Biochemistry and Molecular & Cellular Biology

M.S. Program:

Through its unique coursework and unparalleled research opportunities, the M.S. in Biochemistry & Molecular Biology program at Georgetown delineates the ideal path toward a career in medicine that is fueled by the pursuit of biomedical research questions in the context of human disease. Our program is designed around providing Masters students with an experiential and methodological learning environment that will lay the groundwork for future careers in academia and industry. Students gain significant hands-on training experience by performing in-depth lab experiments in various lab-based courses. Students perform their four-credit internship with research mentors in various GUMC laboratories on-campus or off-campus in government agencies as well as local biotechnology companies.

Ph.D. Program:

This program is geared toward students with a background or particular interest in areas such as molecular mechanisms, proteomics or biophysics. Your training as a doctoral candidate in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular & Cellular Biology will be multifaceted. Thesis mentors are available from a variety of backgrounds spanning stem cell biology and human tissue engineering to traditional biochemical analytics with an optional focus on informatics- or systems-based medicine. Each faculty mentor represents a diverse component of the biomedical scientific enterprise and each has dedicated their career to enhancing biomedical science through independent research and doctoral candidate training. Our program has developed a solid educational platform designed to not only challenge the candidate but to also provide supportive mentorship in order to aid the candidate as they develop their own skillsets and become future scientific leaders.

• M.S.
• Ph.D.

Accelerated program (Georgetown students only)

• B.S./M.S.

Joint degree program 

• Ph.D./M.D.

For general graduate admissions requirements, visit the Office of Graduate Admission’s Application Information page. Review the program’s website for additional information on program application requirements.

Application Materials required:

• Application Form
• Non-refundable Application Fee
• Academic Statement of Purpose: should describe your academic and professional goals and their fit with the biomedical graduate program
• Optional: Statement on Diversity, Personal Background & Contributions
• Letters of Recommendation (2 for MS applicants; 3 for PhD applicants)
• Transcripts – Applicants are required to upload to the application system copies of official transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate institutions attended. Visit the Office of Graduate Admission’s Application Information page for additional details and FAQs.
• WES Evaluation (highly encouraged for international applicants)
• Resume/CV
• TOEFL/IELTS  (if applicable)
  • TOEFL = 80 minimum
  • IELTS = 7.0 minimum
• GRE/MCAT (optional, but recommended for PhD applicants; not required by may be included for MS applicants)
• Publication Reprints (if available)
• Interview (by invitation only)

General Qualifications and Prerequisites

• Minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) is required, though 3.5 or higher is preferred
• Previous research experience
• Publications

M.S. Program

• Spring: November 1
• Fall: July 1

Ph.D. Program

• Summer: December 1
• Fall: December 1

M.S. Program

• Thirty credit hours

Ph.D. Program

• Thirty-two credit hours (for students with a bachelor’s degree — students with advanced degrees may be required to complete fewer credits.)
• Participation in Journal Club and weekly seminars
• Successful completion of a comprehensive exam
• Successful defense of a thesis
• Publication of at least one first author paper

Contact the program

Begin your application today!