Why study Cancer and Cell Biology?

The Cancer & Cell Biology (CCB) Graduate program offers both full-time and part-time thesis-based Master of Science (MS) degree options. The MS degree in Cancer and Cell Biology opens up a wide range of career opportunities in academia, the biotech and pharmaceutical industries, and public service. While prior research experience is helpful for success in the program, it is not required. The CCB MS program is designed to provide students with significant research training to also prepare them for competitive applications to PhD and/or MD/PhD programs. Additionally, the first-year didactic courses in the MS program transfer seamlessly into the CCB PhD program. Tuition is charged according to standard in-state or out-of-state rates. Students from Kentucky and Indiana may be eligible for tuition reciprocity. University of Cincinnati employees may also qualify for tuition benefits.

Admission Requirements

Requirements to apply:

  • UC Graduate Admissions Application 
  • Application fee of $65 (domestic)/$70 (international) 
  • Bachelor's degree
  • Minimum of one (1) Letter of Recommendation, maximum of three (3)
  • Current Resume/CV
  • Overall GPA of at least 3.0 out of 4.0
  • Personal Statement & Statement of Research
  • GRE (code 1833) – This is not required but highly recommended
  • English Proficiency Test (International Students) – TOEFL, IELTS, Duolingo (exemptions listed here) 

After a thorough screening of applications, personal interviews will be arranged for a select group of competitive candidates. The interview serves as an opportunity for the applicant to meet faculty and graduate students, to learn about the program’s research facilities, and for members of the program to evaluate the prospective student.

While we use grades and test scores (if submitted) as part of our review process, we give the greatest emphasis to the candidate’s personal statement, research experience, letters of recommendation, and interviews. 

The Master of Science in Cancer and Cell Biology also opens up many career opportunities in academia, biotech, pharmaceutical industries, and public service. Research Experience prior to entering the program is helpful for success in the program. However, the CCB MS program is designed for students to gain significant research experience to be competitive for admission into PhD and/or MD/PhD programs.

The information provided is sourced from a third party, Lightcast. Their product, called Career Coach, combines extensive labor market data from Lightcast and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. It provides insights on industry, occupation, compensation, and projected growth for each profession. Economic and workforce information is available for various geographic regions. Some careers may require additional training or education.

Students in the Cancer and Cell Biology (CCB) MS program receive personalized academic and career guidance throughout their time in the MS program. Upon enrollment, each student meets with the CCB Program Director to discuss their academic goals and long-term professional interests and to receive guidance on course selection. Once students select their thesis lab, they work primarily with their faculty advisor, who provides support in research planning and professional development. The Program Director and faculty advisors help students align their academic goals with their broader career aspirations, whether in research, clinical settings, or industry. In addition to faculty mentorship, students benefit from access to program staff and university resources that support academic success, wellness, and career preparation.

  • UC is Classified as a Tier 1 Carnegie Research Institution
  • Over 60 faculty mentors to choose from, split between UC College of Medicine and Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center
  • A wide array of scientific disciplines and methodologies are represented, comprising the full spectrum of purely basic translational and clinical research
  • High-impact works published in the last year from our faculty include articles in Nature, Nature Medicine, Nature Cell Biology, Cancer Discovery, and other top-tier journals
  • Robust state-of-the-art Core Facilities to augment students’ projects  
  • Collaborative research environment with the adjacent Veterans Affairs Hospital, Environmental Protection Agency, UC Health, UC College of Pharmacy, and others  

During the first year of graduate study, MS students focus on coursework and laboratory rotations to become familiar with the research programs and faculty in the Cancer & Cell Biology Graduate Program. The remainder of the program is dedicated to completing required coursework and conducting thesis research, as outlined in collaboration with the student’s thesis advisor and approved by the thesis committee. Full-time students are expected to complete all degree requirements within two years; part-time students may take longer, depending on their course load and research progress. A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale is required for graduation.

Required courses

Course Number

Credit Hrs.

Ethics in Research

26 GNTD 7003

1

Data Critique 

26 CB 9023

4

Cancer Biology & Therapeutics

26 CB 8080

5

Research

26 CB 8081

27

Statistics Elective

 

3

TOTAL

 

40

Explore unique opportunities, faculty, and resources available in Cancer Biology

The University of Cincinnati and all regional campuses are accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

The University of Cincinnati (UC) and all regional campuses are accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). Additionally, UC is an Ohio Public Institution, and each of its programs is approved by the Ohio Department of Higher Education (ODHE).

Contact Information

Pilar Ramos-Richey
3125 Eden Avenue
Vontz 2104
Cincinnati, OH 45267-0521
(513) 558-7379
CCBProgramManager@uc.edu

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Program Code: 26MAS-CCB-MS