Students conducting research at UAlbany's Cancer Research Center lab.

Master of Science  in
Biomedical Sciences

Investigate the mechanisms of health and disease through biomedical research

Increase your understanding of infectious and non-infectious diseases by learning from experts at UAlbany’s College of Integrated Health Sciences and the Wadsworth Center, the public health laboratory of New York State.

Mentorship lies at the heart of the master’s in biomedical sciences program. This enables you to immediately connect with prominent scientists, develop lab skills, and work on biomedical research projects that directly impact public health.

In addition to courses, you can take graduate workshops in advanced light microscopy and image analysis, bioinformatic analysis of large next-generation sequencing datasets, and RNA interference and genome editing technologies.

Program of Study

programofstudy

Core Courses

  • Molecular Cell Biology
  • Laboratory Rotations in Biomedical Sciences
  • Biomedical Science Horizons
  • Current Literature in Biomedical Sciences
  • Responsible Conduct of Scientific Research
  • Principles of Public Health


Supporting Electives

Specialized courses are available in the areas of cancer, infection and immunity, genes and genomes, neuroscience, structural biology, and drug discovery and therapeutics.

Thesis Research


Major Field Exam


Master’s Thesis


Additional Information

See the Graduate Bulletin for details.

For more information, contact [email protected].

Research Opportunities

Learn first-hand from faculty who actively address public health issues facing New York State and beyond. More than 75% of faculty in the College of Integrated Health Sciences hold appointments with the NYS Department of Health, which provides many research opportunities in the labs of the internationally recognized Wadsworth Center. You may also work with faculty in the University’s Cancer Research Center.

Institutional Affiliations

In addition to partnership with the Wadsworth Center, the College of Integrated Health Sciences maintains connections with:

  • Ge*NY*Sis Center for Cancer Genomics
  • National Center for Adaptive Neurotechnologies
  • New York Neural Stem Cell Institute
  • RNA Institute at the University at Albany
researchopportunities

Career Paths
 

Many master’s students decide to continue their studies in the PhD in Biomedical Sciences program at the University at Albany.

Others get hired as biomedical lab technicians and managers of research facilities in universities, medical centers, research institutes, pharmaceutical and biotechnology firms, and government health agencies such as the CDC and NIH.

Some even continue their research careers in companies located on the Health Sciences Campus, such as Regeneron, Taconic and Albany Molecular Research.


 

Female scientist looking into a microscope in a lab
career

International Students

This degree is designated as a STEM program. International students maintaining F-1 status are allowed to apply for up to 12 months of post-completion Optional Practical Training (OPT) following completion/graduation from their degree program. Currently, this degree program is also designated by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) as an eligible degree for the F-1 STEM OPT work authorization extension; students who secure qualifying employment may be eligible to apply for the STEM OPT extension for a cumulative total of up to 36 months of F-1 OPT work authorization.

Admission Requirements

Deadlines

Priority: January 15
General: March 1
Final: Rolling until August 1 on space available basis

 

Applicants who wish to be considered for a scholarship must submit their application by the priority deadline.  Some scholarships require that applications be received earlier than the published priority deadline. Students who wish to be considered for one of the early submission scholarships should consult our Financing Your Degree page and must submit the degree application and any additional required documents by the stated date for that scholarship.

MS Biomedical Sciences Degree Application

The application and all supporting materials for the MS in Biomedical Sciences must be submitted directly to The Graduate School at the University at Albany

Application Requirements

  • Must hold a bachelor’s degree from a college or university of recognized standing
  • Grade point average of 3.00 or better
  • A combined total of at least 42 credits in biology, chemistry, mathematics, and physics.
  • Prior research experience, either through an undergraduate experience, enhanced summer research, or post-baccalaureate degree
  • Applicants are reviewed in the context of academic preparation and performance, potential for success, fit for the graduate program, as well as potential match with mentor

For application specific questions, contact us at [email protected] or 518-402-0361.

International Requirements

  • International students must submit a minimum TOEFL score of 98, IELTS score of 7.0, or Duolingo score of 125. We will only accept official scores sent by the testing institution.
  • UAlbany TOEFL code is 2532. We do not use department codes. For electronic IELTS score results reporting, provide the following information to your test center:
    University at Albany (SUNY)
    1400 Washington Avenue
    Albany, NY 12222
  • The TOEFL or IELTS is not required for international students who have completed at least four semesters of full-time study within a four-year time frame from time of application, and maintained at least a B average at a college or university in the United States or a country from an approved list.  For questions regarding English Language Proficiency waivers, please email Soha Acosta at [email protected].

Required Application Materials

Official transcripts

  • Official transcripts from EVERY post-secondary academic institution attended, including college coursework completed during high school, must be sent directly from the institution to the Graduate School. You must report all colleges and universities attended and submit official transcripts, even if your transfer credits are listed on your primary transcript. 

Three letters of recommendation

  • A minimum of two letters must be from academic faculty 
  • At least one letter must be from a university faculty member in the major field of study
  • Letters must be signed and on institutional/organizational letterhead

Personal Statement

  • Why do you wish to pursue a career in biomedical sciences and why are you interested in your chosen area of research?
  • 1500 word limit
  • The personal statement must have well-defined research interests

CV/Resume



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Student Learning Objectives

 

Learning objectives that UAlbany students are expected to attain through their course of study within their academic program.

Core Competencies
  • Apply fundamental concepts in the core areas of biochemistry, molecular biology, and cell biology to a succinct research problem in the chosen specialty area.
  • Apply laboratory skills such as planning of experiments, data acquisition, management and analysis to a selected research problem.
  • Critically evaluate the scientific literature.
  • Demonstrate needed communication skills, both verbal and written.
  • Apply fundamental concepts in the biomedical sciences to public health issues, in particular, in the detection, treatment and prevention of disease.
  • Understand the contribution of advanced biomedical science disciplines to public health.
  • Understand and demonstrate the proper conduct of scientific research.
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