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Howard University

DEPARTMENT OF BIOCHEMISTR Y AND MOLECUL AR BIOLOGY

RULES AND REGULATIONS OF THE GRADUATE PROGRAM

Revised and Approved: July 25, 2012

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• GRADUATE PROGRAM OF THE DEPARTMENT OF BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
  • P ROGRAMS OF S TUDY
  • G ENERAL I NFORMATION
• MASTER OF SCIENCE/BIOTECHNOLOGY DEGREE PROGRAM - A. A DMISSION R EQUIREMENTS - B. C OURSE R EQUIREMENTS FOR M.S. D EGREE (B IOTECHNOLOGY ) - C. A DMISSION TO C ANDIDACY FOR THE M.S. D EGREE
• DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY DEGREE PROGRAM............................................................................................................ - A. A DMISSION R EQUIREMENTS - B. R EQUIREMENTS FOR THE D OCTOR OF P HILOSOPHY D EGREE
• M.D./PH.D. DEGREE PROGRAM (SEE APPENDIX-V)
• APPENDIX I...............................................................................................................................................................
  • GRADUATE STUDENT GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE - Definition of a Grievance
• APPENDIX II..............................................................................................................................................................
  • GRADUATE COURSES OFFERED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY.........................
• APPENDIX III.............................................................................................................................................................
  • A TYPICAL SCHEDULE FOR THE MASTER’S DEGREE IN BIOTECHNOLOGY PROGRAM - TYPICAL PROGRAM OF STUDY
• APPENDIX IV:...........................................................................................................................................................
  • A TYPICAL SCHEDULE FOR THE DOCTOR OF PHIOSOPHY DEGREE PROGRAM................................................................. - PH.D. IN BIOCHEMISTRY
• APPENDIX V:
  • TYPICAL SCHEDULE FOR THE M.D./ P H .D. STUDENTS......................................................................................................

GENERAL INFORMATION

The following information applies to all students irrespective of their program enrollment who have not completed all required courses (except Ph.D. research). For Ph.D. students, this includes passing all four (4) required advanced biochemistry courses with a grade of B orbetter.

1. Before registering for courses, students are required to consult with their GSC advisor, or member of the GSC committee. Both the student and the GSC member should agree on a schedule of courses for year I and subsequent years. Either the student or the GSC may initiate a recommendation to change the course schedule. Any changes must be written and signed by the student and the GSC member. Failure to obtain written approval for the course schedule from a member of the GSC committee will result in a negative evaluation in the student’s file. This negative evaluation will be taken into account when the GSC makes recommendations for the student to receive financial aid or other matters. 2. If a student receives a grade of C in General Biochemistry and the Biochemistry Laboratory course, or a ’D’ in either course, the student is not eligible to continue in the program. Students receiving a C in General Biochemistry may repeat the course if the grade in the Biochemistry Laboratory is a B or better. Students who are eligible to repeat the Biochemistry course cannot take any advanced courses in the Biochemistry curriculum until the deficiency is corrected. 3. Some teaching and other departmental duties are considered to be a part of the graduate education, and will be required of all students regardless of source of support. Only those Biochemistry/Molecular Biology courses (course number prefix BlOC) in which a grade of B or better is earned may be counted as credit for a degree. All students should be aware of the rules and regulations concerning course grades whichare described in the handbook issued by the Graduate School, entitled "Rules and Regulations for the Pursuit of Academic Degrees." The Student Grievance Procedure (Student’s Privileges): The student should follow the procedure outlined in APPENDIX-I to address a disagreement on an academic matter subject to the control of the department. 4. Students should refer to the course descriptions that arelocated in APPENDIX II.

