Skip to main content

Graduate Coursework

Prerequisites

Undergraduate course preparation should include the following: one year of college-level physics, mathematics at least through calculus, at least one thorough course in basic transmission and molecular genetics, basic biology, chemistry through organic, an upper level biochemistry course, and an upper level statistics course.

Prerequisites that can be taken during the first year and a half of graduate training

All genetics and genomics graduate students are required to meet upper level undergraduate biochemistry and statistics course requirements during their first year and a half if they have not previously done so. Newly arriving students who believe they have met these requirements should obtain a course syllabus from their previous institution and email this to Carla (charris@iastate.edu) before arrival at Iowa State.

Another option for meeting the biochemistry requirement is to try and test out of BBMB 404 the Thursday prior to classes starting in the fall. There is no cost for this option: see biochemistry syllabus and text book.

Students who have not met the requirements for upper level biochemistry and upper level statistic courses will take BBMB 404 and STAT 401 (Take Biological Sections, usually Section A or E if taken in-class) during the first year and a half of training.

  • BBMB 404: A general overview for graduate and advanced undergraduate students in agricultural, biological, chemical and nutritional sciences. Chemistry of amino acids, proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids, vitamins; protein structure; enzymology; carbohydrate metabolism.
  • STAT 401: Methods of analyzing and interpreting experimental and survey data. Statistical concepts and models; estimation; hypothesis tests with continuous and discrete data; simple and multiple linear regression and correlation; introduction to analysis of variance and blocking. Section A and Section E are appropriate for GENET majors.

BBMB 404 is offered in-class during the fall semester and offered on-line every semester (extra charge for on-line classes).

STAT 401 is offered every semester both in-class and on-line (extra charge for on-line courses). The appropriate in-class section to take are sections appropriate for the Biological Sciences. Usually this is Section A or Section E for fall, Section A for Spring, Section B for Summer. If you take the course on-line, check to see if there is a section appropriate for the biological sciences, otherwise you may take whatever is offered on-line to meet this requirement.

Genetics and Genomics Curriculum Effective for Students admitted Summer 2014 or later

Doctor of Philosophy

All Ph.D. candidates take a core curriculum comprising one course each from the following four categories and attend seminars, workshops, and approved activites as described. The program requires grades for core courses be "B" or better. If the grade is less than a "B", the course must be re-taken.

  • I. Transmission Genetics (GDCB 510)
  • II. Molecular Genetics (GDCB 511)
  • III. Genomics, Bioinformatics and Statistical Genetics
    • AnSci 556, BCB 544, Stat 416, Stat 516, BCB 567, BCB 568, BCB 569, BCB 570, EEOB 561, COM S 549, COM S 550, COM S 551, GDCB 576X, and EEOB/BCB 546X
  • IV. Evolution, Population and Quantitative Genetics
    • EEOB 540X, AnSci/Agron 561, EEOB 562, EEOB 563, EEOB 566, EEOB 567, GDCB 536

      Required Support Courses. STAT 401, BBMB 404. (see above in "Prerequistes that can be taken during....). Grades for these courses can be as low as "C". Graduate students are required to maintain an overall 3.0 ("B") GPA. Your overall GPA must be 3.0 or better to receive your tuition scholarship.

Students will also take the following seminars:

  • Student Research Seminar (GENET 690), taken three times, offered fall and spring
  • Faculty Research Seminar (GENET 691), taken two times, offered fall
  • Workshop in Genetics (GENET 591), taken two times, offered fall
  • Conceptual Foundations of Genetics (GENET 692), taken one time, offered fall
  • Responsible Research Conduct (GRST 565), must have a B or better in this course, offered fall and spring, take the first year in the program
  • 2 approved bioethics activities. To meet this 2 approved bioethics activities requirement, students may take Ethics & Biological Sciences (GENET 539), offered in spring. Or students may take other approved bioethics which are occassionally arranged.

A total of 72 credits is required for a Ph.D. Students will take additional courses of interest, research credits (GENET 699) and courses as directed by their committee members. Research rotation credits (GENET 697) may also be used towards this total.

Master of Science

M.S. students take the above core courses, seminars, workshops, and activities, but are required to participate in only one Workshops in Genetics (GENET 591) and in only one student research seminar (GENET 690). 32 credits are required for an M.S. degree in Genetics and Genomics. Students will take additional courses of interest, research credits (GENET 699) and courses as directed by their committee members.

Minor in Genetics and Genomics

Students minoring in genetics and genomics at the Ph.D. level must meet the following requirements: completion of three of the four categories of required core lecture courses listed above with a grade of "B" or better. One semester of seminar in genetics (GENET 690 or 691 or 692) is recommended. One member of the student's Program of Study committee must be an Interdepartmental Genetics and Genomics faculty member.

