The M. S. thesis option and the Ph.D. are research-based degrees. Students have available four areas of study within these degrees:
Students selecting the M. S. Non-thesis degree take a broader spectrum of coursework and do an independent research project developed in consultation with their advisor.
These specializations have specific coursework requirements that are described in more detail on their respective websites, linked above.
Students study a breadth of topics including immunology/immunogenetics, cell signaling, neurobiology/ion channel structure, cancer biology, molecular biology, biochemistry, and the extracellular matrix.
emphasize the processes responsible for patterns of distribution and abundance, microevolutionary change, and macroevolutionary history of organisms, using experimental and comparative approaches and ethnographic, developmental, physiological, molecular, behavioral, genetic, paleontological, and statistical techniques.
Explore a variety of microbiological problems utilizing the vast potential of microbial genetics and the most avant garde molecular biological techniques; potential areas of study include investigating pilin gene variation in Neisseria gonorrhoeae, plasmid compatibility in Bacillus, vitamin K biosynthesis in Escherichia coli and exploring the evolutionary relationships of the Peronosporomycetes (Oomycetes), and genetic control of fungal development and natural product biosynthesis in Aspergillus and Fusarium spp.
Carry out research in genetics, development, molecular biology and systematics, using plants and plant viruses as model systems.