Overview
Programs of Study
The Biological Sciences Graduate Programs in the College of Arts and Sciences at Seton Hall University prepare students for basic research and teaching applicable to careers in academic institutions or the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. The master's and doctoral degrees can be completed on a full- or part-time basis. Many of the part-time students are employed by local pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies and are interested in career advancement or changing careers. Graduate classes are offered in the evening to accommodate work schedules. The hands-on, laboratory-based courses are a unique aspect of the program and allow graduate-level students to develop new technical skills.
The Ph.D. in Molecular Bioscience program emphasizes the application of molecular and cellular biotechnology in studies on living systems and provides students with a strong foundation in research and teaching. The doctoral program consists of two phases: foundation course work and dissertation research. Students must pass a comprehensive or qualifying examination after completion of the 18 credits of required courses, and present and defend an oral and written doctoral dissertation. Students must complete a total of 72 credits, including 49 required credits in course work (21 credits in required courses and 28 credits in dissertation and seminar courses) and 23 credits of electives. The required courses provide students with a strong foundation in subject content and training in research techniques. Electives provide breadth to the students' training in the various subdisciplines of molecular bioscience. Students who have obtained a M.S. in a related field may transfer in up to 30 credits.
The M.S. in biology has three programs of study: Plan A, with research thesis; Plan B, with library thesis; and Plan C, with library thesis and business minor. Plan A is recommended for students who intend to continue their studies at the Ph.D. level or pursue a career in research. Students must complete 31 credits of course work, thesis research, and seminar. Plan B is primarily a course work-oriented degree program. Students must complete 33 credits of course work and seminar and 1 credit of Selected Topics in conjunction with the library thesis. Plan C, with its component of business administration courses, is for students interested in acquiring knowledge about the technical aspects as well as the business aspects of the biological and pharmaceutical industries. For this plan of study, students must complete 24 credits of course work and seminar, 16 credits in graduate business courses, and 1 credit of Selected Topics in conjunction with the library thesis.
Students may also attain the M.S. in biology with a neuroscience track: Plan F, with research thesis, and Plan G, with library thesis. For Plan F, students must complete 15 credits of selected course work for neuroscience plus 16 credits in electives, research thesis, and seminar. Plan G requires 15 credits of selected course work for neuroscience plus 18 credits in electives and seminar and 1 credit of Selected Topics in Neuroscience in conjunction with the library thesis.
The M.S. in Microbiology program has two programs of study: Plan D is recommended for students who intend to continue their studies in microbiology or biotechnology at the doctoral level or pursue a career in research. Plan E is primarily a course work-oriented degree program and includes a library thesis. For Plan D, students must complete 13 credits in elective course work, research thesis, and seminar plus 15 credits from select microbiology courses and 3 credits of molecular biology, metabolic pathways, or general biochemistry. For Plan E, students must complete 11 credits in elective course work, library thesis, and seminar plus 20 credits in microbiology courses and 3 credits from molecular biology, metabolic pathways, or general biochemistry.
All M.S. students submit a written thesis and make an oral presentation of their thesis in Graduate Seminar. In addition, the research thesis must be defended before a selected committee.
Additional details about graduate programs in the biological sciences are available at http://www.shu.edu/academics/artsci/graduate-biology-programs.cfm.
Research Facilities
The faculty members within the Department of Biological Sciences maintain active research programs that are sponsored by federal funding, including the National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Science Foundation (NSF), and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). In addition, collaborative research programs with local biotechnology and academic institutions provide further opportunities for research training.
The new Science and Technology Center now houses the Department of Biological Sciences. The department has newly constructed research and teaching laboratories with modernized equipment. Graduate students are trained in the use of state-of-the-art methodologies and carry out cutting-edge research projects. For example, the newly acquired Cytofluor 4000 plate reader, STORM 860 imager, and fluorescent/phase contrast microscope enable students to expand their research projects into the area of fluorescence-based techniques. A top-line Olympus FV1000 confocal microscopy system funded through the National Science Foundation is available for both research and teaching.
The Walsh Library provides publications in molecular bioscience, including those from the EBSCO database, and a subscription to Science Direct. Clinical journals related to molecular bioscience are available in the library of the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey--New Jersey Medical School (UMDNJ-NJMS), located in nearby Newark, and are accessible to faculty members and students.
