Molecular Biosciences is an interdisciplinary area melded from the formerly isolated fields of biochemistry, cell biology, genetics, microbiology, and molecular biology. The intersection of these fields serves as the foundation for much of modern biotechnology, medical research, and interdisciplinary fields like biological chemistry and biological physics.
Completion of the graduate certificate courses will be invaluable in career development in many different interdisciplinary fields. In addition, the certificate courses can be applied to WSU’s Professional Science Masters degree in Molecular Biosciences. The certificate can be obtained on the Pullman campus or anywhere in the United States through online courses offered by WSU Global Campus. All online courses in the certificate are taught and were developed by WSU faculty.
Who Should Earn the Certificate?
- Graduate students in a variety of disciplines from agriculture to veterinary medicine, who are looking for professional training to add to their skill sets
- Working professionals who seek retraining and/or additional training
- Educators who require continuing education for accreditation
- Non-degree seeking students who want interdisciplinary science and professional training
Admission Requirements
Students wishing to pursue a Graduate Certificate in Professional Molecular Sciences should have a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university in biology, biochemistry, cell biology, chemistry, genetics, microbiology or a related field. The Graduate School requires a 3.0 or better cumulative GPA in undergraduate work. Applicants with an undergraduate GPA below 3.0 and have significant work experiences in a relevant scientific field may be considered for admission.
Applicants must submit the Graduate School Application for a Graduate Certificate, including a statement of purpose (300 words max) addressing the following questions;
- What is your motivation for earning the graduate certificate?
- What is your assessment of your ability to succeed in graduate courses?
Official transcripts of all previous undergraduate and graduate level coursework will also be required. International students who have not earned a previous degree from a US institution within the last two years must also submit TOEFL scores.
How to apply to WSU
New students must complete a
Graduate School application, including the $75 application fee, personal statement and official transcripts of previous undergraduate and graduate coursework.
Application deadlines
Fall Semester -- June 1 (Domestic Students) March 1 (International Students)
Spring Semester -- November 1 (Domestic Students) June 1 (International Students)
Summer admission -- March 1 (Domestic Students) November 1 (International Students)
After completing the course work
, current WSU graduate students must submit an application for
Graduation for Graduate Certificate, obtaining the signature of the Associate Director of Graduate Studies in the School of Molecular Biosciences. For more information, visit the
Graduate School website.
Program Requirements
| Course # |
Course Title |
Campus |
Credits |
| Required Science Course |
| MBIOS 503 |
Advanced Molecular Biology I |
Pullman , Online |
3 credits |
| Other Science Courses - Choose one course |
| MBIOS 501 |
Cell Biology |
Pullman, Online |
3 credits |
| MBIOS 513 |
General Biochemistry |
Pullman, Online |
3 credits |
| MBIOS 578 |
Bioinformatics |
Pullman, Online |
3 credits |
| MBIOS 584 |
Medical Genetics |
Pullman, Online |
3 credits |
Professional Courses - choose 6 credits
One course only from any of the following five areas: |
| 1. ETHICS |
| PHIL 530 |
Bioethics |
Pullman, Online |
2 credits |
| PHIL 532 |
Seminar in Business Ethics |
Online |
3 credits |
| PHIL 535 |
Advanced Biomedical Ethics |
Online |
3 credits |
| 2. COMMUNICATION |
| MBIOS 580 |
Science Information Literacy |
Online |
2 credits |
| ENGL 562 |
Writing & Rhetoric in Science & Technology |
Online |
3 credits |
| ENGL 495 |
Rhetoric of Science & Technology |
Online |
3 credits |
| COM 541 |
Science Communication |
Online |
3 credits |
| 3. BUSINESS FOCUS |
| ENTRP 486 |
Launching New Ventures |
Pullman, Online |
3 credits |
| E_M 505 |
Finance for Technical Systems |
Online |
3 credits |
| E_M 508 |
Legal Concepts/Eng & Tech Managers |
Online |
3 credits |
| 4. MANAGEMENT |
| E_M 501 |
Management of Organizations |
Online |
3 credits |
| E_M 522 |
Leadership, Supervision & Management |
Online |
3 credits |
| E_M 564 |
Project Management |
Online |
3 credits |
| E_M 575 |
Leadership, Supervision & Management |
Online |
3 credits |
| 5. SKILLS SEMINAR |
| MBIOS 583 |
Professional Skills Seminar |
Online |
1 credit |
Students must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 in coursework required for the completion of this certificate. Substitution of courses may occur after approval from the Director of the Professional Sciences Master degree program and the Associate Director for Graduate Studies in the School of Molecular Biosciences. Please note that if you have credit for the conjoined courses MBios 401, MBios 413, MBios 478, you cannot get credit/ enroll in MBios 501, MBios 513, or MBios 578.