degree requirements

1. Candidates must complete a minimum of 45 quarter credits and must participate in six graduate seminars.
   
   
   • As part of the 45 credit hours, students must complete two quarters of Biochemistry (BCH 750 and 752) and at least two formal courses with an M&I prefix.
     
   
   
2. Candidates must maintain a 3.0 cumulative average with no more than nine credit hours of C grades applicable to the degree.
   
   
3. A maximum of 10 credits of graduate courses may be transferred from other institutions


4. Candidate must submit and orally defend either a research-based or literature-based thesis.
   
   
   
   • Candidates are required to obtain a major advisor and an advisory committee.
   
   
   • For the research-based thesis, the advisory committee will help formulate a study program to include a minimum of 20 quarter credits of graduate-level course work and 25 quarter credits of research (which could include journal clubs, seminars, or special topics).
   
   
   • For the literature-based thesis, the student, with the assistance of the advisory committee, will select the additional courses required to fulfill the 45 credit hour limit.
   
   
   • The advisory committee will also provide counseling and evaluate student progress.
     
     
5. If a student is uncertain of a major area of concentration, the program director will serve as a temporary advisor until the student selects an area and is accepted by an advisory professor.