Cancer Biology MS

Major: Cancer Biology
Degree Awarded: Master of Science (MS)
Calendar Type: Semester
Minimum Required Credits: 42.0 (non-thesis); 51.0 (thesis)
Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) code: 26.0911
Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code: 19-1042

About the Program

The goal of the Master of Science in Cancer Biology program is to provide an understanding of the fundamentals of cancer from an interdisciplinary perspective, including:

• Biology and molecular biology of cancer initiation
• Metastasis
• Treatment
• Bioinformatics/systems biology

The program is designed to meet the needs of two groups of individuals: (1) new or recent college graduates who wish to increase their marketability for jobs in academic or industrial laboratories through the acquisition of knowledge and skills more developed than obtained through a standard college curriculum; and (2) currently employed technical staff in the pharmaceutical or biotechnology industry (or academia) who wish to advance their position.

Consisting of both classroom and laboratory instruction, the program fills a need to train laboratory personnel in cancer theory and research. Graduates of this program will possess knowledge on both the theoretical and practical levels.   

Additional Information

For more information, visit the College of Medicine's Cancer Biology program website.

Admission Requirements

For acceptance to the program, the applicant must have completed a four-year biology- or chemistry-based bachelor's degree program, or equivalent, with at least a 3.0 GPA. Students must fulfill all requirements for consideration as defined by the Executive Committee of the Division of Biomedical Science Programs:

• Official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended.
• Official transcript evaluation such as WES, for transcripts from international institutions that are not in English, or that do not use a 4 point GPA scale.
• Official entrance exam scores such as the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or Medical College Admission Test (MCAT).
• References from at least three instructors or industry professionals.
• An application fee of $75.
• International applicants whose native language is not English must demonstrate the ability to speak, write and understand the English language by submitting an acceptable score on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), or IELTS, with the exception of those who have received their undergraduate degree in an accredited U.S. institution.

Students applying to the program will be expected to have undergraduate experience in chemistry, cell biology, biochemistry and mathematics, including — at a minimum — two semesters each of inorganic chemistry, organic chemistry, physics, calculus and biology.

Additional Information

To learn more about applying to Drexel College of Medicine programs, visit the College of Medicine’s Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences and Professional Studies website.

Degree Requirements

Thesis Option

51.0 semester credits

*

Taken each semester

**

 Taken a minimum of two times in the second year.

Non-Thesis Option

42.0 semester credits

*

 Taken every semester

**

Note that this is a three credit quarter course which converts to two semester credits

Sample Plan of Study

Plan of Study: Thesis Option

Plan of Study: Non-Thesis Option

Program Level Outcomes

Upon completion of the program, graduates will be prepared to: