Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry

Director of undergraduate studies: Andrew Miranker, 318 BASS, 432-8954, [email protected]; mb&b.yale.edu

Members of the Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry (MB&B) are united by a common view that processes in biology are understood when molecular, chemical, kinetic, and thermodynamic contributions to mechanisms have been elucidated. Correspondingly, our faculty and students are joined by a shared fascination with biochemistry, physical chemistry, structural biology, computation, spectroscopy, macromolecular engineering, imaging and the molecular basis of disease. 

Three quarters of our graduates matriculate into PhD, MD, and MD/PhD programs. Other recent graduates have joined companies specializing in finance, management consulting, biotechnology, and pharma. Others have matriculated in law or business school and doctoral programs in the humanities. Still others have performed public service, entered secondary education, or joined the United States armed forces as officers.

Requirements of the major

The core elements of the major are biophysics, biochemistry, and science and society. The requirements beyond these core elements teach advanced concepts, and teach the technology and practical skills that enable scholarship in the discipline.

The major requirements for the Class of 2025 and previous classes With approval from the DUS, the following changes to the major may be fulfilled by students who declared their major under previous requirements. 

The following changes to the major requirements for the Class of 2026 and subsequent classes apply to the B.S. degree, the B.A. degree, and the B.S./M.S. degree.

B.A. Degree ProgramThe B.A. degree program requires a total of 9.5 course credits to include: 3 biophysics credits; 3 biochemistry credits, a half-credit for science and society; 1 credit to fulfill the practical skills requirement; 1 elective; and the senior requirement. 

The core Biophysics requirements are two semesters of physics (PHYS 170 and 171 or higher) and one semester of biophysical chemistry (MB&B 275 or CHEM 332).

The core Biochemistry requirements include MB&B 300 and 301 (substitutions are not permitted), and CHEM 175 or any 200+ level Chemistry course.

The Science and Society core requirement is 0.5 credit (MB&B 268 is recommended) and addresses the intersection of Molecular Biophysics & Biochemistry with human identity and society. Alternatives to MB&B 268 are MB&B 107, HSHM 206, 241, 406, 424, 436, 475, 481, SOCY 127, 351 or WGSS 457.  Petitions for course substitutions (see below) are encouraged.

The Practical skills requirement is fulfilled with one full-credit or two half-credit courses spread across two or three of the categories listed below. At least one half-credit must come from MB&B.  

• Physics lab options include MB&B 101L (available spring 2023), MB&B 470 and 471*, PHYS 165L, 166L, CHEM 355L, other 200+ level lab courses with DUS approval.

• Biochemistry Lab options include MB&B 251L, 470 and 471*, CHEM 355L, other 200+ level lab courses with DUS approval.

• Critical Tools options include MB&B 435, 470 and 471*, S&DS 105, 238, CPSC 112 and others with DUS approval.

*MB&B 470 and 471 are research for credit courses. Above categorization is dependent on the research project. Up to two credits may be taken for a letter grade. 

The Elective course should be a lecture or seminar MB&B course at the 200+ level.

B.S. Degree ProgramThe B.S. degree program requires a total of 12.5 course credits including the senior requirement. This program follows the requirements of the B.A. degree program with the following additions. 

For the core Biophysics requirement: one additional 300+ course in physical sciences, mathematics, statistics or computer science.

For the Practical Skills requirement: one additional credit for a total of two credits.

For the elective courses: one additional 200+ level seminar or lecture course in STEM.

Combined B.S./M.S. Degree ProgramThe B.S./M.S. degree program requires a total of 18.5 course credits including the senior requirement. See Academic Regulations, section L, Special Academic Arrangements, â€œSimultaneous Award of the Bachelor's and Master's Degrees.â€ Interested students should consult their academic advisor prior to the fifth term of enrollment for details and application requirements (due December 1 of the fifth semester). The B.S./MS program follows the requirements of the B.S. Degree program with the following additions.

For the core Biophysics requirement: one additional 300+ course in thermodynamics, statistical mech, quantum and/or spectroscopy (CHEM 332 is recommended). PHYS 180 and 181 in place of PHYS 170 and 171.

The Practical Skills requirement is replaced by one semester of MB&B 470 or 471 which must be completed by the end of the fifth semester.

For the Elective course, the single MB&B 200+ seminar or lecture elective is replaced by two MB&B electives at 500+ and four 500+ electives in STEM.

Concentrations

Concentrations in MB&B are sets of electives, curated by faculty, designed to focus attention on specific subfields of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry. Concentrations appear on a student’s official Yale transcript and are currently available in Medicine; Computational Biology and Bioinformatics; Chemical Biology; Biochemistry; and Biophysics and Structural Biology. 

Electives taken for the major that meet the same criteria as requirements for a concentration may be used to fulfill both requirements. Placement exams and acceleration credits do not count towards completion of concentration-specific requirements. Instead, majors enroll in higher-level courses in the same concentration-specific category. Depending on the particular concentration and the choice of electives, concentrations add between zero and three additional credits to major requirements. As incentive to take more challenging coursework, students fulfilling a concentration may take up to one course of upper-level requirements as Credit/D/Fail. 

Some concentrations include research-for-credit courses or course-based undergraduate research experiences (CUREs) as a mechanism to fulfill a requirement. These courses must directly relate to the chosen concentration (broadly interpreted) and require DUS approval.

