Admission

 

The Master of Science degree program (MS MBB) provides an excellent graduate education that prepares students for careers in the academe, as well as in the industrial, biomedical and environmental fields.

Each student in the MS MBB program is required to complete at least 24 units of graduate courses consisting of 15 units of core courses, 9 units of electives, and a thesis.

 

Master of Science on Molecular Biology and Biotechnology
(MS MBB)
  • Relevant BS degree
  • GWA of 2.0 or better
  • GWA of 2.2 (UP) or 2.0 (non-UP) or better, in NSM
  • Must have taken MBB undergraduate prerequisite subjects (MBB 125, 130, 140, 141) or their equivalents for non-MBB BS degree holders. Must receive a grade of 2.5 or better in each of these subjects.

 

 

The  Doctor of Philosophy degree program (PhD MBB) aims to produce graduates who are capable of undertaking independent research and development programs in molecular biology and biotechnology. Students in the PhD MBB program are required to complete the following, in addition to a dissertation:

  • BS degree holders: 45 units of formal graduate courses consisting of 15 units of core courses and 30 units of specialty electives
  • MS MBB degree holders: 25 units of specialty electives
  • MS degree holders from other disciplines: 25 to 45 units of formal graduate courses as specified by the NIMBB-UPD Graduate Committee

Qualified BS graduates may apply for the straight PhD program.

 

Doctor of Philosophy in Molecular Biology and Biotechnology
(PhD MBB)
  • Relevant MS degree
  • GWA of 2.0 in BS
  • GWA of 1.75 in graduate degree
  • Must have taken MBB undergraduate prerequisite subjects (MBB 125, 130, 140, 141) or their equivalents for non-MBB BS degree holders. Must receive a grade of 2.5 or better in each of these subjects.
Straight PhD in Molecular Biology and Biotechnology
(Straight PhD MBB)

For BS graduates:

  • Relevant BS degree with at least cum laude honors
  • Must have taken MBB undergraduate prerequisite subjects (MBB 125, 130, 140, 141) or their equivalents for non-MBB degree holders

For those accepted into the MS MBB Program to shift to the Straight PhD Program:

  • Minimum performance of 1.50 in each of the UG prerequisite subjects for non-MBB degree holders
  • Completion of at least two (2) core graduate courses with a minimum grade of 1.50 in each course
  • Recommendation letter from Program or Research Adviser
Application Procedure
  • Complete the Graduate Application Form in duplicate.
  • Secure recommendation letters from two former professors or experts in the field.
  • Write a formal letter of application addressed to the Dean, College of Science, University of the Philippines Diliman, Quezon City (original and photocopy)
  • Pay the application fee (P500 for local residents and $25 for foreign applicants) through one of the following means: cash (at the UP Cashier), postal money order, or bank draft payable to the University of the Philippines.
  • Acquire the following documents:
    1. Official transcripts of undergraduate and graduate records (four copies – 1 original copy and 3 photocopies)
    2. Certified copies of diploma or certificates of graduation (two copies each)
    3. Birth certificate from the National Statistics Office (for Filipino Citizens: three copies – 1 original copy and 2 photocopies)
    4. Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) results or certification that the medium of instruction is Englishforeign applicants whose native language is not English. (three copies – 1 original and 2 photocopies)
  • Send the your application packet to the following address:

THE GRADUATE OFFICE
COLLEGE OF SCIENCE
UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES
Diliman, 1101 Quezon City
Philippines
www.science.upd.edu.ph

  • Deadline of submission of application:

First Semester AY 2017-18 : 30 June 2017

 

Course Offerings

Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (MBB)

Master of Science in Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (MS MBB) 215 Molecular Biology of Viruses. Concepts and molecular studies on viral composition, growth and effects on cellular processes.
Prereq: MBB 110 or equivalent. 3 u.
221 Advances in Cell and Tissue Culture. Advances in and animal tissue culture and their application to various areas of biotechnology.
Prereq: MBB 121 or equivalent. 3 u.
222 Molecular Basis of Growth Regulation. Mode of action of growth substances at the molecular and cellular level.
Prereq: Bio 223 or Bio 228. 3 u.
225 Advanced Molecular Physiology. Molecular mechanisms involved in the physiology of biological systems.
Prereq: MBB 125 or equivalent. 3 u.
230 Principles of Instrumentation in Molecular Biology. Principles of instrumentation employed in the study of the properties of biomolecules using physical and molecular probes.
Prereq: MBB 130 or equivalent. 3 u.
241 Advances in Genetic Engineering. Advances in recombinant DNA technology, biomolecular analysis and their applications.
Prereq: MBB 141 or equivalent. 3 u.
242 Mammalian Embryology and Genetics. Mammalian embryogenesis and the genetic basis of developmental programs that give rise to multicellularity during cell and organ differentiation.
Prereq: COI. 3 u.
260 Food and Agricultural Biotechnology. Principles of genetic manipulation applied to crops and livestock.
Prereq: MBB 241 & MBB 280. 3 u.
280 Advances in Microbial Biotechnology. Recent developments in microbial biotechnology with emphasis on the molecular techniques and mechanisms involved in the synthesis of various economically important products.
Prereq: MBB 110 or equivalent. 3 u.
289 Advanced Techniques in Molecular Biology and Biotechnology. Advanced laboratory techniques and applications in molecular biology and biotechnology.
Prereq: COI. 9 h. (9 lab) 3 u.
294 Ethics in Research. Ethical issues in the conduct of scientific research.
Prereq: COI. 3 u.
296 Graduate Seminar. 1 u.
300 MS Thesis.
Prereq: Completion of all course requirement. 6 u.
Doctor of Philosophy in Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (PhD MBB) 310 Molecular Basis of Pathogenesis. Molecular mechanisms of attachment, invasion, cell damage, host cell interaction of pathogens.
Prereq: COI. 3 u.
315 Molecular Biology of Extremophiles. Diversity of Genomes and proteins of extremophiles and their potential for industrial applications.
Prereq: COI. 3 u.
325 Molecular Plant Pathology. Plant infectious agents and vectors; molecular basis of their attachment, invasion, cell damage and host cell interaction.
Prereq: COI. 3 u.
340 Human Molecular Genetics. Principles and mechanisms of human genetic variation at the molecular level; techniques in human genome analysis.
Prereq: MBB 140 or equivalent. 3 u.
350 Advanced Cellular and Molecular Immunology. Cellular and molecular mechanisms of immune system activation, regulation and function.
Prereq: MBB 150 or equivalent. 3 u.
380 Molecular Diagnostics. Fundamental concepts and applications of molecular methods in the detection, identification and prediction of infectious agents in plants and animals.
Prereq: COI. 3 u.
390 Bioinformatics and Systems Biology. Computational methods to study biological systems; their interactions of key elements such as genes, proteins and other cell components that give rise to function and behavior of a system.
Prereq: MBB 130 & MBB 140 or equivalents. 5 h. (2 lec, 3 lab) 3 u.
397 Current Topics in MBB. Discussion of the recent developments in molecular biology and biotechnology.
Prereq: COI. 3 u.; maybe taken more than once for additional credits, topic to be indicated for record purposes.
398 Special Problems in MBB.
Prereq: COI. Design and conduct of experiments with data analysis to address a specific scientific question in MBB. Prereq: MBB 241 or equivalent, MBB 280 or equivalent. 7 h. (1 lec, 6 lab) 3 u.; maybe taken more than once for additional credits, topic to be indicated for record purposes.
400 PhD Dissertation.
Prereq: Passing candidacy examination and completion of all course requirements. 12 u

 

Student Resources

Student Guidebooks

  • MS Molecular Biology and Biotechnology guidebook
  • PhD Molecular Biology and Biotechnology guidebook
  • Thesis Manuscript Writing Guide