Graduate

The Department of Biological Sciences has graduate and post-graduate research programs in molecular and cell biology, cancer biology, molecular and developmental genetics, and molecular neuroscience. Students may obtain the MA from Hunter College and/or the Ph.D. from the City University Graduate Center. A description of the Biology MA program is linked to here. For a description of various masters programs with specializations click here. The doctoral program is designed to prepare students to cope with the radical changes in direction and experimental approaches that will characterize future developments in biology, as well as to train highly qualified research scientists who are fully equipped to teach and to direct research in a wide variety of university and industry programs in the biological sciences. Faculty of the department are pursuing projects in the forefront of modern research. In addition to the individual research laboratories, a number of shared facilities are housed in the department. They include transmission and scanning electron microscopes, a sequencing and synthesis facility equipped with a DNA synthesizer, a peptide synthesizer, a gasphase sequencer, DNA sequencer and advanced HPLC and data processing equipment, a bioimaging facility, a fluorescenceactivated cell sorter and a biopreparation facility. Several facilities are available through the chemistry department, including X-ray diffraction, NMR, mass spectroscopy and biomolecular computation. Shared modern animal facilities are also available.

Biology Graduate (M.A.) and B.A./M.A. in Biotechnology

1. Summarize and Articulate Advanced Research and Theoretical Concepts
2. Use and Interpret Experimental Design from Current Literature in Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology
3. Interpret Experimental Data Independently

MASTER OF ARTS
The degree is offered either as a terminal degree or as the first year toward the PhD within CUNY. Both introductory and advanced courses are available at Hunter College. Requirements for Admission
In addition to the general requirements for admission to graduate programs, the following departmental requirements must be met:

1. One year of organic chemistry, including laboratory
2. One year of college physics
3. One year of calculus
4. An undergraduate major in biology, botany, physiology, zoology, chemistry, physics, or other appropriate discipline. A minimum of 18 credits in the area of specialization should be presented. Chemistry or physics majors must offer at least one year of appropriate life science for admission to any of the majors in the MA program in biological sciences.
5. General Test of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE)
6. TOEFL Test for foreign, non-English speaking students

Requirements for the Degree
The program of course work, planned with the graduate adviser, is concentrated in one of the following major areas: molecular and cell biology, cancer biology, molecular and developmental genetics, molecular neuroscience, and biotechnology.

Required Courses
BIOL 700.05 Genetics
BIOL 710.13 Molecular Biology Lecture
BIOL 714.01 Cell Biology
BIOL 750.03 Developmental Biology
Up to 4 credits of tutorial are accepted toward the degree. Only one 600-level course
(including in another science such as biochemistry) may be credited toward the degree.

Comprehensive Examination and Thesis
Students may fulfill requirements for the MA through either of the following plans:

•  Plan A: A minimum of 30 credits of course work plus a passing grade in a written comprehensive examination in the areas covered by the four required courses. The comprehensive examination is given annually in June. Only fully matriculated students who have completed all four required courses may take the comprehensive examination.
• Plan B: A minimum of 24 credits of course work plus a passing grade in a written comprehensive examination and a thesis on an original research problem along with a minimum of 6 credits in original research. The thesis must be approved by both the student's faculty and the MA adviser, and it must be defended before a thesis committee.