Master of Science/Biotechnology Degree Program

A. ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

For a student to be admitted to a graduate program of the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, he or she must fulfill the following requirements:

1. The student must have earned a B.S. or B.A. degree, and have agrade point average (G.P.A.) of 3.0 or better in science courses, whichhave been completed. 2. The following undergraduate courses must have been completed: - General Chemistry 1 year - Organic Chemistry 1 year - Calculus 1 semester - Physics 1year - Biology 1 year 3. All applicants must demonstrate a proficiency in the use of the English language. 4. Three letters of recommendation must be submitted, preferably by individuals who can specifically evaluate the scientific ability of the student. 5. Transcripts indicating all undergraduate and graduate courses completed must also be submitted.

B. COURSE REQUIREMENTS FOR M.S. DEGREE (BIOTECHNOLOGY)

A minimum of 30 credit hours of courses must be completed in order for a student to earn an M.S. degree. All M.S. candidates must complete the following courses: BlOC- 101-01 - General Biochemistry - 4 credithours BIOC-203-01 - Biochemistry Laboratory - 3 credit hours BIOC-201-01 - Seminar in Biochemistry - a total of 3 credit hours of this seminar course must be completed BIOL-413-01 - Molecular Biology (or equivalent) - 4 credithours BIOG-532-01 - Molecular Biology of the Cell - 4 credit hours (Lecture/Laboratory Course) or MICR 305 -01- Cell Biology Lecture - 3 credit hours

Doctor of Philosophy Degree Program

A. ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

For a student to be admitted to a graduate program of the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, he or she must fulfill the following requirements:

1. The student must have earned a B.S. or B.A. degree, and have a grade point average (G.P.A.) of 3.0 or better in science courses. 2. The following undergraduate courses must have been completed: - General Chemistry 1 year - Organic Chemistry 1 year - Physics 1 year - Biology 1 year - Calculus 1 semester 3. Three letters of recommendation must be submitted, preferably by individuals who can specifically evaluate the scientific ability of the student. 4. Transcripts indicating all undergraduate and graduate courses completed, must also be submitted. 5. Provisional admission may be granted to students who have academic deficiencies or are missingone course(s). In this case, a coursework plan will be prepared for the student to remedy the deficiency. The coursework plan must be initiated during the first year in residency, or on the first occasion possible after matriculation.

B. REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY DEGREE

1. ADMISSION

A student does not have to earn an M.S. degree before being admitted to the Ph.D. degree program of the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. If a student wishes to earn the Ph.D. degree, the student should indicate this on his or her initial application for admission to the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. If the Admissions Committee of the department determines that the student’s academic preparation qualifies him or her to enter the Ph.D. program, then the student willbe admitted to the Ph.D. program.

2. COURSE REQUIREMENTS

All Ph.D. student must complete a minimum of 72 credit hours of courses Thefollowing courses must be completed by all candidates for the Ph.D. degree:

• BlOC-170-01 - General Biochemistry
• BIOC-203-01 - Biochemistry Laboratory
• BIOC-211-01 - Orientation to Research
• BIOC-201-01 - Seminar in Biochemistry (a total of 5 credit hours of the seminar course must be completed = 5 semester enrollment)
• Enzymology
• Molecular Biology
• Metabolic Regulation
• Protein Structure and Function All Ph.D. students are required to complete one 3 credit hour advanced chemistry course chosen from:
• Physical Chemistry
• Organic Chemistry
• Analytical Chemistry Each student must complete an approved graduate level course in statistics (3 or 4credit hours), such as Biostatistics (BIOG-430), Mathematics Statistics I (MATH-240) or Statistical Methods (215-202). It is important to note that Biochemistry/Molecular Biology courses (course number prefix BlOC) in which a grade of B or better is earned may be counted as credit toward the Ph.D. degree. In addition, the student should be aware of all rules and regulations concerning course grades as outlined in the current Graduate School Handbook, which explains the "Rules and Regulations for the Pursuit of Academic Degrees.”

3. QUALIFYING EXAMINATION FOR PH.D. CANDIDATES

Admission to candidacy requires successful completion of qualifying examinations. Qualifyingexamination consists of: 1) written and 2) oral comprehensive examinations. Examinations will be scheduled in accordance with the rules (below), and the results of the examination(s) will be made available to the student no later than two weeks after the examination.

