Cell and Molecular Biology Master's Program
The Cell and Molecular Biology program area offers Master's Programs in:
* Molecular Biology
* Physiology
* Microbiology
The Molecular Biology Institute (MBI) at San Diego State University
administers the Master's program in Molecular Biology. The MBI is
currently composed of members drawn predominantly from the Departments
of Biology and Chemistry and is designed to serve these departments in
the coordination, support and enhancement of research and training in
the molecular life sciences. The interests of the MBI faculty span a
wide range of biological problems, and their research activities are
supported by research grants obtained from a variety of sources,
including the National Institutes of Health, the National Science
Foundation, NASA, the American Heart Association, the Muscular
Dystrophy Association, Sea Grant, and the Air Force. Current grant
support is in excess of $3 million per year. A listing of the faculty
and a description of their research interests with recent
representative publications can be accessed by clicking Faculty. The
MBI faculty are also participants in the Ph.D. programs in Chemistry
and Biology (other programs). More than 100 M.S. and Ph.D. candidates,
post-doctoral fellows, and technicians participate in the research
programs of the MBI faculty.
RESEARCH FACILITIES
The laboratories of the MBI faculty in the
Departments of Biology and Chemistry are fully equipped for modern
research in cell and molecular biology, biochemistry, physiology and
microbiology. Major items include peptide and oligonucleotide
synthesizers and sequencers, amino acid analyzers, image processing
facilities, Flow Cytometry Facility equipped with a BD FACSAria Flow
Cytometer, FT and CW superconducting NMR spectrometers, mass
spectrometers, stopped-flow spectrometers, unit mass and high
resolution GC/MS, spectro-fluorometers, high pressure analytical and
separation instrumental workstations, PCR reactors, laser laboratories
with a versatile array of lasers and accompanying equipment,
controlled-temperature and animal rooms, research support shops,
radiobiochemical hot labs and computers for DNA/protein
structure/sequence analysis. The SDSU Microscopy Facility maintains an
FEI Tecnai G2 12 TWIN transmission electron microscope with CCD camera,
Leica SP2 laser fluorescence scanning confocal light microscope,
Hitachi scanning electron microscope, and ancillary equipment. SDSU is
a member of the regional CRAY Supercomputer Consortium and is the
supercomputer gateway to the California State University (CSU) System.
UNDERGRADUATE
PREPARATION FOR ADMISSION
Applicants for admission to the Master of
Science program in Molecular Biology must present evidence of adequate
preparation and capacity for advanced work in the molecular life
sciences and should have a strong background in
biology, chemistry, physics, and mathematics.
Applicants must have a bachelor's degree or the equivalent from an
accredited institution of higher learning with training comparable to
that provided by San Diego State University's undergraduate programs.
Applicants for admission should have completed minimally at least one
year of
physics, calculus,
biochemistry, and one semester of organic chemistry.
ADMISSION
REQUIREMENTS
The qualifications for admission in to the
Master's program include a baccalaureate degree with a major in Biology
or related field, a GPA of
2.85
for the last 60 semester (90 quarter) units of coursework and
3.00 for upper division courses in
the major, and qualifying scores (V≥540, Q≥610, A/W≥4.5) on the General
GRE exams taken within
the last 5 years. In addition to these numerical criteria,
three letters of recommendation,
lab experience, and your
specific research interests as they
relate to faculty research programs are all considered in the
evaluation process.
Foreign applicants from undergraduate institutions where English is not
the language of instruction must arrange to have their official TOEFL
exam score forwarded to the Admissions Office. The TOEFL exam may be
taken via computer or via a paper exam. A minimum score of
550 on the paper exam or
213 on the computer-based TOEFL is
required.
International Students must also file a financial statement accompanied
by the appropriate documentation from a bank or other source of funds,
to demonstrate an adequate level of financial support to meet living
costs, non-resident tuition, and other educational expenses at SDSU. If
selected as a Teaching Assistant (see below), the salary earned
(approximately $11,688/year) may be applied as partial fulfillment of
this requirement.
More Information For Foreign Applicants
Students should submit
application
materials, including transcripts, GRE scores, letters of
recommendation, and a statement of purpose to the Biology Department.
Applications for admission are accepted by the SDSU Admissions Office
beginning
November 1 for the
following fall semester and
August 1
for the spring semester. Applications for admission, including all
supporting transcripts and scores on the General GRE test preferably
should be submitted by
February 1
for fall admission, although applications are accepted until
May 1.
Under special circumstances applicants who do not meet certain
admission requirements may be admitted as conditionally classified
students and generally are given one year to meet such deficiencies in
order to become fully classified graduate students. Such determinations
will be at the discretion of the Admissions Committee and the Program
Coordinator. Completion of such requirements by the proscribed deadline
is
necessary to continue in the program.
