Graduate Bulletin
Biochemistry,
M.S.
SCHOOL OF MEDICINE
Admission Requirements and Deadlines
Application Deadline:
Fall: April 15
[December 15 for international applicants]
Spring: November
15
[August 1 for international applicants] Applications
are processed as they are received throughout
the year.
Letters
of Reference:
Number Required: 2
From Whom: Letters of recommendation should be obtained from professors of science.
Coursework Required for Admission Consideration:
Applicants should have one year of Biological Science (Biochemistry, Molecular Biology); one year of General Chemistry; one year of Organic Chemistry; one year of Physics; and Mathematics through Calculus. Physical Chemistry is also desirable.
Master's Degree in Discipline/Related Discipline:
No.
Bachelor's Degree in Discipline/Related Discipline:
A baccalaureate degree in the Biological or Chemical sciences is required.
Statement
of
Goals:
The
Statement
of
Goals
should be approximately
500-1,000 words
and
should include
the
following elements:
the applicant's
interest in Temple's
Biochemistry
program,
research goals,
future career
goals,
and academic
and
research achievements.
Standardized
Test
Scores:
The GRE is required. Acceptance by Temple University requires submission of verbal, quantitative, and analytical GRE scores. GRE scores below the 50th percentile are outside the norm set by the Graduate School and no individual score in the verbal, quantitative, or analytical sections should be below that level.
The
GRE
Subject
Exam in Chemistry
or
Biology
is
required.
Minimum
TOEFL
score
or
range
of
scores
needed
to
be
accepted:
650 paper-based, 280 computer-based, or 114 internet-based.
Transfer
Credit:
Graduate
credits from an accredited
institution may
be transferred
into the Biochemistry
graduate program.
The credits must
be equivalent to
coursework offered
at Temple and the
grades must be
a "B" or better
in order to transfer.
The student's advisory
committee will
review the courses
and make the recommendation
to accept the credits
based on the student's
knowledge of the
course material
and initial performance
in the program.
The maximum number
of credits a student
may transfer is
6.
Test
Waivers:
Upon review of
the student's background
by the Graduate
Admissions Committee,
applicants with
high levels of
performance in
one or more areas
can gain favorable
consideration for
an application
that is otherwise
outside the acceptance
matrix.
Program
Requirements
General
Program
Requirements:
Number
of
Didactic
Credits
Required
Beyond
the
Baccalaureate: 24
Required Courses:
The Department of Biochemistry participates in the "Interdisciplinary Program in Biomedical Sciences" at the Temple University School of Medicine, as described on the School of Medicine graduate studies website. The program requires Ph.D. and M.S. students to take a defined set of courses over the first two years:
- 2 courses from the "Foundations of Biosciences Series" comprising either a basic or advanced biochemistry course and a course on molecular and cell biology.
- 2 courses comprising Scientific Communication and Scientific Integrity.
- 2 courses from the "Integrated Biosciences Series" from the following list:
Molecular Approaches to Research
Principles of Physiology
Principles of Pharmacology
Principles of Organ Pathology
Principles of Genetics
Principles of Development
Cancer Biology
Host-Pathogen Interactions
Cell Structure and Function
Proteins and Enzymes
Biostatistics
Students of Biochemistry are required to take "Proteins and Enzymes." In addition, all students will take the following required courses:
Biochemistry 505-506
and an
additional ten credits. These
must be chosen from
Biochemistry 502, 503,
523, 534.
Students must earn
credits in the following
areas: 6 credits in research
methodology; 6 credits
in Biochemistry, Life
Science, or Chemistry
chosen by the student
and approved by the
student's advisory
committee.
Internship: No internship is required.
Language
Examination: No language examination
is required.
Culminating
Events:
Thesis:
The thesis for the M.S. degree
must be based on an original research
project. It should demonstrate
the student's familiarity with
laboratory techniques related
to the research project and ability
to evaluate critically the biochemical
literature. The thesis normally
requires a minimum of one full
year of research for completion.
The student will submit the
thesis in a complete form not
less than one calendar month prior
to the date of the Final Examination.
The thesis must have been read
and approved by the thesis advisor
prior to distribution. The student
should confirm a time and date
for the thesis defense with the
Advisory Committee and the Director
of the Graduate Program at least
10 days before the defense is
to be scheduled.
The Final Examination consists
of a defense of the student's
thesis and a demonstration of
competence within the field of
the thesis and closely related
areas by the student's advisory
committee. The Committee will
vote to pass or fail the thesis
and the defense at the conclusion
of the presentation. If the student
must make revisions, those changes
must be approved as arranged by
the Committee.
