The Master of Arts in Biology degree program was launched in 1993. It is available only to Pfizer employees and contractors.

Curriculum

The curricular requirement for this track to the Master of Arts degree in Biology will be the completion of eight courses for graduate credit. Six of these courses will be offered by the Division of Biology and Medicine and must be passed with a grade of "B" or better. In addition, two other courses for graduate credit offered by the Division or in related sciences, with prior approval, must be completed satisfactorily. Two courses must be from core areas (cell biology, genetics, pharmacology and biochemistry). Academic oversight of students in this track will be provided by the Associate Dean for Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies.

In addition to coursework, a final paper or proposal is required as a culminating experience for completion of the degree (see below).

The quality of student performance required is at least as rigorous as for the Master of Arts degree within any Graduate Program in the Division. The basic difference is to make it easier for a student to obtain breadth in Biology in more than one graduate area by not imposing strict requirements for specific courses. When teaching to such a heterogeneous student population, this flexibility in curriculum is critical. In addition to pedagogic merits for breadth in Biology, the track to the Master of Arts will avoid the constraint on students that might arise when a specific course is offered only every four years.

Process

Employees and contractors enroll in courses via the Brown University Summer and Continuing Studies website. Questions regarding registration should be directed to Summer and Continuing Studies at 401-863-7901. Students are initially enrolled as Post-Baccalaureate Special Students. Following successful completion of at least two courses, students may apply for admission as Master's students in the the Graduate School. Students who intend to pursue the Masters degree should contact the Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies at (401) 863-3281, or send an email for application information.

Pfizer Final Project

As a culminating experience for the Brown-Pfizer Master of Arts in Biology Program, there are two options:

• an NIH style research proposal based on an original hypothesis
• a final paper which, based on the course work taken by the student, represents an original in-depth analysis and literature review of a problem in modern biology

Topics for the final project must be discussed with, and approved by the Associate Dean for Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies. The final project may be undertaken following completion of seven courses but must be completed no later than one semester following completion of the eighth course.

The research proposal will include an abstract, specific aims, background and significance, research design and methods, and literature cited sections according to the PHS 398 grant application instructions. The research proposal will be 10-15 pages in length.

The final paper will include an introduction, discussion, conclusion, and literature cited section and will be 10-15 pages in length. {need to place detailed instructions link here}

Both projects are designed to demonstrate the student's ability to master and integrate the knowledge gained in the prior course work and to apply that knowledge to a specific problem in modern biology.

Brown Courses Given At Pfizer (current and planned)

Spring 2006	Neuropharmacology	BN167A
Fall 2006	Advanced Microbiology	BI 264A
Spring 2007	Developmental Biology	BI 131 A
Fall 2007	Methods in Epidemiologic Research	PHP 2120 Section 2
Spring 2008	Advanced Biochemistry	BIOL 1270 Section 2
Summer 2008	Pharmaceutical Delivery in Biological Systems	BIOL 2930Z
Fall 2008	Virology	BIOL 1560 Section 2
Spring 2009	Cancer Biology	BIOL 1290 Section 2

Courses 2001 - 2005

Courses 1991 - 1999