Molecular and Cellular Biology Minor

for the Undergraduate Minor in Molecular & Cellular Biology


The minor, administered by the School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, is designed to provide students with an understanding of foundational principles of physiology, cellular and developmental biology, microbiology, molecular genetics and biochemistry. A minor in Molecular and Cellular Biology will prepare students for training in medicine and other health sciences, graduate studies in related disciplines, as well as for employment opportunities in pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries.

Students must contact an MCB advisor for acceptance into the minor. MCB 150 must be completed or in progress before acceptance into the minor.

for the Undergraduate Minor in Molecular & Cellular Biology


MCB 244Human Anatomy & Physiology I3
or MCB 246 Human Anatomy & Physiology II
MCB 250Molecular Genetics3
MCB 251Exp Techniqs in Molecular Biol2
MCB 252Cells, Tissues & Development3
MCB 253Exp Techniqs in Cellular Biol2
MCB 354Biochem & Phys Basis of Life3
or MCB 450 Introductory Biochemistry
Choose one additional 3-5 credit hour course from the approved list of 300- and 400-level courses for MCB majors. 3-5
Total Hours19-21

for the Undergraduate Minor in Molecular & Cellular Biology


Upon successful completion of the Molecular & Cellular Biology undergraduate minor, students will be able to:

  1. Understand and appreciate the diversity of life as it evolved over time by processes of mutation, selection and genetic change.
  2. Illustrate that fundamental structural units define the function of all living things.
  3. Explain that the growth, development, and behavior of organisms are activated through the expression of genetic information in context.
  4. Illustrate that living systems are interconnected and interacting across scales of space and time.
  5. Design a scientific process and employ the scientific method, demonstrating that biology is evidence based and grounded in the formal practices of observation, experimentation, and hypothesis testing.
  6. Execute quantitative analysis to interpret biological data.
  7. Communicate biological concepts and understanding to members of a diverse scientific community as well as to the general public.