Degree Programs

The biological and chemical sciences are varied and multidisciplinary. To reflect the diversity of research opportunities, the College of Chemical and Life Sciences, in collaboration with other units at the University, offers graduate education through a number of programs. These are designed to provide the highest quality graduate training without restrictions of department boundaries.

Chemical Sciences Programs

• Chemistry & Biochemistry (Ph.D.) offers graduate study and research that leads to Doctoral (PhD) degrees that span the entire spectrum of chemistry and biochemistry. The program has strong ties to other areas of science and engineering throughout the University of Maryland and the region.


• Biophysics offers an interdisciplinary program that tackles some of the outstanding problems in biology, biomedicine, and bioengineering. Graduate students are trained to use theoretical and computational methods to interpret and design cutting edge experiments on biological systems.


• Chemical Physics (M.S., Ph.D.) provides a firm academic foundation for an expanding range of professsional careers that require knowledge of both physics and chemistry. Participating faculty come from the Institute for Physical Science and Technology, the Departments of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Meteorology, Physics, Chemical, Electrical, Mechanical, Materials and Nuclear Engineering as well as the Institute for Research in Electronics and Applied Physics (IREAP).

Life Sciences Programs

• Biological Sciences Graduate Program offers Ph.D. programs in four concentration areas: Behavior, Ecology, Evolution, and Systematics (BEES) ; Computational Biology, Bioinformatics, and Genomics (CBBG); Molecular and Cellular Biology (MOCB); and Physiological Systems (PSYS) .


• Entomology (M.S., Ph.D.) has an internationally recognized graduate program, offering both the Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy degrees.


• Marine-Estuarine-Environmental Sciences (M.S., Ph.D.), or MEES program, offers master of science and doctoral degrees covering restoration ecology, aquaculture, fisheries management, oceanography, marine biotechnology, toxicology, environmental chemistry, remote sensing, and landscape ecology.


• Neuroscience and Cognitive Science (Ph.D.) offers research and training opportunities in neuroscience, cognitive neuroscience and computational neuroscience with internationally-renowned faculty who interact among three campuses: in Baltimore City, at UMC and at College Park.


• Sustainable Development and Conservation Biology (M.S.), or CONS program, is to attract the world's best candidates for leadership in conservation biology and development programs, and to provide them with the multidisciplinary, conceptual and experiential learning experience necessary to address the biodiversity crisis that now faces the planet.

Online Masters for Science Teachers

• Master of Chemical & Life Sciences Online (M.S.) is a masters program for high school science teachers that provides in depth knowledge of current research areas in the biological, biochemical and biomedical sciences.