Written Comprehensive Examination

A student can be exempted from taking the written portion of the comprehensive examination if he/she received grade of ‘A’ in all four required courses. Exemption from the written examination automatically qualifies the student to take the Oral Examination (below).

following semester. Failure to submit the proposal on time will be treated as a failure on the first attempt at the oral examination. c. The student will be provided two attempts to pass the oral section of the examination. The second attempt will occur no later than four weeks following the first attempt. After two failures on the oral examination, the student will be dismissed from theprogram.

4. ADMISSION TO CANDIDACY

Ideally, students would complete all requirements for admission to candidacy for the Ph.D. degree by the Fall Semester of their third year of study. To be admitted to candidacy for the Ph.D. degree, a student must: a. Complete the courses required by the Department of Biochemistryand Molecular Biology. b. Pass the Ph.D. qualifying examination (written and oral examinations). c. Pass the Examination for Proficiency in Expository Writing. d. Complete the skill requirements described above. e. Submit a Ph.D. dissertation research proposal to the Graduate Schoolof Arts and Sciences (see below). f. Complete the Responsible Conduct in Research workshop (Graduate School). The student should consult with faculty members of the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology who are conducting research in the student’s area of interest to determine which faculty member will be willing to serve as the student’s mentor.

5. PH.D. DISSERTATION RESEARCH

The dissertation research proposal should be approved by the members of a dissertation committee. The mentor and the student should choose a dissertation committee which advises and counsels the student concerning the student’s Ph.D. dissertation research. The dissertation committee should consist of at least three members, including the student’s mentor and two members of the faculty of the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. Additional members of the committee may be members of otherscience departments at Howard University or at other universities or research institutions. The names of the members of the dissertation committee should be reported to the Graduate Studies Committee of the department. The dissertation committee monitors the progress of the dissertation research of a student until the research is completed. The committee should meet at least once a semester to discuss the student’s progress. The student can consult with the members of the dissertation committee to obtain advice which will be helpful to the student’s research project. Members of the committee may also suggest experiments that would be beneficial to the project. The mentor has the final authority to determine how the student’s research project should be conducted. The final responsibility for the completion of an acceptable Ph.D. dissertation rests with the student.

During the time the student is engaged in the Ph.D. dissertation research project, the student must register for “Research for Ph.D. Candidates” (course number: BIOC-300). A Ph.D. candidate is required to completea minimum of 20 credit hours of Research for Ph.D. Candidates in order to earn the Ph.D. degree. A student may not register for Research for Ph.D. Candidates before he or she has been admitted to candidacy for the Ph.D. degree. Once admitted to candidacy, the student may register for fewer courses and be considered full time.

6. ORAL EXAMINATION FOR THE DEFENSE OF THE PH.D. DISSERTATION

Upon the completion of a Ph.D. dissertation research project, the student is required to write a dissertation describing this research project, and defend the dissertation in an oral examination. The oral examination for the defense of the Ph.D. dissertation is conducted by an examination committee consisting of a student’s mentor and four additional members. One of the members of the committee must be a person who is not a member of the faculty of Howard University and not previously associated with the research. The mentor may not be the chairman of the examination committee. The mentor and the student may choose the members of the committee with the understanding that final approval of the committee must be obtained from the Dean of the Graduate School. During the formal defense of the dissertation research, the departmental rules restrict the mentor from asking or answering questions on behalf of the student. M.D ./PH.D. DEGREE PROGRAM (S EE A PPENDIX -V)

APPENDIX II:

