Degree Requirements
The curriculum for each student will be developed with the aid of the graduate committee. During the first year, trainees rotate through various laboratories in the department and participate in Journal Club. In addition, the following required courses must be taken: BIMS 503 Macromolecular Structure and Function (Biochemistry), BIMS 812 Cell Structure and Function, BIMS 832 Graduate Physiology, and one elective. In the second year, students enroll in BIMS 811 Gene Structure and Function, PHAR 901 Human Pharmacology, PHAR 902 Molecular Characterization of Drug Targets, and one elective.
The program is flexible and with the exception of the required courses above, other course work will be tailored to the needs and desires of the individual student. Advanced graduate courses are available in most areas of pharmacology, as listed above, as well as in allied sciences such as cell biology, biochemistry, anatomy, physiology, microbiology, and medicinal chemistry. Most formal courses, with the exception of seminar and Journal Club, will be completed within the first two years.
Each student is required to present and defend a detailed research proposal before a faculty committee. This proposition defense is to be completed by July 1 at the end of the fourth semester.
Research for the dissertation is regarded as the major training of the candidate. An independent research project must be completed and published under the close supervision of an advisor and a thesis committee. The research is started as early as possible in the candidate’s program, usually in the second year.
The final examination for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy is devoted entirely to defense of the dissertation by the candidate.
Return to: