PhD students admitted to the Integrated Biomedical Graduate Studies Program will enroll in a core curriculum during the first year. The core curriculum consists of:
At the end of the first year, each student will select the program from which they wish to receive the PhD degree as well as a research mentor in whose laboratory they will complete the dissertation research. During the second year, students will take additional courses as determined by the selected department and will continue working on the selected dissertation project. Near the end of the second year, students will take a written comprehensive examination. Upon passing this examination, students will choose a guidance committee in consultation with the mentor and graduate student advisor. This committee will administer an oral examination covering the proposed dissertation research. Students will be admitted to candidacy upon the successful completion of both the written and oral comprehensive examinations. Students will continue working on the selected dissertation project as guided and advised by both the research mentor and the Graduate Guidance Committee. Upon completion of this work, students will write and orally defend the doctoral dissertation.
Students wishing to pursue a master's degree in anatomy, biochemistry, microbiology, or physiology should apply directly to the selected department. At this time, master's students are not accepted into the pharmacology department, though such degrees may be granted in special circumstances. In general, both thesis and non-thesis MS degrees are available for each of the five programs. Students will enroll in courses as described for the individual programs. In lieu of writing and defending a thesis, non-thesis MS students must pass a written comprehensive examination.
Applicants must have a bachelor's degree from an accredited US college or the equivalent from a foreign university. Foreign applicants must have their transcripts evaluated by an accredited agency for equivalency to a US degree.
Entrance requirements include a full year of each of the following undergraduate courses: General Biology, General Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, and General Physics.
Upper division Biology (such as Cell and Molecular Biology), Chemistry (such as Biochemistry), and Calculus are strongly recommended.
Results of the general test of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) must be submitted. Applicants whose first language is not English must submit scores from the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language).
Guidelines for minimum scores are set by the Faculty of Graduate Studies:
The application process begins with the student filling out an online application. Although applications can be considered through the month of June for the academic year beginning in September, decisions regarding stipend support are typically made during the month of February. Therefore, early application is encouraged.
The Cellular Mechanisms and Integrated Systems sequence
This course includes a weekly Journal Club for relevant literature discussions.
The Introduction to Research sequence
Research Rotations
The curriculum for MS students will vary somewhat depending on the department requirements but is generally closely related to the curriculum for PhD students.
Click here to see the course requirements for the PhD and MS degrees in anatomy, biochemistry, microbiology, pharmacology, and physiology.
Most students entering the PhD program are awarded a tuition waiver plus a stipend for living expenses. The intent of the stipend is to provide enough financial support for a modest lifestyle, allowing students to give 100 percent of their energies to the academic program. The stipends are awarded on an academically competitive basis with no regard for financial need or visa status. Renewal of the stipend for the first two years is dependent on satisfactory progress in the program; in most cases the stipend will be the responsibility of the student's laboratory for the remainder of his or her studies. During the 2005-2006 school year, the stipend amount was $20,000 per year. Master's students are not eligible for these stipends.
Both thesis and non-thesis (coursework) tracks are available to students pursuing MS degrees. The individual programs are responsible for defining the specific requirements for these degrees. In general, the thesis option requires both the successful completion of coursework and the preparation and oral defense of a thesis based on a research project. The coursework option requires the completion of additional coursework and the passing of a written comprehensive examination.
A combined degree program, which allows students to earn both a PhD and an MD degree, is also available.
Last Revised: Tue, Aug 14, 2007
