R05 RG Master of Sciences - Genetics

Students undertaking the Master of Science (Genetics program) will complete 200 points comprising:

* 25 points of Discipline subjects;

* 25 points of Elective Discipline subjects;

* 25 points of Professional Tools subjects; and

* a 125 point Research Project.

Discipline subjects: 25 points

Students must take:

• 652-603 Advanced Topics in Genetics A, and
• Advanced Topics in Genetics B (semester 1, 2010)

Students need not complete Advanced Topics in Genetics A prior to enrolling in Advanced Topics in Genetics B.

Elective Discipline subjects: 25 points

Students must take 25 points of the following:

• 600-606 Advanced Molecular Biology Techniques;
• 600-608 Genomics and Bioinformatics (semester 1, 2010);
• 600-651 Microscopy for Biological Sciences;
• 12.5 or 25 points of other approved subjects.

Professional Tools subjects: 25 points

Students must take:

• 600-619 Science and Communication and
• 600-615 Thinking and Reasoning with Data.

Research Project: 125 points

Students enrolled in the Master of Science (Genetics program) are required to complete a 125 point Research Project. Students will need to discuss their proposed combination of Research Project subjects with the course coordinator to ensure they will have completed a total of 125 points by the end of their course.

• 652-671 Research Project - 12.5 points
• 652-672 Research Project - 25.0 points
• 652-673 Research Project - 37.5 points
• 652-675 Research Project - 50.0 points

Students will gain research experience in Genetics by completing:

• a research proposal including a literature review (10%, with a word limit of 5,000);
• a minor thesis at the end of the first year (30%, with a word limit of 8,000); and
• a thesis at the end of the second year (60%, with a word limit of 15,000).

Course objectives include:

• extending students' abilities in oral and written scientific communication;
• understanding the way in which experiments in genetics are designed, communicated and interpreted;
• acquiring experience in planning and executing laboratory or field-based experimental research; and
• developing effective skills in data collection and analysis and postulating testable hypotheses based on this data.