Financial Aid
Teaching assistantships and research assistantships, which include tuition benefits and stipend, are available on a competitive basis. To obtain an application form, students should call the Department of Biological Sciences at 973-761-9044 or visit http://www.shu.edu/applying/graduate/grad-finaid.cfm.
Other financial aid options include loans, payment plans, and campus jobs. For more information, prospective students should visit http://www.shu.edu/applying/graduate/grad-finaid.cfm.
Cost of Study
In the 2009-10 academic year, tuition is $901 per credit. Full-time students pay $305 in University and technology fees per semester; part-time students pay $185.
Living and Housing Costs
Housing and living costs in South Orange and surrounding towns are comparable to most suburban cities, with studio and one-bedroom apartments renting for $750 to $1000 per month.
Location
Seton Hall University is located in South Orange, New Jersey, just 14 miles (and 30 minutes) from New York City via direct train. The University's proximity to New York City allows students to take advantage of all the city has to offer, while still living in a suburban area. The headquarters and laboratories for many of the major pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies are located in proximity to Seton Hall, thus providing students with opportunities to interact and collaborate with industry researchers while pursuing their graduate degrees.
The University and The Department
Seton Hall University is New Jersey's only Catholic university. The University's diverse academic program is characterized by a strong teaching faculty and a wide range of academic choices. The Department of Biological Sciences is part of the College of Arts and Sciences, home to more than 4,000 students and faculty members. The M.S. programs generally enroll 60 to 70 students, while the Ph.D. in Molecular Bioscience program enrolls a combination of 15 to 18 full- and part-time students. Seton Hall has approximately 4,500 graduate students overall. At Seton Hall, students find people who are willing to listen, offer support, and help them get the most out of their education.
Applying
The M.S. and Ph.D. programs follow the general University requirements for admission to graduate studies, including an application, available at http://www.shu.edu/academics/artsci/apply-graduate.cfm. In addition, the Department of Biological Sciences requires a B.S. in a biological science or related science (a minimum 3.0 GPA), a minimum of 24 credits in biology with laboratory; 16 credits in chemistry, including organic chemistry with laboratory; 8 credits of physics with laboratory; and 8 credits in mathematics beyond pre-calculus. The submission of GRE scores (at least the 50th percentile) is required for the Ph.D. program unless the applicant has completed an M.S. in biology or a related science at a university in the United States. For the M.S. programs, GREs are required only if the applicant's GPA is below 3.0 or if the applicant received a B.S. degree outside the United States. International students must provide proper immigration documentation and have a minimum TOEFL score of 550. Applicants must submit three letters of recommendation, a resume, and a personal statement that describes career goals as well as their scientific background, including previous laboratory training from course work or work experience.
Applications for the doctoral program are reviewed beginning February 1 and are completed once the seats are filled. Individuals interested in applying for a teaching or research assistantship should apply by February 1. All graduate applications for the fall semester are due July 1. Applications are also accepted for the spring semester (deadline: November 1) and for the summer semester (deadline: May 1).
The Faculty and Their Research
Ghayasuddin Ahmad, Ph.D., Immunologist. Immunology of cytoskeleton proteins; study of the effects of heavy metals (air pollutants) on cytoskeleton alterations in animal and cell cultures; study of immunoglobulin Fc receptors on white blood cells and platelets. Courses: Immunology, Immunology Lab, Cellular Immunology.
Carolyn S. Bentivegna, Ph.D., Environmental Toxicologist. Development of biological assays: use of gene expression and levels of carbohydrates in Chironomus riparius (midge fly larva) as an indicator of exposure to and biological effects of aquatic pollutants; study of genetic diversity; use of molecular biological tools to study genetic relationships between laboratory and wetland populations of chironomids. Course: Fundamentals of Toxicology.
Allan D. Blake, Ph.D., Molecular Neurobiologist/Cell Biologist/Molecular Pharmacologist. Actions of neuropeptides in controlling inflammation and intercellular signaling; structure-function of somatostatin receptor proteins; functional role of somatostatin receptor subtypes in intracellular signaling; modifying intracellular signaling pathways using RNAi. Courses: Fundamentals of Neuroscience, Introduction to Pharmacology, Cell Culture Techniques, Signal Transduction.
