|
![]() |
 |
Head of the Department: John A. Gerlt
419 Roger Adams Laboratory
600 South Mathews Avenue, Urbana, IL 61801
(217) 333-2013
E-mail: biochadm@scs.uiuc.edu
Graduate Degree Programs
The Department of Biochemistry offers graduate programs leading to
the master of science and the doctor of philosophy degrees. For an
application and departmental materials that provide greater detail
on programs, offerings, admission, degree requirements, and financial
aid, write to the graduate coordinator at the above address.
Admission
Graduate College requirements apply. Further, applicants should have
at least 25 semester hours in chemistry (properly distributed) and
a grade point average of 3.0 (A = 4.0), to be considered for admission
to the graduate programs. Applications from students with less than
the usual preparation in chemistry or with grade point averages below
3.0 may be considered on an individual basis. In addition, applicants
must submit results from the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) general
test and chemistry subject test.
International students whose native language is not English are required
to have a minimum Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score
of 580 on the paper-based test (237 on the computer-based test). In
addition, there are special requirements for applicants whose native
language is not English. The University requires a minimum Test of
Spoken English (TSE) score of 50 for a contact teaching assistant
appointment. Every applicant whose native language is not English
is expected to provide TSE scores in order to receive full consideration
for admission and financial aid.
Students who are currently enrolled in other graduate programs are
advised that they should complete degree work before moving to another
university. While students might be admitted without a degree from
their current institution, there must be exceptional circumstances.
A statement from the applicant detailing the situation is required
plus a letter from the applicant’s research adviser or department
head indicating that he/she is aware of the situation and agrees to
this arrangement.
Graduate Teaching Experience
Experience in teaching is considered a vital part of the graduate
program and is required as part of the academic work of all Ph.D.
candidates in this program.
Master of Science
Specific degree requirements for the coursework M.S. and the thesis
M.S. in Biochemistry include the successful completion of 18 graduate
hours of biochemistry courses. A coursework master’s degree
requires a minimum of two full-time semesters and involves 32 total
graduate hours of formal lecture and laboratory coursework. At least
12 graduate hours must be in 500-level courses and 8 of these 12 graduate
hours must be in the major field. A thesis master’s degree usually
requires a minimum of three semesters; up to 12 of the 32 required
graduate hours may be thesis research.
Doctor of Philosophy
Specific degree requirements for the Ph.D. in Biochemistry include
the successful completion of 18 graduate hours of biochemistry courses.
An additional 14 graduate hours of advanced elective courses are also
required as part of the minimum of 96 graduate hours required, including
thesis credit. Students must also pass an oral research qualifying
examination within the first 18 months of residence and must successfully
complete a series of written cumulative examinations. A thesis based
on original research must be presented to a review committee at least
two weeks before the final oral examination. The final examination
is limited to a defense of the thesis research. There is no foreign
language requirement for the Ph.D. degree in biochemistry.
Research Interests
The Department of Biochemistry is composed of faculty members whose
research interests cover the major areas of current biochemical research
and are united by a shared interest in biochemical regulatory mechanisms
and structure-function relationships of biological macromolecules.
The department offers major research programs in biophysics, protein
chemistry, enzymology, nucleic acid structure, gene organization and
expression, protein synthesis and degradation, molecular immunology,
membranes, lipoproteins, cell surfaces, and hormone action.
Financial Aid
Financial aid for graduate students in biochemistry is available in
the form of fellowships, teaching and research assistantships, and
tuition and partial fee waivers. In addition, interdepartmental training
grants from the National Institutes of Health support multidisciplinary
training programs. Qualified candidates are considered for financial
support upon application. Graduate students making satisfactory progress
toward their degrees generally receive a stipend, as well as a full
tuition waiver and a partial fee waiver.
|
|
|