Medicine

This concentration is designed for students with strong interests in the molecular basis of physiology and disease. Majors aspiring to graduate studies in biomedical sciences, work in biotechnology, or medical school are particularly encouraged to fulfill this concentration. 

In addition to, and/or as part of, the degree requirements, the following courses are required:

Genetics and Development: BIOL 103 and 104

Organic Chemistry: second term of organic chemistry (CHEM 175 or 221)

Statistics:  S&DS 105, 230, or higher

Psychology: PSYC 110 or higher or PSYC 312

Physics labs (1 credit): MB&B 101L (available spring 2023), PHYS 165L, 166L, MB&B 364, or others as approved by the DUS (see below) are encouraged.

Biomedical research (total for 1 credit):  MB&B 470 or 471, or course based undergraduate research including MB&B 251L, MCDB 291L, or others 

Advanced Seminar: one from MB&B 445, 452, 449, MCDB 315, 450, or others as approved by the DUS

Computational Biology & Bioinformatics

This concentration is designed for students with strong interests in computer science, data science, statistics, and biology. Majors aspiring to graduate studies in computational biology, bioinformatics, medical informatics or biotechnology are particularly encouraged to fulfill this concentration. 

In addition to, and/or as part of, the degree requirements, the following courses are required:

Genetics and Evolutionary Biology (B.A. degree): 

• $80 application fee or fee waiver
• Recommendations from two teachers and one counselor
• School Report with transcript
• Standardized test results (ACT or SAT) - not required for fall 2023 admission. (See below)
• English proficiency test results - required for non-native English-speakers (See below)
• Mid-Year Report & Final Report

See additional details about these required application components below.

Please note that if your application materials include any documents that are not in English, you must provide an official English translation in addition to the original documents.

$80 application fee or fee waiver

Applicants should pay the $80 application fee via the Common Application or Coalition Application website.

Applicants using the Common Application or Coalition Application may request that the application fee be waived. Learn more on the fee waiver page. The fee waiver scale is based on family size and income in US dollars but is applicable to all international students.

Recommendations from two teachers and one counselor

Request recommendations from two teachers who have taught you in core academic subjects (e.g. English, Foreign Language, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies) who know you well, and who have seen you at your best. It is preferable, but not required, that recommendations come from teachers who have taught you during your final or next-to-final year of secondary school.

Also request a recommendation from your school’s college counselor. If your counselor does not know you well, the recommendation may still provide helpful contextual information about your school and its academic programs. If your school does not have someone serving as a college counselor, please request a recommendation from a school administrator such as a house master, principal, or academic advisor. 

School Report with transcript

Your counselor or other school official should submit a School Report with an official transcript that includes all your secondary school courses. If a question on the School Report form is not applicable to your secondary school, leave it blank. 

Recommendations and transcripts should be submitted electronically through the Common Application or Coalition Application website. If necessary, teachers and counselors may also submit their recommendations and transcripts via mail or digital upload. Recommendations may be sent before or after you submit your application; materials that arrive before your application will be kept on file. The admissions office will make reasonable allowances for late school documents in situations where it is not possible for teachers and counselors to meet the application deadlines.

Standardized test results

In response to the extraordinary circumstances associated with the pandemic, Yale has temporarily suspended its requirement that first-year and transfer applicants submit results from the ACT or SAT. The change will be in effect during the 2022-23 admissions cycles for applicants who intend to matriculate in fall 2023. 

More information on Yale’s test policies is available on the standardized testing page. Standardized tests are just one component of a student’s application and are viewed within the context of the student’s entire file. There is no minimum score required for admission, nor is there a score that will guarantee admission.

English proficiency exams

Yale requires that non-native English-speakers who have not taken at least two years of secondary education where English is the medium of instruction submit the results from any of the proficiency tests listed below.

The TOEFL requires pre-registration for available testing dates. Yale’s most competitive applicants have scores of at least 100 on the internet-based TOEFL.

The IELTS offers proficiency tests in locations around the world. Pre-registration is required. Yale’s most competitive applicants have IELTS scores of 7 or higher.

Cambridge English exams are available at testing locations around the world. Pre-registration is required. Yale’s most competitive applicants have Cambridge English scores of 185 or higher on the C1 Advanced, C2 Proficiency, or B2 First exams.

Applicants may submit the Duolingo English Test (DET), which combines an English proficiency test with a brief video interview. Duolingo’s technology and format allows applicants to complete the test at any time or place with internet access. Yale’s most competitive applicants have DET scores of at least 120.

InitialView provides live, unscripted video interviews that candidates may submit to colleges for consideration with other application materials. Interview times must be reserved in advance. There is no scoring associated with these interviews.

Mid-Year Report & Final Report

Students who do not receive new secondary school grades by February 1, including students who have already completed secondary school, are not required to submit a Mid-Year Report. This includes many international students. Applicants who receive new grades by February 1 should submit a Mid-Year Report.

Only admitted students are required to submit the Final Report, which provides final secondary school grades and examination marks. Admitted students submit the Final Report in the summer before fall matriculation.

If your secondary school provides predicted results for external exams such as A-levels, the International Baccalaureate, and other international or national testing organizations, they should be submitted by your school alongside your transcript or Mid-Year Report.

All applicants for first-year admission must submit one of the following:

• The Coalition Application with Yale-Specific Questions
• The Common Application with Yale-Specific Questions
• The QuestBridge National College Match Application

Yale will accept any one of these applications, without preference for one over another. Students should submit one—and only one—application per admissions cycle.