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Curriculum

First Year

In the first year, students are enrolled in the Biomedical Sciences Core Curriculum which consists of the following:

Semester One (fall)

BIOM 8011 - Responsible Conduct of Research

BIOM 8012 -  Scientific Communication

BIOM 8021 - Biochemistry and Gene Regulation

BIOM 8022 - Molecular Cell Biology

BIOM 8040 - Introduction to Faculty Research

BIOM 8050 - Introduction to Research 1

Semester Two (spring)

BIOM 8033 - Integrative Systems Biology

BIOM 8060 - Introduction to Research II

In addition they will pick four credit hours from the following electives:

BIOM 8215  - Fundamentals of Oncology I

BIOM 8080 - Neuroscience I (required for Neuroscience majors)

BIOM 8090  - Fundamentals of Genomic Medicine (required for Genomic Medicine majors)

BIOM 8230  - Biology of Proteins in Disease

BIOM 8240  - Introduction to Immunology and Infectious Disease

BIOM 8030  - Experimental Therapeutics

Semester three (summer)

STAT 7070 - Biomedical Statistics

You must also take "Investigation of a Problem"

Second year and beyond
(Vascular biology advanced curriculum)

The PhD 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; acceptable duration of the program is between 3 and 7 years. The number and type of advanced (2nd year and beyond) or elective courses vary and may include courses within the Vascular Biology Program as well as courses in other disciplines.

Vascular Biology Required Courses

BIOM 8130 - Scientific Grant Writing

VBIO 8010 - Methods in Cardiovascular Research

VBIO 8020 - New Frontiers in Vascular Biology

VBIO 9020 - Vascular Biology Journal Club

VBIO 9010 - Seminar in Vascular Biology - The seminar course must be taken every semester until admission to the candidacy and dissertation requirements are complete.

VBIO 9210 - Investigation of a Problem in Vascular Biology - This course must be taken every semester until admission to the candidacy requirements are complete.

VBIO 9300 - Research in Vascular Biology - Research must be taken every semester after admission to candidacy until dissertation requirements are met.

Elective course options (minimum of 3 credit hours)

Advanced course in another discipline or biomedical science major (selections require approval from mentor and program director).

 

Additional requirements

In addition to specific course requirements, students must complete additional PhD degree requirements, including the following:

  • Annual meetings with advisory committee and individual development plans
  • Satisfactory performance on both the written and oral Comprehensive Examination
  • Development of an approved research proposal
  • Publication of at least one first-authored original research article in an approved peer-reviewed journal
  • Writing and obtaining approval of the doctoral dissertation
  • Satisfactory performance on the Final Oral Examination (dissertation defense)