Sample Curriculum | Department of Molecular Genetics

Sample Molecular Genetics 4-Year Plan

The Molecular Genetics program is designed for students to complete within four years of Ohio State coursework. Below is a sample 4-year plan for a student starting at OSU in Autumn 2022 who receives an L on the Math Placement Test (allowing them to take calculus), but not starting with any existing college credit (such as AP, IB, or College Credit Plus). Please note that this is just an example. A four-year plan can wildly vary based on a student's interest in a second major or minor, post-graduation plans (such as going to medical school), existing credit, summer plans, etc. Students should regularly work with their assigned academic advisors to create a schedule projection that is best for them.

Example 1 (MolGen 4606 in Autumn of Year 2)

Year 1: Autumn

ARTSSCI 1100.07 (College Survey) - 1 credit
MATH 1151 or 1156 (Calculus 1) - 5 credits
CHEM 1210 (Gen Chem 1) - 5 credits
GE or MolGen Major Elective^A - 3 credits
GENED 1201 (GE Launch Seminar)^B - 1 credit
Semester Total: 15 credits

Year 1: Spring

CHEM 1220 (Gen Chem 2) - 5 credits
BIO 1113.01 (Energy Transfer) - 4 credits
GE (First Semester of Foreign Language) - 4 credits
GE or MolGen Major Elective^A - 3 credits
Semester Total: 16 credits
Year 1 Total: 31 credits

Year 2: Autumn

CHEM 2510 (Organic Chem Lecture 1) - 4 credits
CHEM 2540 (Organic Chem Lab 1) - 2 credits
BIO 1114.01 (Form & Function) - 4 credits
MOLGEN 4606 (Molecular Genetics) - 4 credits
GE (Second Semester of Foreign Language) - 4 credits
Semester Total: 18 credits

Year 2: Spring

CHEM 2520 (Organic Chem Lecture 2) - 4 credits
CHEM 2550 (Organic Chem Lab 2) - 2 credits
BIOCHEM 4511 (Introduction to Biological Chemistry) or MOLGEN 5601 (Eukaryotic Molecular Genetics Lab)^C - 4 credits
GE (Third Semester of Foreign Language) - 4 credits
GE or Free Elective - 3 credits
Semester Total: 17 credits
Year 2 Total: 35 credits

Year 3: Autumn

BIOCHEM 4511 (Introduction to Biological Chemistry) or MOLGEN 5602 (Eukaryotic Cell and Developmental Biology Lab)^C - 4 credits
MOLGEN 5607 (Cell Biology) - 3 credits
PHYSICS 1200 or 1250 (Physics 1) - 5 credits
GE - 3 credits
Semester Total: 15 credits

Year 3: Spring

MOLGEN 5608 (Genes and Development) - 3 credits
MolGen Major Elective^A - 2-3 credits
PHYSICS 1201 or 1251 (Physics 2) - 5 credits
GE - 3 credits
GE - 3 credits
Semester Total: 16-17 credits
Year 3 Total: 31-32 credits

Year 4: Autumn

MOLGEN 5645 (Quantitative, Population, and Evolutionary Genetics) - 2 credits
MolGen Major Elective^A - 2-3 credits
GE or MolGen Major Elective^A - 3 credits
GE or Free Elective (as needed) - 3 credits
Free Elective (as needed) - 2-3 credits
Semester Total: 12-14 credits

Year 4: Spring

MolGen Major Elective^A - 2-3 credits
GE or MolGen Major Elective^A - 3 credits
Free Elective (as needed) - 3 credits
Free Elective (as needed) - 3 credits
Free Elective (as needed) - 2-3 credits
GENED 4001 (GE Reflection Seminar)^B - 1 credit
Semester Total: 14-16 credits
Year 4 Total: 26-30 credits
Degree Total: 121+ credits

^A - MolGen major elective courses vary from 1-5 credits. Some MolGen electives (e.g. 2220H, 2690, 3300, 3436) can be taken prior to taking MolGen 4606 with appropriate prerequisites. MolGen major coursework including electives must total at least 30 credits.

^B - GENED 1201 & 4001 are only required for students following the GEN (new General Education) curriculum starting Autumn 2022

^C - Either MOLGEN 5601 or 5602 is required

Example 2 (MolGen 4606 in Spring of Year 2)