By the end of the second year, prepare an NIH-style research grant. Pick your own subject, which will be outside your thesis work and previous lab work. There is also an oral defense. Core curriculum, Biochemistry II, Introduction to Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Genetics II, advanced seminars, and Journal Club. A two-part exam, one closed book and one open book, covering material from coursework.
Emphasis is on problem-solving.
Prelim is in two parts. Part I involves answering in written form four questions in a four week period. The submitted answeres are orally defended. Part II, taken two weeks after Part I, is an oral examination in which students are questioned on topics at the discretion of the examiners. This Master's program functions a little differently than the others.