Master's Curriculum

The Human Genetics M.S. program includes both Research and Coursework-only tracks. Research credits can be taken in both tracks. The difference is that on the research-only track, an M.S. thesis is written.

24 Credits Minimum

Fall Term:

    • HUMGEN 545 Molecular, Cellular, and Organismal Genetics (3 credits)
    • HUMGEN 821 Student Seminar (1 credit)
    • HUMGEN 800 Research and/or Other Electives* (5 credits)

Winter Term:

    • HUMGEN 546 Genetics in Human Biology and Disease (4 credits)
    • HUMGEN 822 Student Seminar (1 credit)
    • HUMGEN 551 Computational Genomics (3 credits), BIOINF 524 Foundations for Bioinformatics (3 credits), or similar (with approval)
    • HUMGEN 803 Current Topics in Genetics (2 credits)
    • HUMGEN 800 Research and/or Other Electives* (5 credits)

Spring/Summer Terms:

    • Finish research and write thesis (HG800 credits as needed) 

Note: The curriculum can be completed over the course of a single calendar year or may be extended over additional semesters. 

Required Courses

  • HUMGEN 545 Molecular, Cellular, and Organismal Genetics (3 credits)
  • HUMGEN 546 Genetics in Human Biology and Disease (4 credits)
  • HUMGEN 803 Current Topics in Genetics 
  • HUMGEN 821 Student Seminar
  • HUMGEN 822 Student Seminar
  • HUMGEN 551 Computational Genomics (3 credits), BIOINF 524 Foundations for Bioinformatics (3 credits), or similar (with approval)

*Elective Courses

(Note: other classes can be considered based on student interest)

  • BIOINF 527 Introduction to Bioinformatics and Computational Biology 
  • BIOINF-528 Advanced Applications of Bioinformatics
  • BIOLCHEM 550 Macromolecular Structure & Function 
  • BIOLCHEM 576 Signal Transduction 
  • BIOLCHEM 591 Special Topics in Signal Transduction 
  • BIOLCHEM 640 Post-transcriptional Gene Regulation. 
  • BIOLCHEM 650 Mechanisms of Eukaryotic Gene Expression 
  • BIOSTAT 553 Applied Biostatistics 
  • BIOSTAT 601 Probability & Distribution Theory 
  • BIOSTAT 602 Biostatistical Inference 
  • BIOSTAT 666 Statistical Models & Numerical Methods in Human Genetics 
  • CANCBIO 553 Molecular Biology of Cancer 
  • CANCBIO 554 Cancer Pathogenesis & Treatment 
  • CDB 530 Cell Biology 
  • CDB 581 Developmental Genetics 
  • CDB 582 Organogenesis: Stem Cells to Regenerative Biology 
  • EPID 516 Genomics in Epidemiology 
  • HUMGEN 630 Advanced Topics in Cellular and Molecular Genetics 
  • HUMGEN 650 Medical Genetics 
  • HUMGEN 665 Statistical Population Genetics (odd years) 
  • MICROBIOL 504 Cellular Biotechnology 
  • MICROBIOL 607 Microbial Pathogenesis 
  • MICRBIOL 615 Viral Pathogenesis I 
  • MICRBIOL 619 Special Topics in Microbiology & Immunology 
  • MICRBIOL 640 Molecular & Cellular Immunology 
  • PATH 581 Tissue, Cellular & Molecular Disease 
  • PHARMACOL 502 Introduction to Scientific Communications 
  • PHYSIOL 555 Integrative Genomics 
  • STATS 400 Applied Statistical Methods 
  • STATS 425 Introduction to Probability 
  • STATS 426 Introduction to Theoretical Statistics 
  • STATS 500 Applied Statistics I 
  • STATS 503 Applied Multivariate Modeling