About this Program
The Old Dominion University M.S. in Molecular Diagnostics & Precision Medicine prepares students to perform high-complexity molecular testing in clinical and research laboratories. Offered on-campus in Norfolk, Virginia through the Ellmer College of Health Sciences (a continuation of the former EVMS School of Health Professions program), the degree combines lecture coursework with hands-on training in a shared instrumentation core facility. Graduates are prepared to sit for the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) Board of Certification examination and to enter roles as molecular laboratory scientists, clinical genetic technologists, and clinical molecular pathologists.
Program Highlights
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ASCP Board of Certification preparation. The curriculum aligns with the ASCP Molecular Biology (MB) certification competency areas. Graduates qualify to sit for the exam upon program completion.
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Shared instrumentation core facility. Hands-on training in nucleic acid isolation, PCR, qRT-PCR, DNA sequencing, western blot, ELISA, and PCR-RFLP using research-grade laboratory equipment.
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Clinical-laboratory legacy and faculty expertise. The program continues the molecular diagnostics curriculum developed at Eastern Virginia Medical School (now part of ODU). Faculty include practicing clinical molecular diagnosticians and translational researchers.
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Customized coursework for clinical and research career paths. Students can shape their elective and capstone choices toward clinical laboratory roles or translational research, depending on career direction.
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On-campus in Norfolk, Virginia. The program is delivered in person to provide direct laboratory access. Online and hybrid formats are not currently available.
Featured Courses
Requirements
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A baccalaureate degree in biology, chemistry, medical laboratory science, health sciences, or related health and scientific disciplines, from a regionally accredited institution of higher education is required.
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A GPA of at least 2.7 on a 4.0 scale in the last 60 credits completed.
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Three (3) letters of recommendation.
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A personal statement describing how the Molecular Diagnostics & Precision Medicine (M.S.) program will enhance the applicant's academic and/or professional career goals.
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Current resume/CV documenting professional experience and educational achievements.
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Official transcripts from all colleges/universities attended. Ensure the degree conferral date is listed on the awarding institution’s transcript.
Please note: Transcripts must be sent to GradCAS only. GradCAS only accepts electronic transcripts from Credentials Solutions, Parchment, and National Student Clearinghouse. If your school does not offer either of these services, your transcript must be sent via mail.Below are three ways to send your transcripts.
To send transcripts to GradCAS by mail, after you enter each institution in GradCAS, download a transcript request form. Fill out and send the transcript request form to the institution registrar, asking them to mail the transcript to the address below:
GradCAS Transcript Processing Center
P.O. Box 9217
Watertown, MA 02471
Cost of Attendance
Tuition is charged per credit hour. Amounts shown are tuition only and do not include mandatory fees, technology-delivered course fees, course-specific fees, books, housing, meal plans, or other costs. Campus-based students may take technology-delivered or online courses. Tuition is based on student classification. Fees for technology-delivered courses and other costs are listed on the ODU tuition and fees page.
Ways to Fund Your Degree
There are a few ways for you to save on the cost of attending Old Dominion University, including scholarships, assistantships, and student loans. For more details about financial aid at Old Dominion, visit the Financial Aid Office page.
Frequently Asked Questions
The M.S. in Molecular Diagnostics & Precision Medicine at Old Dominion University is a graduate degree offered through the Ellmer College of Health Sciences (continuing the program developed at Eastern Virginia Medical School). Students complete coursework in molecular diagnostics laboratory methods, advanced clinical molecular diagnostics, and ethics, and graduate prepared to sit for the ASCP Molecular Biology (MB) Board of Certification examination. The program is delivered on-campus in Norfolk, Virginia.
No. The program is on-campus only. Hands-on laboratory training in the shared instrumentation core facility is a required component of the curriculum.
Yes. The curriculum is structured to meet ASCP MB Board of Certification eligibility requirements. Coursework covers the competency domains tested on the exam, and graduates are prepared to sit for the exam upon program completion.
Graduates work as molecular laboratory scientists, clinical genetic technologists, clinical molecular pathology technologists, and research associates or lab managers in translational research labs. Employers include hospital and academic medical center laboratories, public health labs, reference laboratories (such as LabCorp and Quest), and biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies.
State licensure requirements for clinical laboratory professionals vary. The ASCP MB credential is recognized in most states that require licensure for molecular technologists. Students planning to work in California, New York, or other states with specific clinical laboratory licensure requirements should contact the program coordinator early in the program to confirm coursework alignment with the destination state's requirements.
Tuition costs vary by program and are subject to change. Visit the Current Tuition Rates page for the most up-to-date tuition information.
The Early Assurance Program provides qualified ODU undergraduates with conditional admission to the M.S. in Molecular Diagnostics & Precision Medicine before completing their bachelor's degree. Eligibility criteria, including required undergraduate coursework and GPA thresholds, are outlined on the Early Assurance Program page.
Old Dominion University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). Program-specific accreditation information is available on the Accreditation page linked above.
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