Molecular Biology
Recent advances in several areas such as genome sequencing, microarrays, and proteomics have opened up a wide range of career opportunities for molecular biologists. These involve research at medical or graduate schools, the biotechnology industry, and pharmaceutical companies. The molecular biology concentration is designed to provide a strong foundation in molecular biology and to keep students abreast of new developments in the cell and molecular biology research.
One of the most frequent questions we hear is, "Should I be a biology major or a biomolecular science major?" Students interested in molecular biology, cell biology, biotechnology and biochemistry can be found in both majors. Your answer depends on your interests. Many of the course requirements for the two programs are similar but the emphasis is very different; a biology major will develop more breadth of knowledge in biology and genetics whereas a bio-molecular sciences major develops more knowledge in chemistry.
Students interested in a career in molecular biology are encouraged to plan on undergraduate research. Several of our faculty have active research in cancer biology, physiology, and microbiology; their labs have many opportunities for research conducted by motivated undergraduates.
Students may also participate in summer research through the National Institutes of Health or the National Science Foundation's Undergraduate Research Experience. Students should also consider on-the-job professional experience through the Clarkson Cooperative Education Program.
Molecular biology-related biology electives:
BY300 Readings in Cellular and Molecular Biology (1 credit)
BY312 Advanced Cell Biology (3 credits)
BY314 Bioinformatics (3 credits)
BY316 Immunobiology (3 credits)
BY320 Microbiology (3 credits)
BY370 Physical Chemistry I (3 credits)
BY371 Physical Chemistry II (3 credits)
BY412 Molecular Biology Laboratory (4 credits)
BY420 Evolution (3 credits)
BY426 Introduction to Biophysics (3 credits)
BY444 Medicinal Chemistry (3 credits)
BY450 Biochemistry I (3 credits)
BY451 Biochemistry II (3 credits)
BY463 Pharmaceutical Chemistry (3 credits)
BY464 Physical Biochemistry (3 credits)
BY470 Biochemistry and Biotechnology Laboratory (3 credits)
BY555 Cell and Molecular Biology of Cancer (3 credits)
