Degree Requirements
Doctor of Philosophy

Students who wish to be admitted to the PhD program in the department will take core courses and do laboratory rotations as outlined for the IGPBS Program in their first year. Once a student selects an Advisor within the department, core courses and two advanced courses (shown below) are required. During this time the student will begin dissertation research. Before the end of the second year, all candidates are expected to take the comprehensive qualifying examination, which consists of a written proposal in the format of a NIH grant application and an oral presentation to defend the proposed studies. A successful passage of this qualifying exam advances the candidate to the status as a Ph.D. student. A Research committee will be selected at this time according to the Graduate School Catalog.

Succeeding years are devoted primarily to dissertation research. Progresses of the students will be subjected to annual evaluation by the Research committee. Ph.D. students are expected to complete the programs by defending the thesis research. The final thesis may consist of a brief introduction followed by multiple chapters in the format of manuscripts accepted for publications in relevant journals.

Graduate SGPS Catalog

Core Courses