Home / The University / Faculties / Faculty of Biology / Degree Programmes / Master's Degree Programmes / Faculty of Biology / Molecular Biology / Genetics and Genomics (for non-specialists) - (in English) Not available for academic 2023/2024

   

Head of master’s program: Assist. prof. Dimitrina Georgieva
phone.: 359 2 8167 257
е-mаil: d.georgieva@biofac.uni-sofia.bg

Duration: 4 semesters, starts in Summer semester
Form of teaching: full-time, paid

The Master program of Genetics and Genomics for non-biologists is aimed to teach mainly students with bachelor’s degrees in chemistry, physics, computer sciences and others. It is delivered by a variety of teaching methods, which include lectures, short practical courses, computer-based practical’s and seminars or paper discussions, taught by the staff of the Department of Genetics at Sofia University. It is divided into three semesters taught stages, each one providing 30 credits, which are followed by a fourth semester, centered on a degree project in a laboratory setting. The project is individually supervised and can be carried out not only at the Department of Genetics but at other scientific institutions as well.

This semester also provides 30 credits after a writing and defense of a Master’s thesis dissertation.

The taught stages consist of mandatory core courses with the aim of providing students with a thorough understanding of general concepts in genetics, genomics and Bioinformatics and with basic experimental skills in these fields.

Each semester, students choose one of several elective courses (minimum) which expand their knowledge in related fields of genetics.

The program will provide an important grounding for students to understand and apply genetic, molecular genetic and genomic tools to fundamental research questions in different areas: genetics, molecular genetics, genomics, molecular biology, medicine, biotechnology and agriculture.

The Master of Genetics and Genomics is designed to equip students to meet the growing requirement by academia, industry and clinical practice for scientists, qualified in genetics, molecular genetics and analysis of genomic data.

Admission requirements: Applicants – foreign students (non-Bulgarian citizens) from European Union countries and from Non-member countries – are expected to have a bachelor’s degree with a major in the field of Biology.

They should have a good command of English – written and spoken.

1.Orientation, educational purposes

The Master degree program “Genetics and genomics for non-specialists” is foreseen to be an opportunity to obtain a MSc degree in Genetics and genomics for students who have obtained a BSc degree in areas different from the Biology, especially in the following professional fields: Pedagogical sciences (Educational pedagogy in the domain of the natural sciences, different from the Biology), Humanitarian sciences (History and Archaeology), Social, Economic, and Legal sciences (Psychology, Public communications and information sciences, Law, Economics), Natural sciences (Physics, Chemistry, Earth science, Mathematics, Informatics, Computer sciences), Technical sciences and engineering (Machine engineering, Electrical engineering, Electronics, Automatization, Communication and computer engineering, Chemical technologies, Biotechnologies, Food technology, General engineering), Agricultural sciences (Plant breeding, Plant protection, Animal farming, Veterinary medicine, Forestry), Human health and sports (Medicine, Stomatology, Pharmacy, Public health, Healthcare, Sports), National security and defense (National security, Military sciences).

А. General requirements – competences and skills.

Personal and professional interests in the fields of Genetics and/or Molecular biology providing a deep motivation for professional realization and career development in the domains where professional knowledge in these fields is necessary.

Б. Special requirements – competences and skills.

Excellent English language knowledge allowing the education to be taught entirely in English. Good basic computer skills are also necessary.

2. Education (knowledge and skills required for successful professional activity; basic theoretical and specialized training, etc.).

The successful graduation of this program at the Faculty of Biology gives qualification within the specialty “Molecular biology”, professional field “Biological sciences”. The program duration is 2 years from the date of its approval. The qualification characteristics is used for the professional orientation of the candidates for the opportunities revealed by the MSc program, for the organization and the training of qualified personnel and for the determination of the structure and the content of the activities aiming the personnel’s qualification raising.

The study duration is 4 (four) semesters within 2 (two) years which include:

1st semester (summer) – study of certain BSc disciplines needed for obtaining fundamental knowledge in the domains of the Genetics and Molecular biology.

2nd and 3rd semester – study of disciplines which will allow in the future the graduated students to work on experimental tasks using genetic and molecular biology methods, such as modern molecular biology and genetic engineering methods, methods for DNA analyses, genetic manipulations etc. Such methods can be applied in the biomedical practice, in the agriculture, in the production of different pharmacological agents, for the realization of hi-tech biotechnologies etc. The obtained knowledge and experience will permit the future MSc students to learn in deep the molecular mechanisms existing within the living organisms, to be taught with the modern methodological approaches for the analyses of these mechanisms, as well to use a creative approaches for the analysis of the many unknown or partially known processes within the living cell.

4th semester - pre-diploma practical for thesis defense

3. Opportunities for professional realization of the graduated students

A. The students who graduate have the opportunity for professional realization in different countries within the scientific and research units, production laboratories, biotechnological companies, forensic laboratories. They can also choose academic career in high schools and universities and everywhere where genetics and molecular biology education is needed.

B. Application of the acquired knowledge and experience within scientific research and referent laboratories and units with genetic, genomic and molecular biology profiles.

4. Professional competences

The students graduating the MSc Program of Genetics and genomics for non-specialists will acquire the following competences:

Deep knowledge on the Genetics and molecular mechanisms existing within the living cell

  • Modern methodological approaches for genetic, molecular biology and bioinformatical analyses of these mechanisms
  • Opportunities for creative approach for the analyses of the genetic and molecular genetic base of many unknown and slightly studied processes within the living cell
  • Work on experimental tasks by using genetic and molecular biology methods in the fields of Genomics, Transcriptomics and Metabolomics
  • Experiences in the practical application of the acquired knowledge within the diagnostics, the medical genetics practice, the agriculture, the production of diverse pharmacological agents, the realization of hi-tech biotechnologies etc.
  • Ability to work in a team, decision making and initiative