Sulie L. Chang, Ph.D., Biochemist/Cell Biologist/Neuroimmuologist. Neuroimmune pharmacology of substance of abuse; intracellular convergence of mu opioid receptor dependent pathways and cytokine receptor dependent pathways; how substances of abuse affect vascular endothelial cell barriers; studies of leukocyte-endothelial interaction in drug addicts; brain activities in health and disease; opiate-HIV-1 interaction on inflammation in the CNS. Courses: Readings in Molecular Bioscience, Methods in Neuroscience, Cancer Biology, Signal Transduction.
Tin-Chun Chu, Ph.D., Molecular Microbiologist/Biomedical Informatician. Genome projects and bioinformatic analyses of cyanobacterium Synechococcus sp. IU 625 and cyanophage AS-1; the effects of various EPA target heavy metals on the growth of Synechococcus sp. IU 625 and its knockout strains; molecular mechanism of lytic/lysogenic cyanophage AS-1 life cycle and development of environmental probes for prediction, early detection, and prevention of algal blooms as well as establishment of a cyanogroup genomics knowledge base. Courses: Microbiology, Microbial Physiology, Introduction to Bioinformatics. E-mail: chutinch@shu.edu.
Marian Glenn, Ph.D., Microbial Physiologist. Conservation biology; microbial physiology and microbial ecology, focusing on the microbial community as a bioindicator of ecosystem change; responses of microbial communities to pollution. Courses: Microbial Ecology, Microbial Physiology.
Angela V. Klaus, Ph.D., Reproductive Biologist/Cell Biologist. Molecular and cellular mechanisms of nuclear transformation during sperm development; three-dimensional architecture of the sperm nucleus; sperm structure/function relationships with emphasis on the perinuclear theca and sperm tail annulus. Courses: Vertebrate Physiology, Embryology, Developmental Biology.
Jane Ko, Ph.D., Molecular Biologist/Cell Pharmacologist. Regulation of the G-protein coupled receptor gene; mechanisms underlying the cell/tissue-specific gene expression; study of cross-talk between the signal transduction pathway and the transcriptional regulation; Courses: Molecular Biology, Recombinant DNA Technology Laboratory, Microbial Genetics, Methods in Neuroscience.
Eliot Krause, Ph.D., Geneticist. Population genetics/cytogenetics; population genetic studies: control of population size between Tribolium species and within Tribolium species, using various genetic strains and factors that affect competition between genetic strains of Tribolium; genetics and cytogenetics: importance of fragile sites and involvement of sister chromatid exchange with expression of gene products.
Roberta L. Moldow, Ph.D., Neuroendocrinologist. Factors influencing the regulation of the circadian rhythmicity of the hypothalamic pituitary adrenal axis; study of the stress response, including posttraumatic stress disorder; addictive drugs and neuroendocrinology; Gulf War syndrome. Course: Vertebrate Endocrinology.
Anne Pumfery, Ph.D., Virologist/Microbiologist. Role of viral and cellular cyclins and cyclin-dependent kinases in Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus/human herpesvirus 8 gene expression and DNA replication; regulation of viral gene expression by chromatin and histone modification. Courses: Virology, Cell Culture, Recombinant DNA Technologies.
Carroll Rawn, Ph.D. Mycology; plant pathology; metabolism; growth, reproduction, and physiology of fungi, especially plant pathogenic fungi; production of mycotoxins and effects of mycotoxins on fungi. Courses: Mycology, Metabolic Pathways in Living Systems.
Heping Zhou, Ph.D., Molecular Biologist. How morphine-endotoxin interaction affects neuroinflammation; HIV-induced neuroinflammation during development; microarray technology; tumorigenesis. Courses: Cancer Biology, Bioinformatics, Recombinant DNA Technology Laboratory.
Adjunct Faculty
Vincent DeBari, Ph.D. Course: Biostatistics.
Correspondence and Information
Seton Hall University
Dr. Carolyn Bentivegna, Chair
Dr. Carroll Rawn, Director of Graduate Studies
Graduate Program in Biological Sciences
College of Arts and Sciences
McNulty Hall, Room 218
400 South Orange Avenue
South Orange, New Jersey 07042
Telephone: 973-761-9044
Fax: 973-761-9453
Email: rawncarr@shu.edu
bentivca@shu.edu
