Cell and Molecular Biology MS

If your goal is to rise to a management-level position, you can take the program’s non-thesis professional track. You’ll get to take courses in our AACSB-accredited and top-ranked MBA program, allowing you to develop the knowledge and skills in the principles of management and business practice within the biotech and pharma industries.

Our small size adds a level of agility across lab and course work. Saint Joseph’s biology department faculty are experts in their field and have conducted research in areas such as pharmacognosy, medicinal chemistry and emerging infectious diseases. They offer new perspectives and teach techniques that keep pace with the industry.

You can get practical hands-on research experience with the same instruments and techniques employed by the most sophisticated labs. Saint Joseph’s McNeil Science and Technology Center (STC) features 13 research labs with shared access to a wide variety of equipment including microscopes, spectrophotometers, thermocyclers and tissue culture suites.

Saint Joseph’s offers three pathways to earning a Cell and Molecular Biology MS degree in two years:

You can also work towards a PhD in cell and molecular biology, which requires completion of 20 didactic credits and at least 20 credits of research.

Academic Catalog

View required courses for this program in the academic catalog. Please contact us if you have any questions about the program curriculum.

The tuition for cell and molecular biology MS students entering fall 2022 is $1,676 per credit*. *Pricing does not include room and board, health insurance or any professional, clinical or transportation fees. Visit our Tuition & Fees page for a detailed cost breakdown.

Financial aid in the form of scholarships, student loans, graduate assistantships and discount eligibility may be available to you to help offset the cost of your degree. Explore your options on our Financial Aid page.

You must meet the following prerequisites to be considered for admission to the master’s in cell and molecular biology program (thesis, non-thesis and professional track):

• Have a bachelor’s degree in a science or health program from an accredited university or college, or be currently enrolled in an undergraduate/first-professional degree program at Saint Joseph’s University
• Background in two or more of the following areas: genetics, cell biology, microbiology, biochemistry
• Previous laboratory experience in at least two of the following areas: cell biology, biotechnology, cell and molecular biology
• Fluent in both spoken and written English (see below for language requirements and required examinations for international applicants)

GRE scores are optional. You can submit them if you think they’ll strengthen your application.

• Apply online.
• Submit official college transcripts from all colleges attended. If you attended Saint Joseph’s, we will obtain this transcript for you.
• Submit a ​500-word personal statement explaining your short and long-term study and career goals. ​Applicants to the thesis MS must also identify at least two of the program’s faculty whose research interests align most closely with yours. Personal statements may be submitted as part of application via the application portal.
• Submit resume or CV.
• Submit three letters of recommendation.

The application deadlines for admission to Saint Joseph’s MS in cell and molecular biology program are:

Deadlines for fall:

• Priority Review for funding consideration for ALL applicants: March 1 
• Domestic Student Deadline: August 1

 Deadlines for spring:

• Priority Review: October 15
• Domestic Student Deadline: November 1

 Deadlines for international students:

• Fall – June 15
• Spring – October 15

International applicants must show proof of English language proficiency such as TOEFL or IELTS scores. Check the Graduate Admission page for additional requirements.

Cell biology is a branch of biology that studies cell structure, function and behavior. Meanwhile, biotechnology explores how biology can be used to create new technologies to improve processes in fields such as medicine, healthcare and agriculture.

Through Saint Joseph’s master’s in cell and molecular biology program, you’ll get to study these two fields in-depth and gain the skills and knowledge to enter a variety of career fields including genetics, clinical settings, the pharmaceutical industry and beyond.

The need for cell biologists, as well as biotechnologists, is increasing because many industries are looking for scientists who are trained in manipulating cells and their products in technical and research environments. You can pursue this career by earning a master’s degree or doctorate in cell and molecular biology and participating in research opportunities that can help build your skillset and resume.