THE MS PROGRAM IN BIOTECHNOLOGY AND BIOMEDICAL SCIENCE

The Program This MS program trains students in the theory and laboratory techniques used in biotechnology and biomedical science-two high technology areas of expanding national and local importance. The program provides a firm foundation in the principles underlying modern biotechnology techniques, and integrates this theoretical understanding with intensive training in a variety of laboratory skills and in computer applications to biotechnology. The curriculum of the program consists of required courses in biology and biophysics, a required two-semester research experimentation course, and elective courses in biology, chemistry, and physics. Work in these courses is particularly appropriate for students with interests in the emerging fields of biotechnology, molecular genetics, tissue culture, and computerized laboratory technology. Research Facilities Extensive resources are available to students in the program for advanced study in behavior, biochemistry, conservation biology, cytology, developmental cell biology, ecology, ethnobotany, microbiology, molecular biology, and plant and animal physiology. Among the program's facilities are research laboratories, instrument rooms, warm and cold environment rooms and chambers, an aquarium room, greenhouses, animal quarters, and vehicles and boats for field work. Research equipment includes transmission and scanning electron microscopes, DNA sequencers, a phosphoimager, freeze etch apparatus, high performance liquid chromatographs, gas chromatograhs, mass spectrometers, a variety of spectrophotometers, an amino acid analyzer, preparative and ultracentrifuges, beta/gamma counters, tissue culture facilities, cryogenic and ultra-cold storage, and a CO2 gas analyzer. A wide variety of microcomputer and printers is available throughout the University. Considerable mainframe computing capability is provided campus wide by a Digital VAX cluster through a fiber optics-based high speed data communications network. The University's campus is on Boston Harbor, where programs focusing on the biology of the harbor environment and terrestrial biology are emphasized. The University's marine station on Nantucket Island offers further resources for research in aquatic and terrestrial biology. Degree Requirements Thirty credits are required for the master of science degree in biotechnology and biomedical science. Each degree candidate is assigned to a three-member advising committee, which will be responsible for insuring that the student fulfills all requirements of the program and the Office of Graduate Studies. All students must complete the following courses for a total of 9 credits: Biol 650 Scientific Communication (3 credits) Biol 696 Research Experimentation (6 credits: two semesters) All students must complete at least four of the following courses for a minimum of 12 credits: Biol 608 (Phys 608) Biophysical Instrumentation Biol 615 Immunology Biol 626 Molecular Genetics of Bacteria Biol 627 Bacterial Physiology Biol 664 DNA and Protein Sequence Analysis Biol 670 Tissue Culture Biol 675/676 Advanced Molecular Biology Biol 677 Advanced Eukaryotic Genetics Biol 678/679 Protein Chemistry and Enzymology Students must complete the remainder of credits (9 credits) by taking elective courses chosen from the following list. At least two must be biology courses. Biol 602 Plant Molecular Biology Biol 612 Advanced Cell Biology Biol 614 Advanced Cell Chemistry Biol 619 Theory and Techniques of Electron Microscopy ** Biol 622 Concepts and Methods in Cytology Biol 653 Current Literature Biol 668 Cellular and Molecular Endocrinology Biol 672-673 Directed Readings Biol 685 Biomedical Tracers Biol 692 Advanced Physiology Biol 699 Thesis Research (must take at least 4 credits) Chem 653 Introduction to Polymer Chemistry Chem 658 Medicinal Chemistry EnvSci 611 Applied Statistics Physic 603 Nuclear Radiation Physics and Biophysics Laboratory Physic 604 Cryogenics and Vacuum Technology Physic 609 Physics of Medical Imaging Physic 610 Topics in medical Imaging **Open as an elective only to those students whose thesis projects require the use of electron microscopy. Students wishing to substitute any other courses for those on this list of electives must have prior approval from their advising committee, the Biotechnology and Biomedical Science Program advisor, and the director of graduate programs in biology. Each student prepares a written report on his or her research work and must also take an oral examination, which will not necessarily be limited to the topic of the report. The student must submit an outline of the report to his or her advising committee before taking the oral examination. Students may choose either an internship option