.
Graduate Program Director
410-455-3381
stmiller@umbc.edu