Catalog Course Descriptions

ISU Graduate College Course Descriptions - Catalog Course Listings A-Z
 

A typical First Year of Coursework may look like the following:

Fall

  • GDCB 510 (3 credits)
  • BBMB 404 (in class or on-line), or STAT 401 (Section A or E in class or if offered on-line), or a course from Core Groups III and IV
  • GENET 692 (1 credit)
  • GENET 691 (1 credit)
  • Research, GENET 699 or GENET 697 (register for enough to bring your total coursework to 12 credits)

Spring

  • GDCB 511 (3 credits)
  • BBMB 404 (on-line), STAT 401 (Section A in class or on-line), or a course from Core Groups III and IV
  • GRST 565 (1 credit)
  • GENET 539 (2 credits)
  • Research, GENET 699 or GENET 697 (register for enough to bring your total coursework to 12 credits)

Summer

  • BBMB 404 (on-line), or STAT 401 (Section for Biological and Physical Sciences both for in class or on-line), or 2 credits of research GENET 699 with your major professor or 2 credits of research rotations GENET 697 if you are participating in rotations during the summer session.
  • If you register for more than 2 credits during the summer, you must clear this with your major professor
  • Summer tuition charges are charged per credit hour between 2 and 5 credits so the fewer the number of credits you take the less in tuition charges. A minumum of 2 credits is charged even if you sign up for 1 credit. 5 or above credits are the same charge.

*****************************************************************************

Genetics and Genomics Curriculum Effective Summer 2010

Doctor of Philosophy

All Ph.D. candidates take a core curriculum comprising one course each from the following four categories and attend seminars, workshops, and approved activites as described.

  • I. Transmission Genetics (GDCB 510)
  • II. Molecular Genetics (GDCB 511)
  • III. Genomics, Bioinformatics and Statistical Genetics
    • AnSci 556, BCB 544, Stat 416, Stat 516, BCB 567, BCB 568, BCB 569, BCB 570, EEOB 561, COM S 549, COM S 550, COM S 551, GDCB 576X
  • IV. Evolution, Population and Quantitative Genetics
    • EEOB 540X, AnSci/Agron 561, EEOB 562, EEOB 563, EEOB 566, EEOB 567, GDCB 536

Required Support Courses. STAT 401, BBMB 404.

  • Student Research Seminar (GENET 690), taken three times
  • Faculty Research Seminar (GENET 691), taken two times
  • Workshop in Genetics (GENET 591), taken three times
  • Conceptual Foundations of Genetics (GENET 692), taken one time
  • Responsible Research Conduct (GRST 565), must have a B or better in this course, offered fall and spring, take the first year in the program
  • 2 approved bioethics activities. To meet this 2 approved bioethics activities requirement, students may take Ethics & Biological Sciences (GENET 539), offered in spring. Or students may take other approved bioethics which are occassionally arranged.

A total of 72 credits is required for a Ph.D. Students will take additional courses of interest, research credits (GENET 699) and courses as directed by their committee members. Research rotation credits (GENET 697) may also be used towards this total.

Master of Science

M.S. students take the above core courses, seminars, workshops, and activities, but are required to participate in only two Workshops in Genetics (GENET 591) and in only one student research seminar (GENET 690) . 32 credits are required for an M.S. degree in Genetics and Genomics. Students will take additional courses of interest, research credits (GENET 699) and courses as directed by their committee members.

Minor in Genetics and Genomics

Students minoring in genetics and genomics at the Ph.D. level must meet the following requirements: completion of three of the four categories of required core lecture courses listed above. One semester of seminar in genetics (GENET 690 or 691 or 692) is recommended. One member of the student's Program of Study committee must be an Interdepartmental Genetics and Genomics faculty member.

*****************************************************************************

Curriculum Prior to Summer 2010

Doctor of Philosophy

All Ph.D. candidates take a core curriculum comprising one course each from the following four categories and attend seminars, workshops, and approved activites as described.

  • I. Transmission Genetics (GDCB 510)
  • II. Molecular Genetics (GDCB 511 or BBMB 502)
  • III. Biochemistry (BBMB 404 or BBMB 501).
  • IV. Quantitative, Population OR Evolutionary Genetics (QPE)
    • ANSCI/Agron 561--Population and Quantitative Genetics for Breeding
    • EEOB 562--Evolutionary Genetics
    • EEOB 563--Molecular Phylogenetics
    • EEOB 566--Molecular Evolution
    • EEOB 567--Empirical Population Genetics
  • Student Research Seminar (GENET 690), taken three times
  • Faculty Research Seminar (GENET 691), taken two times
  • Workshop in Genetics (GENET 591), taken three times
  • Conceptual Foundations of Genetics (GENET 692, taken one time

Students attend approved training in Scientific Ethics and Bioethics. A total of 72 credits is required for a Ph.D. Students will take additional courses of interest, research credits (GENET 699) and courses as directed by their committee members. Research rotation credits (GENET 697) may also be used towards this total.

Master of Science

M.S. students take the above core courses, seminars, workshops, and activities, but are required to participate in only two Workshops in Genetics (GENET 591) and in only one student research seminar (GENET 690). 32 credits are required for an M.S. degree in Genetics and Genomics. Students will take additional courses of interest, research credits (GENET 699) and courses as directed by their committee members.

Minor in Genetics and Genomics

Students minoring in genetics and genomics at the Ph.D. level must meet the following requirements: completion of three of the four categories of required core lecture courses listed above. One semester of seminar in genetics (GENET 690 or 691 or 692) is recommended. One member of the student's Program of Study committee must be an Interdepartmental Genetics and Genomics faculty member.