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Molecular Life Sciences Program

Minor in Molecular Life Sciences

Students on Summer 2019, Fall 2019, or Spring 2020 requirements MLSMIN

The Minor in Molecular Life Sciences provides a modern, molecular and interdisciplinary option for students across the science disciplines on campus. Students intending to pursue careers that draw heavily from an understanding of how living systems function, such as medicine, veterinary sciences, dentistry, and pharmacology will benefit from the coherent training paths offered in this minor. Those who wish to pursue graduate training in the life sciences, or access B.S.-level positions in research after graduation, will find that the coursework enhances their sophistication in modern technologies and current research in their career area. Students will be better prepared to digest scientific literature and appreciate modern research strategies, such as bioinformatic approaches and high throughput technologies based on DNA and RNA sequencing.

Requirements

The minor requires at least 18 credit hours, including the requirements listed below.
  1. Biological Mechanisms. One (1) course:
    • BIOL-E 112 Basic Biology by Examination II
    • BIOL-L 112 Foundations of Biology: Biological Mechanisms
  2. Principles of Chemistry and Biochemistry. One (1) course:
    • CHEM-C 117 Principles of Chemistry and Biochemistry I
    • CHEM-H 117 Principles of Chemistry and Biochemistry I, Honors
    • CHEM-J 117 Principles of Chemistry and Biochemistry for Science Majors
  3. Molecular Biology. One (1) course:
    • BIOL-L 211 Molecular Biology
    • BIOL-S 211 Molecular Biology, Honors
  4. Advanced Electives. Three (3) courses:
    • MLS-M 388 Digital Biology: A Survey of Topics in Bioinformatics and Functional Genomics
    • MLS-M 410 Protein Metabolism
    • MLS-M 420 Genome Duplication and Maintenance
    • MLS-M 430 Advanced Gene Regulation: Transcription, Epigenetics, and Human Disease
    • MLS-M 440 Membranes and Signal Transduction
    • MLS-M 450 Molecular Mechanisms of Cancer
    • BIOL-L 311 Genetics
    • BIOL-L 312 Cell Biology
    • BIOL-L 388 Digital Biology: A Survey of Topics in Bioinformatics and Genomics
    • BIOL-L 417 Developmental Biology and Stem Cells
    • BIOL-L 485 Genetics, Models of Human Disease, and Critical Analysis of Biological Research
    • BIOL-L 486 Advanced Cell Biology
    • BIOL-L 487 Molecular Mechanism of Development and Disease
  5. Minor GPA, Hours, and Minimum Grade Requirements.
    1. At least 9 credit hours in the minor must be completed in courses taken through the Indiana University Bloomington campus or an IU-administered or IU co-sponsored Overseas Study program.
    2. At least 9 credit hours in the minor must be completed at the 300–499 level.
    3. Except for the GPA requirement, a grade of C- or higher is required for a course to count toward a requirement in the minor.
    4. A GPA of at least 2.000 for all courses taken in the minor—including those where a grade lower than C- is earned—is required.
    5. Exceptions to minor requirements may be made with the approval of the department's Director of Undergraduate Studies, subject to final approval by the College of Arts and Sciences.