or a thesis option, which will enable them to pursue a thesis research project in the laboratory of a faculty member. Thesis students have the option of taking 4 additional research credits, as Biol 699. This, in combination with two semesters of Biol 696, will allow for a maximum of 10 credits toward research. Note: These degree requirements are subject to change as developments in the field affect the program's curriculum. Please contact the director of graduate programs in biology for the most current information. Admission Requirements Submission of the graduate admissions application form. A distinguished undergraduate transcript with at least a 3.0 overall average. A bachelor's degree or its equivalent, from a college or university of recognized standing. Official transcripts of all graduate and undergraduate work. (Two copies of each transcript must be sent directly to the University's Office of Graduate Admissions and Records. A final transcript showing that the bachelor's degree has been awarded must be received before the student can enter the program.) It is expected that entering students will have completed (or will soon complete) the following courses or their equivalents: Biol 252 Genetics Chem 253/Chem 254 Organic Chemistry Biol 334 Microbiology Biol 371-372 Cell Biology and Biochemistry I and II Biol 373-374 Methods in Cell Biology and Biochemistry I and II CS 110 Introduction to Computing Physic 107/Physic 108 College Physics I and II Physic 181/Physic 182 Physics Laboratory I and II Three letters of recommendation. Submissions of scores on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) Combined Aptitude Test. Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL official test score) is required for international applicants The stated interests of a prospective student must coincide to an acceptable degree with the faculty specialties represented in the program. The biology Graduate Committee in conjunction with the Director of Graduate Programs in Biology is responsible for reviewing applications and for recommending candidates to the Dean of Graduate Studies. Acknowledgment of acceptance by the applicant. Acknowledgment should be sent to the Office of Graduate Admissions and Records. Applicants who do not acknowledge acceptance may forfeit admission to the program. Transfer Credit Policy Applicants who have completed appropriate graduate course work at other accredited institutions may transfer the equivalent of six credits toward UMass Boston graduate degree requirements from courses in which the applicant received a grade of B or higher, provided these are courses that: have not been used to fulfill requirements for another degree, and were completed no more than seven years before the applicant's matriculation of UMass Boston. Transfer credit is subject to the final approval of the graduate program director and the Dean of Graduate Studies. Costs and Financial Aid The costs of attending UMass Boston are moderate, especially since UMass Boston is a public university, for students who qualify as residents of Massachusetts. Financial aid is available in the form of grants, loans, and a limited number of assistantships that provide a stipend and remission of tuition. For information about grants and loans, please write or call: Office of Financial Aid Services University of Massachusetts Boston 100 Morrissey Blvd. Boston, MA 02125 617-287-6300 Further Information For more information or an application, please contact: Dr. Rick Kesseli, Graduate Program Director rick.kesseli@umb.edu Department of Biology University of Massachusetts Boston 100 Morrissey Blvd. Boston, MA 02125 617-287-6627 Biotechnology and Biomedical Science Faculty Steven Ackerman, PhD, University of Pennsylvania; Molecular Biology of Gene Regulation Gregory Beck, PhD, State University of New York at Stony Brook; Evolutionary Immunology Kenneth Campbell, PhD, University of Michigan; Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology,                                Reproductive Ecology William Hagar, PhD, Temple University; Photosynthesis Linda Huang, Cell Biology, signal transduction, and regulation of cell morphology Richard Kesseli, PhD, University of California at Davis; Evolution, Molecular and Population                           Genetics Kenneth Kleene, PhD, University of Washington; Developmental Molecular Biology Michael Shiaris,PhD, University of Tennessee; Microbial Ecology Rachel Skvirsky, PhD, Harvard University; Molecular Genetics, Microbiology Manickam Sugumaran, PhD, Indian Institute of Science; Protein Chemistry, Enzymology Ying Tan, Molecular systematics Please note: All information in this publication is subject to change. This publication is neither a contract nor an offer to make a contract.