Course Requirements
At least 20 credits in 800 and 900 level courses and a minimum of 24 credits of doctoral dissertation research (GEN 999) are required. The following categories (I, II, III, IV, V) of requirements must be completed. Additional course work may be specified by the Guidance Committee members or may be elected by the Genetics Program graduate student.
I. Complete each of the following:
BMB 801 - Molecular Biology (3 credits, Fall)
MMG 833 - Microbial Genetics (3 credits, Fall)
MMG/GEN 835 - Eukaryotic Molecular Genetics (3 credits, Spring)
GEN 810 - Theory and Practice of Teaching Genetics (1 credit/semester) 1 credit is required, students may accumulate a maximum of 3 credits
Responsible Conduct of Research Series sponsored by the Graduate School See the Graduate School web site for schedule: http://grad.msu.edu/rcr/
II. Complete one computational biology course from the following list*:
BMB 961 - Genomics and Proteomics of Complex Genetic Systems (2 credits, Fall)
BMB 961 - Concepts in Protein Structure Analysis and Modeling (2 credits, Fall, even years)
CSS 941 - Quantitative Genetics in Plant Breeding (3 credits, Spring, even years)
CSE 801 - Computational Science for Evolutionary Biologists (3 credits, Fall)
PLB 802 - Introduction to Bioinformatics (3 credits, Spring odd years)
PLB 810 - Theories & Practices in Bioinformatics (3 credits, Spring)
PLB 812 - Principles and Applications of Plant Genomics (3 credits, Fall)
PHM 830 - Experimental Design and Data Analysis (3 credits, Fall)
STT 855 - Statistical Genetics (3 credits, Fall, odd years)
ZOL/PLB 851 - Quantitative Methods in Ecology and Evolution (3 credits, Fall)
*Note: Other course offerings may fulfill this requirement, at the discretion of the Program Director
III. Complete one other course in genetics from the following list*:
ANS 824 – Methods of Quantitative and Molecular Genetics for Livestock (3 credits, Spring odd years)
ENT 851 - Molecular Entomology (3 credits, Fall odd years)
FOR/FW 842 - Population Genetics, Genealogy, and Genomics (3 credits, Fall)
FW 828 - Conservation Genetics (3 credits, Fall even years)
MMG 813 - Molecular Virology (3 credits, Spring even years)
MMG 837 - Human Molecular Genetics (3 credits, Fall of odd years)
MMG 861 – Advanced Microbial Pathogenesis (3 credits, Spring odd years)
PLB/ZOL 849 - Evolutionary Biology (3 credits, Spring)
PLB/BMB 856 - Plant Molecular and Genomic Biology (3 credits, Spring)
PLB 865 - Plant Growth and Development (3 credits, Spring)
PLP 881 - Molecular and Biochemical Plant Pathology (3 credits, Spring odd years)
PLP 884 – Prokaryotic Diseases of Plants (3 credits, Fall even years)
ZOL 855 - Molecular Evolution: Principles and Techniques (3 credits, Fall odd years)
*Note: This elective list is periodically revised by the Genetics Program Executive Committee. Other course offerings may fulfill this requirement, at the discretion of the Program Director.
IV. Complete four semesters of GEN 800 (1 credit each) during the four to five years of graduate study in the Genetics Program.
V. The student’s Guidance Committee may require additional course work and/or students may elect to take other optional courses. Such recommendations and options may include, but are not limited to, the following courses:
BMB 802 - Metabolic Regulation and Signal Transduction (3 credits, Spring)
BMB 803 - Protein Structure and Function (2 credits, Fall)
BMB 804 - Biochemical Mechanisms and Structure (3 credits, Spring)
BMB 825 - Cell Structure and Function (3 credits, Spring)
BMB 864 - Plant Biochemistry (3 credits, Fall)
BMB 960 Sec 1 – From Analysis of Metabolism to System Biology (2 credits)
BMB 961 - DNA and Protein Sequence Analysis Computer Lab (2 credits)
EPI 810 - Introduction to Epidemiology (3 credits, Fall)
MMG 851 - Immunology (3 credits, Fall odd years)
NEU 804 - Molecular And Developmental Neurobiology (3 credits)
PSL 828 - Cellular And Integrative Physiology (4 credits, Spring)