Biochemistry
Head of the Department: Colin A. Wraight419 Roger Adams Laboratory
600 South Mathews Avenue, Urbana, IL 61801
(217) 333-2013
E-mail: mcbinfo@life.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, visit our website at www.life.uiuc.edu/biochem/g_prospect.html. Please note: Students interested in this program must apply directly to the School of Molecular and Cellular Biology (www.life.uiuc.edu/mcb/graduate). During the first semester, students perform three laboratory rotations, choosing from any laboratory in the School. Students select a laboratory for their thesis research in December and formally join the appropriate graduate program at that time.
Admission
Graduate College requirements apply. Further, applicants should have a strong background in chemistry, biology, physics, and calculus and a grade point average of 3.0 (A = 4.0), to be considered for admission to the graduate programs. In addition, applicants must submit results from the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) general test. The subject GRE test in biochemistry, cell and molecular biology, chemistry, or biology is required for international applicants. Students who are currently enrolled in other graduate programs are advised that they should complete degree work before moving to another university.
International students whose native language is not English are required to have a minimum Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score of 590 on the paper-based test (243 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. We highly recommend every applicant whose native language is not English to provide TSE scores.
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 a core of biochemistry/MCB courses plus electives. 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 15 graduate hours of biochemistry/MCB core 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 literature 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.