Forest Molecular Genetics and Biotechnology MS, PhD Degrees

Forest Molecular Genetics and Biotechnology—MS, PhD

Understand the relation of oak species in the context of drought and climate change. Identify key genes in root development of poplar trees. Study the evolution of trees as drivers of terrestrial biodiversity. Explore your interests to define your educational experience. Are you ready?

Program Overview

Our master's or doctorate program in forest molecular genetics and biotechnology focuses on researching functional genomics, ecological genetics, gene expression profiling at the whole-genome scale, and genetic improvement of trees for sustainable biofuel.

Delivery Options
- On-Campus: MS, PhD

Forest Molecular Genetics and Biotechnology Program Details

Choose a specific degree option or delivery type to learn more about the forest molecular genetics and biotechnology program at Michigan Tech. For international students, Forest Molecular Genetics and Biotechnology is a designated STEM program.

On-Campus Programs

PhD Requirements: Forest Molecular Genetics and Biotechnology

To complete a doctoral degree, students must complete the following milestones:

Complete all coursework and research credits (see credit requirements below)
Pass Qualifying Examination
Pass Research Proposal Examination
Prepare and Submit Approved Dissertation
Pass Final Oral Defense

The minimum credit requirements are as follows:

Total Credit Requirements
Degrees	Credits
MS-PhD (minimum)	30 Credits
BS-PhD (minimum)	60 Credits

Individual programs may have higher standards and students are expected to know their program's requirements. See the Doctor of Philosophy Requirements website for more information about PhD milestones and related timelines.

MS, Forest Molecular Genetics and Biotechnology: Thesis Option

This option requires a research thesis prepared under the supervision of the advisor. The thesis describes a research investigation and its results. The scope of the research topic for the thesis should be defined in such a way that a full-time student could complete the requirements for a master’s degree in 12 months or three semesters following the completion of coursework by regularly scheduling graduate research credits.

The minimum requirements are as follows:

Total Credit Requirements
Option Parts	Credits
Coursework (minimum)	20 Credits
Thesis research	6-10 Credits
Total (minimum)	30 Credits

Distribution of Coursework Credit
Distribution	Credits
5000-6000 series (minimum)	12 Credits
3000-4000 (maximum)	12 Credits

Programs may have stricter requirements and may require more than the minimum number of credits listed here.

MS, Forest Molecular Genetics and Biotechnology: Report Option

This option requires a report describing the results of an independent study project. The scope of the research topic should be defined in such a way that a full-time student could complete the requirements for a master’s degree in twelve months or three semesters following the completion of coursework by regularly scheduling graduate research credits.

Of the minimum total of 30 credits, at least 24 must be earned in coursework other than the project:

Total Credit Requirements
Option Parts	Credits
Coursework (minimum)	24 Credits
Report	2-6 Credits
Total (minimum)	30 Credits

Distribution of Coursework Credit
Distribution	Credits
5000-6000 series (minimum)	12 Credits
3000-4000 (maximum)	12 Credits

Programs may have stricter requirements and may require more than the minimum number of credits listed here.

MS, Forest Molecular Genetics and Biotechnology: Coursework Option

This option requires a minimum of 30 credits be earned through coursework. A limited number of research credits may be used with the approval of the advisor, department, and Graduate School. See degree requirements for more information.

A graduate program may require an oral or written examination before conferring the degree and may require more than the minimum credits listed here:

Distribution of Coursework Credit
Distribution	Credits
5000-6000 series (minimum)	18 Credits
3000-4000 (maximum)	12 Credits

Additional Program Information

Want to learn more about forest molecular genetics and biotechnology at Michigan Tech? Visit the department for more information:

Contact

Graduate Director

Molly Cavaleri

Graduate Assistant

Marjorie Banovetz

Sample Areas of Interest

Select areas of interest to help customize your forest molecular genetics and biotechnology MS or PhD. Sample areas include:

Bioinformatics/Systems Biology
Conservation Genetics
Ecological Genetics
Forest Genetics and Genomics

View full listing for this program

Application Process and Admissions Requirements

Applications are reviewed on an individual basis using a holistic approach. Fill out our free graduate application online to apply to any of our programs. Official transcripts and scores are not required for the initial application, although you will need to upload them later.

Graduate School Admissions Process

Applying to Graduate School is free (no application fees) and fast (no official transcripts or test scores are needed to start). The application process involves three easy steps. International applicants are required to pay a non-refundable $10 processing fee per application.

See Admissions Steps

Graduate School Admissions Options

Michigan Tech offers several admissions options in order to meet the educational needs of students from a variety of backgrounds. Students should review the options available to them and apply for the program that will best help them achieve their personal educational goals.

See Admissions Options

Graduate School Requirements

To be considered for admission to the Graduate School as a degree- or certificate-seeking student, you need to:

have a bachelor's degree or its equivalent from an accredited institution, and
be prepared for advanced study in your chosen field, as demonstrated by your previous degree and your scholastic record.

See additional application requirements, including required materials:

Student Statements

Official Transcripts

Program Specific Requirements

Program Specific

3 Letters of Recommendation (1 Letter of Recommendation for Michigan Tech students)
Résumé / Curriculum vitae
Admitted applicants typically have an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or better on a 4.0 scale
Please view our faculty webpage and identify three faculty members that you would like to work with

International Students

TOEFL: Required Score of at least 79 iBT
IELTS: Required Overall Score of 6.5 overall

Michigan Tech requires a minimum 79 overall TOEFL or 6.5 overall IELTS score.

Admissions Decisions

Made on a rolling basis.

Recommended Deadline

Apply at least a semester in advance of projected admission to improve your chances of receiving funding.

International Student Requirements

International Students must apply and be accepted into a degree-granting program in order to earn a graduate certificate. A non-refundable $10 processing fee per application is required.

See International Applicants

Accredited by HLC

Michigan Tech has been accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) since 1928. Our Graduate School offers over 125 certificates, master's, and PhD programs to provide our students and the world with what tomorrow needs.

Who You'll Work With

Our faculty discover and characterize genes affecting wood biomass yield and quality, research the evolution of adaptive and species-specific characters and use combinatorial approaches to identify genes that regulate biological traits. The College has long-standing research collaborations with forest biotechnology industries and has received over $10 million in research funding from government agencies.

Where You'll Work

Our 6,500 square feet of lab space and 2,000 square feet of greenhouse space provide ample opportunities for research. Our facilities include DNA sequencing and microarray labs, metabolome and genome profiling labs, tissue culture and tree transformation labs, and ecological genomics labs. Study comparative gene expression and conduct genomic analysis using functional genomics instrumentation in our molecular biology facilities.