Detailed application instructions can be found here,
Application
Information for
Prospective Masters Students, and should be followed closely.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS
AND THESIS
Master's students must complete a graduate
program of 30 units selected from approved courses under the
recommendation of the MS advisor, and perform original thesis research
under the guidance of one of the faculty of the Biology Department or
the MBI. Considerable emphasis is given towards seminars, colloquia,
and advanced topics courses in Molecular Biology. Generally, about
2.5-3.0 years are required for completion of course requirements and
the thesis. A formal thesis presentation and defense is administered by
the student's thesis committee.
Additional information about the program of study and program
requirements can be found here
Information
for Current Students.
FINANCIAL SUPPORT
Graduate teaching assistantships (TAs) are available on a competitive
basis (based on GPA and GRE scores) at a salary of approximately
$11,688 for up to 20 hours work per week for the academic year (9
mos.). TAs could also be given for research and non-teaching duties as
well. Application forms for TA and GA positions can be found at
Application
Information for
Prospective Masters Students. Completed applications should be
submitted to the
Department of Biology by
February 1
along with all other application materials in order to be considered
for a TA appointment. Fellowships, scholarships, and other forms of
financial assistance from university, state, federal, and private
sources are also available. More information about fellowships and
loans can be obtained from the
Financial Aid Office
on campus.
HOUSING AND COST OF
LIVING
Although the overwhelming majority of graduate students live off-campus
in private housing, there are a limited number of dormitory spaces
on-campus. The cost for room and board is approximately $11,266 per
year for students living on campus. Typical expenses for single
students average $20,062 per year.
Housing costs are expensive in San Diego, but such costs can be
minimized by sharing facilities. Contact the
Office of Housing and
Residential Life for assistance in locating off- and on-campus
housing.
Child day-care facilities are available on campus.
COST OF STUDY
For California residents, registration fees are $2,231 for full-time
(6.1 or more units) and $1,442 for part-time (6.0 units or less)
per semester. Non-resident and foreign students must pay $339 per unit
in addition to the aforementioned registration fees. In addition,
foreign students are required to have health insurance coverage every
year (approximately $700). U.S. citizens may achieve California
residency status at the end of one year. Once California residency is
established students will pay the resident tuition fees. All fees are
subject to change by the Trustees of the California State University.
For more detailed information please see the
Graduate Bulletin
or the
University Cashiers Office website.
THE COMMUNITY AND
ENVIRONMENT
The University is located 12 miles east of downtown San Diego and the
Pacific Ocean. San Diego is a large and ethnically diverse metropolitan
center with a population of over one million people, and is also host
to one of the world's major biomedical research communities, with close
interaction occurring among scientists at UCSD, Salk Institute, Scripps
Institute of Oceanography, Scripps Clinic and Research Foundation and
SDSU. San Diego provides its inhabitants with one of the greatest
varieties of living conditions and recreational opportunities. The
Laguna Mountains are 45 minutes to the east and offer pine forests for
hiking and camping. Beyond the Lagunas lies the Anza Borrego Desert
State Park, the largest state park in the United States and certainly
one of the most varied and interesting deserts to explore. Twelve miles
to the west of the campus lies the Pacific with over 72 miles of
recreational beaches providing outstanding facilities for water sports
and ocean fishing. The city contains many fine cultural and
recreational attractions, many of which are centered about Balboa Park.
Balboa Park contains the world famous San Diego Zoo, as well as
museums, art galleries, and the Old Globe Theatre with its summer
Shakespearean festivals. Football, basketball, baseball and hockey fans
can take advantage of Qualcomm Stadium, Cox Arena, and the San Diego
Sports Arena to watch their favorite teams in action. Just 15 minutes
south of San Diego is Mexico, with its cultural attractions, unusual
shopping opportunities, and limitless possibilities for outdoor
adventure in the rugged Baja peninsula.
THE UNIVERSITY
San Diego State University, with approximately 1100 faculty and 32,000
students, including 5000 graduate students, is the largest of the 22
campuses in the California State University system. SDSU offers
bachelor's degrees in 76 fields and master's degrees in more than 60
areas. There are presently ten doctoral programs offered jointly with
nearby Ph.D.-granting institutions, including two in biology and one in
chemistry. The annual amount of research and contract grant funds
brought in by the SDSU faculty exceeds $120 million. Cultural
activities abound on campus, including plays, concerts, films and
lecture series. There are many opportunities on and near campus for
part-time employment. For housing, there are a limited number of campus
dormitory rooms available; however, most students choose to live in
off-campus rental units in the college and beach communities.
CORRESPONDENCE AND
INFORMATION
For specific information about the M.S.
Program contact:
Dr. Tod Reeder
Biology Graduate Coordinator
Biology Department
San Diego State University
San Diego, CA 92182-4614
Phone: (619) 594-6375
FAX: (619) 594-5676
Email:
twreeder@mail.sdsu.edu
The Graduate
Advisors for the M.S. Program are:
Dr.
Constantine Tsoukas, Cell and Molecular Biology MS adviser
Dr.
Greg Harris, Physiology MS adviser
Dr.
Anca Segall, Microbiology MS adviser