GRADUATE COURSES OFFERED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR

BIOLOGY

(Some course electives may be limited, due to enrollment restrictions and degree of student interest.) BIOC-101-01 General Biochemistry - 4 credit hours. An introduction to the structure, chemistry and physiology of biomolecules; special emphasis is placed on catabolism and fidelity of information transfer; prerequisites: 2 semesters of organic chemistry. BlOC-170-01 General Biochemistry - 7 credit hours The structure, function, and metabolism of the important classes of biochemicals are discussed. This includes a discussion of the biochemistry of carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, nucleic acids, vitamins, hormones andcoenzymes. BIOC-211-01 Orientation to Research - 3 credit hours The purpose of Orientation to Research is to allow the student to become familiar .with the research projects of faculty members in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. The student also is given the opportunity to learn some of the research techniques used in these research projects. Students register for course BIOC-211-01 in the Spring Semester of their first yearof study. The student works in the laboratories of three faculty members during Orientation to Research. BIOC-201-01 Seminar in Biochemistry - 1 credit hour. Students are required to present a seminar on a current topic in biochemical research which is of interest to them. Prerequisite: BIOC- 170-01 or 101-01 General Biochemistry. BIOC-203-01 Biochemistry Laboratory - 3 credit hours. Instruction in biochemical techniquesand instrumentation. Prerequisites: BlOC170-01 or BlOC- 101-01 (may be currently enrolled) or permission of coordinator. Courses BIOC-182, BIOC-186, BIOC-200, BIOC-204, BIOC-208, BIOC-209, BIOC-240, BIOC-260, BIOC- and BIOC-271 are advanced biochemistry courses. BIOC-182-01 Clinical Biochemistry - 3 credit hours. This is strictly a lecture course in which the following will be discussed: Clinical correlation of various biochemical parameters measured in blood, urine and other body fluids under a variety of abnormal conditions; Interpretation of laboratory values as an aid in differential diagnosis; Performance of quality control, statistical analyses and toxicology in Clinical Biochemistry Laboratory. BIOC-200-01 (MBIO-200) Research in Biochemistry - 2 credit hours. This MS-Biotechnology course fulfills the required externship in Biotechnology Industry, Government, or external University Laboratory for a minimum of six weeks. The experience will involved full-time work as a laboratory research assistant in a laboratory that uses advanced biochemical techniques. BIOC-204-01 Neurochemistry - 3 credit hours. This course describes the role of neuro-humoral agents and other aspects of metabolism pertinent to the function of the nervous system. BIOC-205-01 Directed Research - 1 to 9 credit hours. Enrollment limited to advanced biochemistry and molecular biology graduate students, who have completed the core course work.

BIOC-208-01 Protein Structure and Function - 3 credit hours. Correlation of the three-dimensional structure of proteins with biological functions is intensively studied. BIOC-220-01 Biochemistry of Cell Membranes - 3 credit hours. Current concepts of the structure and function of cell membranes are described. Topics include studies of the structure of specialized membranes, transport phenomena, and hormone-receptorinteractions. BIOC-240-01 Enzymology - 3 credit hours. The kinetic and mechanistic theory of enzyme action will be discussed with emphasis on the experimental approach used to interpret kinetic data and determine the kinetic parameters of classical enzymes and well-defined regulatory and transport systems. The steady-state rate equations for a number of unireactant and multi-reactant mechanisms will be developed. Reversible inhibition, isotope exchange, binding phenomenon, activation, environmental effects, and physiological regulation of enzyme activity will be considered separately. Prerequisites: Calculus; physical chemistry (thermodynamics, chemical kinetics, catalysis) or permission of the instructor. BIOC-260-01 Biochemistry of Cancer - 3 credit hours. This course examines etiology: chemicals that cause cancer; radiation damage due to exposure to U.V. and X-rays and the role of repair mechanisms; as well as the induction of tumors by DNA and RNA viruses. Chromatin changes and cancer, genetic and hormonal contributions are evaluated. The surface membranes of normal and transformed cells are compared and immunological aspects of the abnormal growth are considered. BIOC-270-01 Molecular Biology - 3 credit hours. Topics vary somewhat each time the course is taught to include topics of current interest in nucleic acid-protein interaction. BIOC-271-01 Special Topics in Biochemistry - 3 credit hours. Current, important research topics in biochemistry are discussed in this course. The topics of the course vary from year to year. BIOC-272-01 Metabolic Regulation - 3 credit hours. The control of rate-limiting steps in intermediary metabolism by covalent modification of enzymes, metabolic disorders, and chemical messengers. BIOC-300-01 Research for Ph.D. Candidates 1 credit hour BIOC-300-02 Research for Ph.D. Candidates 2 credit hours BIOC-300-03 Research for Ph.D. Candidates 3 credit hours BIOC-300-06 Research for Ph.D. Candidates 6 credit hours BIOC-300-09 Research for Ph.D. Candidates - 9 credit hours. Students register for these courses while they are engaged in their Ph.D. dissertation researchproject. BIOC-215-01 Practical Biochemistry - 1 credit hour. A lecture and seminar course taken concurrently with BIOC-251. Analysis of scientific reports, exercises in precise expression and writing of summaries of work done in courses BIOC-250 and BIOC-251.

