Bachelor of Science and Master of Science (4+1) Dual Degree in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

On this page:

• Why Choose the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (BMB) 4+1 Program?
• Academics and Curriculum
• Admission        
• Financial Support

Why Choose the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (BMB) 4+1 Program?

The Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (BMB) offers a combined 4+1 degree program leading to Bachelor of Science (B.S.) and Master of Science (M.S.) degrees within a five-year plan of study. This program will focus on preparing students for careers in fields including, but not limited to, drug manufacturing and design, agriculture, forensic science (crime lab science), academic/clinical/industrial research, human and veterinary medicine, physical therapy, physician assistancy, dentistry, pharmacy and optometry with a focus on the development of student research skills. The program allows 9 Cr-h of “overlap” courses, where credit is given at both the undergraduate (UG) and graduate (GR) level facilitating both B.S. and M.S. completion in five years.

Program Learning Outcomes

The main goal of our program is to prepare students for careers in fields related to biochemistry and molecular biology and/or admission into graduate and further professional degree programs. The BMB B.S. portion of the program will follow the foundational and threshold concepts and skills accredited by the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB) and uses innovative science education pedagogies such as active learning, flipped classrooms and formative assessment to build skills in teamwork, critical thinking, scientific reasoning and oral/written communication. Additionally, within the BMB M.S. portion of the program students will undertake research endeavors with the intention of becoming proficient readers and writers of BMB research literature, the understanding of various BMB research techniques and the development of experimental design and data analysis skills.

Academics and Curriculum

View the Combined Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, B.S. and Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, M.S. program information and degree requirements in the Academic Catalog.

Admission        

Qualified applicants must have the following:

• At least 90 credit hours by the end of the semester in which they are applying;
• A minimum 3.2 cumulative GPA on all undergraduate coursework, including undergraduate credits earned at other institutions and transferred to Wright State;
• Completion of BMB 3850, BMB 4210, and BMB 4230 with a grade of “B” or better, and a minimum calculated GPA of 3.2 for these three courses;
• Approval of the undergraduate advisor;
• Approval of the BMB Department Chair.

Applicants are encouraged to submit a letter of intent to the department Chair during the semester that they intend to complete the application criteria outlined above (typically Spring semester of Junior year). All qualified applicants will be given full consideration by the department Graduate Admissions Committee. 

Financial Support

In the fifth year of the program, it may be possible to be partially supported by a Graduate Tuition Scholarship or Graduate Research Assistantship. There is no guarantee that funds will be available for support through either of these mechanisms.