University of California, Irvine

Program Information

Format: Campus

Program Description:

The interdisciplinary graduate program in Cellular & Molecular Biosciences (CMB) administers the recruitment, admissions and the first-year curriculum for students who will subsequently enter specialized PhD programs in a participating academic department at UC Irvine. The four participating depts. in the School of Medicine are Biological Chemistry, Microbiology & Molecular Genetics, Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, and Physiology & Biophysics. The two depts. from the School of Biological Sciences are Developmental & Cell Biology and Molecular Biology & Biochemistry.

The CMB program offers an integrated series of rigorous academic core courses during the 1st year intended to establish a foundation of knowledge in the relevant disciplines, training in teaching methods & the responsible conduct of research. CMB provides research rotation opportunities in at least two of the labs run by the more than 145 faculty members participating in the CMB program. Each student becomes associated with a specialized research area & begins participating in research, elective courses & seminars in appropriate areas.

At the end of the 1st year, students demonstrate proficiency in critical thinking by passing a preliminary exam. After completing the first-year requirements & passing this exam, the student then selects a thesis advisor & begins thesis research leading to the PhD degree in one of the participating departments. Teaching of undergraduates is part of graduate student training during the 1st or 2nd year of study. During the 2nd year & beyond, students participate in discipline specific journal clubs, seminars and/or research as specified by their dept's requirements. Additional info is available via participating department websites & the CMB program office.

Accreditation:

The University of California, Irvine is accredited by the Western Assoc. of Schools & Colleges(WASC) & the University of California mandates that all graduate degree programs undergo a rigourous external review, by non-UCI faculty, in 5-yr cycles.

Eligibility Requirements:

Applicants are evaluated on ALL aspects of their preparation including their academic record, GRE scores, prior laboratory research experience, letters of recommendation, personal statement, statement of research experience and a personal interview.

International Student Requirements:

Students for whom English is not their first language must pass either the TOEFL ibt (w/ minimum score of 80 with a 26 in the speaking sub-test) or the Test of Spoken English(TSE) exam. IELTS may also be considered if applicant has an overall score 7, no individual score 6 and a score of 8 or better in the IELTS speaking module.

Tuition & Financial Aid

Financial Aid Offered: No

Classification: Doctoral/Research Universities - Extensive

Institution Sector: Public

Locale: Midsize City

Size & Settings: 20,000 and above