Doctor of Philosophy in Integrated Biomedical Sciences Curriculum

Program Objectives

Our Doctor of Philosophy in Integrated Biomedical Sciences program prepares you for leadership in research and academic positions.

The program also provides you with career path education relevant to your specialized fields.

You will work with faculty and scientists to generate new knowledge in the fields of biomedicine using sophisticated research methods.

You will design and conduct research that culminates in a dissertation. And you must pass a comprehensive preliminary examination based on your research proposal.

Graduates perform high-quality, impactful biomedical research in a variety of settings.

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Graduation Requirements

First year

First year course work is designed to expose you to the biomedical sciences, enabling you to design and approach a research problem from molecular, cellular and organ system perspectives. 

You will need to complete a minimum of 9 credits of course work each semester. The courses will be a combination of core courses, three laboratory rotations and research-area-specific courses.

At the end of the first year, you will select your area of research and your research adviser.

Second year

The second year marks the beginning of your dissertation research. You will learn relevant laboratory techniques and develop a research proposal in conjunction with your research adviser.

In the second year, you will select a dissertation committee and defend the proposal in front of the committee.

Third, fourth and fifth years

In your final three years, you will concentrate on your research project and steadily progress toward the completion of your dissertation.

Course Curriculum

First year of study

Core courses

  • BTN - 525 Experimental Design and Models in Disease (Credits: 2)
  • GCC - 506 Biomedical Ethics (Credits: 1)
  • GCC - 516 Foundations in Biomedical Sciences (Credits: 7)
  • GCC - 546 Principles of Biostatistics I (Credits: 2)
  • GCC - 548 Bioinformatics (Credits: 1)
  • GCC - 594 Introduction to Grant Writing (Credits: 2)

Laboratory rotations

  • GCC - 530 Laboratory Rotations I (Credits: 1-9)
  • GCC - 533 Laboratory Rotations II (Credits: 1-9)
  • GCC - 534 Laboratory Rotations III (Credits: 1-9)

Research area-specific courses

For graduation, students will need to select an introductory and an advanced course.

  • BMC - 500 Musculoskeletal Biology (Credits: 3)
  • BMC - 508 Techniques in Orthopedic Biomechanics (Credits: 2)
  • GCC - 519 Intro to Neuroscience (Credits: 3)
  • GCC - 611 Cancer Biology I (Credits: 3)
  • GCC - 612 Cancer Biology II (Credits: 3)
  • GCC - 652 The Changing Nervous System (Credits: 2)
  • IMM - 507 Basic Immunology I (Credits: 3)
  • IMM - 510 Advanced Immunology I (Credits: 4)

Dissertation Research

Taken in the second through fifth years of study

  • GCC - 699 Dissertation Research (Credits: 1-9)
    Minimum of 54 credits required

View the current course catalog

Refer to the course catalog for our most up-to-date curriculum information.