Master’s in Cell Biology

Our M.S. in Cell Biology program prepares you for careers in research, teaching, private industry or to continue to medical school. You’ll gain specialized knowledge into how cells function as well as learn about cell metabolism, communication, growth and disease. Understanding processes at the cellular level plays a crucial role in medicine and neuroscience and in treating and preventing illness and injury.

What is Cell Biology?

Cell biology explores every structure and element involved in cell function. Everything from cell cycles to organelle communication, to biochemical reactions at the cellular level, all fall under this discipline. Cell biology factors heavily into many disciplines such as neuroscience and oncology; new discoveries about how cells function can help treat illnesses like cancer, Alzheimer's, schizophrenia, epilepsy; and promote repair following damage as seen in spinal cord injuries. By experimenting at the cellular level, cell biologists can contribute to new treatment plans and drug and vaccine development.

Areas You’ll Explore in the Cell Biology Program

• Oncogene expression and cytokines
• Biomolecular condensates and antiviral activity
• Modulation of neuronal signaling
• Signaling by hormones and growth factors in breast cancer and lymphangioleiomyomatosis
• Growth control in skeletal muscle
• Signal transduction mechanisms
• Intracellular protein degradation
• Development and regeneration of the visual system
• Extracellular matrices and limb development
• Spinal cord injury
• Neural stem cells and brain development
• Mechanisms of neural plasticity in memory and learning
• Mechanisms involved in epilepsy (using human tissues and animal models)
• Molecular mechanisms of Alzheimer’s disease
• Induced pluripotent stem cells and their therapeutic potential

Careers for Graduates with a Degree in Cell Biology

With a master’s in cell biology, our graduates have entered industry or have continued their professional education by pursuing either further research and obtaining a Ph.D. or clinical practice and enter medical school. Within a research setting, a master’s degree will allow for professional advancement.  

Career settings can vary widely; you might work in agriculture, the pharmaceutical industry or a biotechnology firm. Depending on your specialty you might work as a biomedical engineer, forensic scientist, food scientist or a number of different roles related to cell biology.

Program Curriculum

In the Cell Biology M.S. program, you will take required foundational courses in cell biology, histology, biochemistry and mammalian physiology. Early in the program, you will study individual cells and their organization in tissues and organ systems. You will also analyze microscopic slides of human and animal tissues and organs using both digitized slides and glass slides using microscopy. As part of your coursework, you will learn about the functions of eukaryotic cells, such as organelle biosynthesis and cell-to-cell interaction. As you progress to more advanced coursework, you will learn about complex cellular mechanisms governing areas like memory and learning acquisition, regeneration of muscle and nerve and neuronal plasticity in visual systems.

For our M.S. programs, you'll have the option to choose an academic track tailored to your goals. Students enrolled in Track A are required to submit a literature review, whereas students in Track B are required to complete a research thesis describing their independent research. Students in Track C are trained for a professional career in scientific research and management and require a capstone project report summarizing their internship experience. Visit the Cell Biology Curriculum page for detailed track information and course descriptions.

Cell Biology Department Resources

The department has state-of-the-art facilities and resources for study and research, which include tissue culture, subcellular fractionation, fluorescent digital image analysis, electrophysiological recording, as well as confocal and 2-photon microscopy.

Admissions

We welcome applicants from different academic and professional backgrounds. To be considered for the M.S. program, prior coursework should show above-average academic achievement at the undergraduate level and in any previous work at the graduate level. Strong performance in math and science courses is important, but we do not require specific prerequisites to apply. Apply online after carefully reviewing our application requirements on the M.S. Admissions page.

Cell Biology Department Faculty

The Department of Cell Biology is home to highly-respected faculty members and staff, many of whom have decades of research experience in the fields of cell biology, development and neurosciences. Department faculty lead groundbreaking neuroscience and cell biology research projects that cover a wide array of topics. A few of their current research areas include schizophrenia, autism, epilepsy, breast cancer and membranous and non-membranous organelle function in disease. Graduate faculty mentors provide guidance for your original laboratory research, and our student-faculty ratio allows for plenty of individual attention. Learn more about our knowledgeable and experienced faculty.