Biomolecular Structure and Design

Graduate Program

Graduate Program Coordinator
G514 Health Sciences, Box 357420
206-543-5474

The department's graduate program is directed toward the education of doctoral students who anticipate careers that involve teaching or research in the biomedical sciences. Graduates from the program have a broad knowledge of biological structure at all levels, from the molecular to the human anatomical, with a major emphasis on the cellular level.

Graduate students select research and teaching options in their program. The research options are designed to provide training for a student in one or two of the following areas: cell and developmental biology, neurobiology, quantitative biology, cellular immunology, molecular biology, and macromolecular structure. Teaching options prepare the student to teach in one of the anatomical sub-disciplines: human anatomy, neuroanatomy/neurobiology, histology, embryology/developmental biology, cell biology, and macromolecular structure.

Master of Science

Admission Requirements

1. A minimum GPA of 3.00
2. A bachelor's degree in one of the following or a related area: chemistry, biology, physics, biochemistry, or biophysics.
3. GRE
4. The minimal course requirements for successful applicants are:
   1. Chemistry: general, organic, and physical
   2. Physics: one year
   3. Mathematics: one year of calculus; multivariable calculus and/or linear algebra are strongly recommended
   4. Biology and/or biochemistry: one year general biology plus one advanced course in biology or biochemistry
5. Undergraduate research experience is strongly recommended.
6. International students must have a minimum score on one test as follows: 7.0 IELTS; 92 TOEFL iBT; 237 TOEFLC; 580 TOEFL; 90 MLT.
7. International students hoping to study with BMSD faculty in the Chemistry Department must have a minimum score on one test as follows: 26 on the speaking portion of the TOEFL iBT; 7.0 on the speaking portion of the IELTS; 70 on the Versant English Test; 55 on the TSE; 230 on the SPEAK test administered at the UW

Degree Requirements

36 credits, to include:

1. Required courses: BIOC 530; BMSD 540, BMSD 541, BMSD 542; BMSD 520 to be taken every quarter
2. 12 graded credits of elective courses covering at least three of the four BMSD categories of topics: biomolecular structure, techniques in biomolecular structure, molecular and cellular biology, and chemistry
3. At least one sequence of Biomedical Research Integrity workshops in the first or second year of the program. The Biomedical Research Integrity (BRI) Series is a sequence of lectures and workshops offered during summer quarter each year.
4. Teaching: In order to gain practical teaching experience, students in the program serve as teaching assistants for two quarters.
5. Research: Students rotate through a minimum of two and a maximum of three participating laboratories during their first year. The opportunity exists for students to do an early rotation during summer quarter.