Curriculum

Progress to Degree Timeline

Curriculum Schema - Plan of Study

Jagtrax

The multidisciplinary core curriculum provides a broad based foundation of knowledge and cultivates critical thinking skills. Additional opportunities and upper level courses build professional, educational and leadership skills.

Students complete three-semesters of core courses that integrate basic science principles at all levels. The courses include a combination of lectures and interactive seminars that focus on contemporary research topics by reference to the biomedical research literature. In addition, students learn about the wide variety of research activities being conducted by the graduate faculty that allows them to complete five, hands-on laboratory rotations.

FIRST YEAR

Fall (Semester 1)

BIOM 8011: Responsible Conduct of Research
BIOM 8021: Biochemistry & Gene Regulation
BIOM 8022: Molecular Cell Biology
BIOM 8040: Introduction to Faculty Research
BIOM 8050: Introduction to Research I

Spring (Semester 2)

BIOM 8012: Scientific Communication
BIOM 8033: Integrated Systems Biology
BIOM 8060: Introduction to Research II

Students must take 4-credit hours from the following selectives:

BIOM 8030: Experimental Therapeutics (2 credit hours)
BIOM 8080: Neuroscience I (4 credit hours) (required for Neuroscience majors)
BIOM 8090: Fundamentals of Genomic Medicine (2 credit hours) (required for Genomic Medicine majors)
BIOM 8215: Fundamentals of Oncology I (2 credit hours)
BIOM 8230: Biology of Proteins in Disease (2 credit hours)
BIOM 8240: Introduction to Immunology & Infectious Disease (2 credit hours)

At the end of their second semester, students choose a research mentor, join a laboratory and enter one the nine biomedical science majors.

Summer (Semester 3)

STAT 7070: Biomedical Statistics
XXXX 9210: Investigation of a Problem (XXXX is the biomedical science major you have joined)

Second Year and Beyond

The Doctor of Philosophy curriculum is not lock-step; students do not graduate as a class at the end of a specific semester. The average time to degree is approximately 5 years of full-time, year-round study. The acceptable duration of the program is between 3 and 7 years.

Program Specific Curriculum

Required Courses

XXXX 9010 - Seminar in Major
For most majors, the seminar course must be taken every semester offered until admission to candidacy and dissertation requirements are complete.
XXXX-XXXX- Journal Club
For many majors, a journal club type course is taken every semester offered until admission to candidacy and dissertation requirements are complete.
XXXX 9210 - Investigation of a Problem
In all majors, Investigation of a Problem must be taken every semester until admission to candidacy requirements are complete.
XXXX 9300 - Research
In all majors, Research must be taken every semester after admission to candidacy until dissertation requirements are met.

Elective Courses

The number and type of advanced or elective courses vary by major. Electives may be taken in major or in another biomedical science major (selections require approval from mentor, advisory committee and program director).

Additional Requirements

In addition to course requirements, students must complete additional PhD degree requirements, including satisfactory performance on the comprehensive exam, development and approval of a research proposal, writing and approval of their doctoral dissertation, and satisfactory performance on the final oral examination (dissertation defense). Annual meetings with your advisory committee and individual development plans are also required. Attendance at workshops and career and professional development activities are highly recommended.