SECOND YEAR FALL SEMESTER

Course Description CRN Credit Hours Practical Biochemistry, BlOC 216 1 Directed Research, BlOC 205 ( Barring class attendance for other coursework, this course requires the student to conduct full-time research assistantship in the laboratory of departmental faculty )

Seminar in Biochemistry, BlOC 201 1 11 hours Total

SECOND YEAR SPRING SEMESTER

Course Description CRN Credit Hours Practical Biochemistry, BlOC 216 1 Directed Research, BlOC 205 ( Barring class attendance for other coursework, this course requires the 3 - 9 student to conduct full-time research assistantship in the laboratory of departmental faculty ) Seminar in Biochemistry, BlOC 201 1 11 hours Total

SUMMER OF SECOND YEAR

Course Description CRN Credit Hours Research (Externship) for MS Candidates, BIOC 200/(MBIO 200) 2 2 hours Total

A minimum of 30 hours of completed coursework is required for the Mastersdegree.

Notes: 1) Externship in Biotechnology Industry, Government, or external University Laboratory for a minimum of six weeks. _The experienceinvolves full-time work as a laboratory research assistant in a laboratory that uses advanced biochemical techniques. (This is typically the requirement ofthe BIOC200/MBIO 200 course).

2. Only those biochemistry courses (course number with the BIOC prefix)in which a grade of B or better is earned may be counted as credit for the M.S. degree. Graduate School rules regarding grades of C and residence are applicable._

SECOND YEAR, FALL SEMESTER

Course Description CRN Credit Hours Molecular Biology, BIOC 270 3 Protein Structure and Function, BIOC 208 3 Biostatistics, BIOL 430 4 Seminar in Biochemistry, BIOC 201 1 11 hours Total

SECOND YEAR, SPRING SEMESTER

Comprehensive Examination (written and oral) Course Description CRN Credit Hours Directed Research, BIOC 205 6-9 hours Seminar in Biochemistry, BIOC 201 1 hour Enzymology (if not yet completed) , BIOC 240 3 hours One of the following: (Optional) Special Topics, BIOC 271 or 3 hours Advanced Analytical Chemistry, CHEM 231 * see note below 9 – 11 hours Total

THIRD YEAR, FALL SEMESTER

Course Description CRN Credit Hours Directed Research, BIOC 205 3 – 9 hours Dissertation Research, BIOC 300 - Seminar in Biochemistry, BIOC 201 1 One of the following: (Optional): Advanced Organic Chemistry, CHEM 243 * see note below (Advanced Analytical Chemistry is offered in the Springsemester) Advanced Physical Chemistry, CHEM 278 Other Coursework (as approved by the GSC) 10 hours Total

THIRD YEAR, SPRING SEMESTER

Course Description CRN Credit Hours Directed Research, BIOC 205 3 - 9 Dissertation Research, BIOC 300 - Seminar in Biochemistry, BIOC 201 10 hours Total