Molecular biology is an interdisciplinary science combining elements of biochemistry, biophysics, genetics and cell biology. Molecular biology, therefore requires a background in other disciplines such as chemistry, mathematics, physics and computer sciences. Principles from these disciplines underpin the new approaches made possible by biotechnology and genetic engineering. Intending molecular biology majors should have a broad interest in the sciences.

Career Potential

Molecular biology graduates from UT Dallas arrive at graduate school or in the workforce prepared to work in the modern biomedical sciences. Computational biology and an array of other contemporary and emerging disciplines are covered throughout the educational process, which ensures that our graduates are ready to excel in research, health care and other professions.

The NSM Career Success Center is an important resource for students pursuing STEM and healthcare careers. Career professionals are available to provide strategies for mastering job interviews, writing professional cover letters and resumes and connecting with campus recruiters, among other services.

Marketable Skills

Review the marketable skills for this academic program.

Molecular Biology at UT Dallas

Molecular biology students take core courses in genetics, molecular biology, cell biology, biochemistry and biophysical chemistry. These courses can be combined with upper-level electives to create a minor in biomolecular structure, microbiology, molecular and cell biology or neurobiology. The choice can be further expanded to dual majors in biology or molecular biology with business administration or crime and justice studies.

The Department of Biological Sciences promotes an active academic advising program to assist undergraduates in designing an appropriate course of study that will satisfy requirements for graduation, and can be completed in four years in most cases.

High School Preparation

High school students need an interest in science and an aptitude for biology, chemistry and mathematics. A background in these classes will help ensure success at the undergraduate level.

Quick Facts about the School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics

UT Dallas’ School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics offers degree programs for undergraduate and graduate students in biology, chemistry, geosciences, mathematics, and physics. In addition to regular coursework, undergraduates are encouraged to participate in research alongside faculty and graduate students. Together with its world class departments, the school also hosts the renowned MacDiarmid NanoTech Institute and the William B. Hanson Center for Space Sciences that developed the mass spectrometer that discovered water on Mars.

• Established in 1975
• Six departments
• More than 3,200 students
• 30 degrees offered
• Alumni include a Nobel Prize winner, a NASA astronaut, and numerous faculty fellows of the National Academy of Engineering and American Association for the Advancement of Science

Degrees Offered

Bachelor of Science: Actuarial science, biochemistry, biology, biomedical sciences, chemistry, data science*, geosciences, mathematics, molecular biology, physics

Bachelor of Arts: Biology, chemistry, mathematics, physics

Master of Science: Actuarial science, bioinformatics and computational biology, biotechnology, chemistry, geosciences, mathematics, molecular and cell biology, physics, statistics

Master of Arts in Teaching: Mathematics education, science education

Doctor of Philosophy: Chemistry, geosciences, mathematics, molecular and cell biology, physics, statistics

*Joint program between the School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics and Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science.

Certificates

• Data Science
• Genomics
• Geophysics
• Quantum Information
• Certificate in Biomedical Sciences (CBioMed)

Teacher Certification

The UTeach Dallas program offers students the opportunity to complete the requirements for high school teacher certification along with their regular BS or BA degrees.

Fast Track to Graduate School

The Fast Track program enables exceptionally gifted UT Dallas students to include master’s level courses in their undergraduate degree plans. Students who meet the requirements for admission to graduate school, and the minimum GPA requirement for their major, can take up to 15 semester credit hours of approved graduate level courses in their senior year to use toward completion of both bachelor’s and master’s degrees.  

To take graduate courses in the Fast Track program upper-division undergraduates must have completed 90 semester credit hours and petition their associate dean for permission to take graduate courses.