What will I learn?
Graduate programs are offered that lead to the Master of Science (M.S.) and the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Molecular Biology, Microbiology and Biochemistry. The M.S. in Molecular Biology, Microbiology and Biochemistry degree has thesis and non-thesis options. The non-thesis option M.S. in Molecular Biology, Microbiology and Biochemistry degree has a focus area in Public Health Laboratory Sciences. These interdisciplinary programs draw their faculty primarily from the Microbiology program (School of Biological Sciences) and the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (School of Medicine) on the Carbondale campus, and the Department of Medical Microbiology, Immunology, and Cell Biology (School of Medicine) on the Springfield campus. Adjunct faculty from the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) Division of Laboratories provide training to students in the public health laboratory setting. The programs are designed to offer advanced training (via lecture, discussion and laboratory) in biochemistry, biophysics, bacteriology, genetics, immunology, microbial physiology, cancer biology, mycology, molecular biology, cell biology, developmental biology, structural biology and public health laboratory science. The Ph.D. in Molecular Biology, Microbiology and Biochemistry and thesis option M.S. in Molecular Biology, Microbiology and Biochemistry programs require laboratory research. The non-thesis option M.S. in Molecular Biology, Microbiology and Biochemistry degree program is designed to prepare students for a career in public health laboratory science and requires substantial training in a public health laboratory setting that is directly relevant to career preparation in that area.