Contacts
Program
Contact
Information:
www.temple.edu/medbiochem
Department
Information:
Dept.
of
Biochemistry
School
of Medicine
3420
N. Broad
Street
Philadelphia,
PA 19140
charles.grubmeyer@temple.edu
215-707-3263
Department
Contacts:
Admissions:
Charles
Grubmeyer,
Ph.D.
charles.grubmeyer@temple.edu
215-707-4495
Program
Coordinator:
Parkson
Lee-Gau
Chong,
Ph.D.
parkson.lee-gau.chong@temple.edu
215-707-4182
Graduate
Chairperson:
Dianne
R.
Soprano,
Ph.D.
dianne.soprano@temple.edu
215-707-3266
Chairperson:
E.
Premkumar
Reddy, Ph.D.
premkumar.reddy@temple.edu
215-707-4307
About
the
Program
The
Department
of
Biochemistry
offers
full-time
day
programs
of
study
leading
to
the
Master
of
Science
and
the
Doctor
of
Philosophy
degrees.
The
graduate
program
is
designed
to
provide
training
in
the
theory
and
practice
of
biochemistry
and
molecular
biology
for
eventual
service
in
research
and
teaching
positions.
The
program
is
aimed
at
broad
training
in
the
various
major
areas
of
biochemistry
and
molecular
biology,
with
in-depth
training
in
one
area
of
specialization.
Students
are
given
opportunities
for
instruction
in
diverse
laboratory
techniques
through
a
series
of
lecture
and
laboratory
courses,
together
with
a
program
of
experimental
research
under
the
guidance
of
a
faculty
member.
Time Limit for Degree Completion: 3 years
Campus
Location:
Health
Sciences
With the permission
of the advisory committee,
elective courses
not
offered on the Health
Sciences Campus may
be taken at other
campuses.
Full-Time/Part-Time Status:
Students are able to complete the degree program through classes offered before 4:30 p.m.
Department
Information:
Dept. of Biochemistry
School of Medicine
3420 N. Broad Street
Philadelphia, PA 19140
charles.grubmeyer@temple.edu
215-707-3263
Interdisciplinary Study:
Members of the Fels Institute for Cancer Research and Molecular Biology, the Specialized Center for Thrombosis Research, and the Center for Substance Abuse Research who hold academic appointments in the Department of Biochemistry also participate in the graduate training program.
Affiliation(s):
Not applicable.
Study Abroad:
No.
Ranking:
The "Insider's
Guide
to
the
Colleges" ranked
the
Department
of
Biochemistry
as
nationally
acknowledged
and "one
of the
best in
the country."
Accreditation:
Not applicable.
Areas
of
Specialization:
Specialized
graduate
training
is
available
in
the
fields
of
enzymology,
structure
and
biosynthesis
of
membranes,
biochemical
regulation
of
metabolism
and
of
cell
division,
biochemical
mechanisms
of
blood
coagulation,
lipid
and
carbohydrate
metabolism,
physical
chemistry
and
kinetics,
mechanisms
of
hormone
action,
nucleic
acid
and
protein
synthesis,
and
regulation
of
gene
expression.
Also,
multidisciplinary
instruction
is
available
in
the
fields
of
molecular
biology,
chemical
carcinogenesis,
tumor
enzymology,
and
the
biochemistry
of
aging.
Job
Placement:
The
graduate
faculty
has
designed
a
well-balanced
program
that
can
be
individually
tailored
to
meet
the
interests
and
needs
of
each
student
and
to
fully
prepare
each
student
for
a
career
in
academic
or
industrial
biochemistry
or
related
fields.
The
graduate
program
is
designed
to
provide
training
in
the
theory
and
practice
of
biochemistry
for
eventual
placement
in
research
and
teaching
positions.
Licensure:
Not applicable.
Non-Degree
Student Policy:
Non-matriculated
students
may
enroll
in
some
courses
with
permission
from
the
course
instructor
and
approval
from
the
Office
of
Graduate
Studies,
School
of
Medicine.
Financing Opportunities
Research
Assistants
are
expected
to
devote
full-time
effort
on
research
pertaining
to
their
thesis
project
in
the
laboratory
of
their
faculty
research
advisor.
An
assistantship
application
is
not
required
because
candidates
admitted
to
the
program
generally
receive
a
stipend
or
work
study
support
plus
a
tuition
scholarship.
Updated 2.9.06
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