PROGRAM OF INSTRUCTION
1. School of Biomedical Sciences Core (Waivers or substitutions must be approved by the Director)
a. BSCI 5/70143 Eukaryotic Cell Biology (3 cr)Current study of the structure and function of eukaryotic cells, including recent advances in research technology. Must enroll concurrently in:
BSCI 6/70144 Selected Readings in Eukaryotic Cell Biology (1cr)
b. General Biochemistry (one of the following)
CHEM 5/70247 Principles of Biochemistry (4 cr)
Introduction to biochemical principles, including chemistry and metabolism of biochemically important
compounds, biological catalysts, and metabolic regulation.
BSCI 5/70142 Bioenergetics (3 cr)
Lecture and discussion of respiration and photosynthesis, their origin, development, and control in living
systems. Concepts are introduced from fundamental principles.
BMS 6/70267, 6/70268 Molecular Pathology I, II (6cr)
Biochemical principles will be applied to explain the mechanisms of human disease in terms of defects in molecular structures and metabolic pathways. Prerequisite: CHEM 50245 or 50247.
c. Quantitative Methods and Statistics:
BSCI 6/70101 & 6/70102 Analysis of Biol. Data I & II (5 cr total) or
PSYC 6/71651 Statistical Inference in Psychology (3 cr) or
ANTH 69637/BMS 78637 Analysis of BioAnthropological Data I (5 cr) or
ANTH 69638/BMS 78638 Analysis of BioAnthropological Data II (3 cr) or
MATH 6/77095 Selected Topics in Statistics and Probability (3 cr) or
Equivalent course approved by Director.
d. Seminar
BMS 6/70791 Seminar in Pharmacology (1 cr)
e. Professional Development
BMS 6/70194 College Teaching in Biology
2. Pharmacology Core (Waivers or substitutions must be approved by the Director)
a. Pharmacology:
BMS 6/70550, 6/70551 Medical Pharmacology I & II (6 cr)
General principles of pharmacology including metabolism, action, interactions, side effects, toxicity and
therapeutic use of drugs. Prerequisite: one year of organic chemistry or biochemistry.
BMS 6/70596 Individual Investigation in Pharmacology (1-3 cr see below)
b. Physiology (one of the following courses):
BMS 6/70449, 6/70450 Medical Physiology I, II (7 cr)
Biophysical and biochemical concepts of integrative organ system physiology in the human. OR
BMS 5/70433, 5/70433 Mammalian Physiology I, II (6 cr)
The internal environment and homeostasis; control mechanisms, temperature regulation, metabolism and
energy balance; the digestive, musculo-skeletal, nervous, cardiovascular, respiratory and renal systems.
c. Biochemistry:
BMS 6/70267, 6/70268 Molecular Pathology I, II (6 cr)
Biochemical principles will be applied to explain the mechanisms of human disease in terms of defects in
molecular structures and metabolic pathways. Prerequisite: CHEM 50245 or 50247.
d. Pharmacology Electives (2 of the following):
BMS 6/70557 Drug Mechanisms in the Brain (3 cr)
The mechanisms of centrally-acting drugs on brain function.
BMS 6/70558 Psychoactive Drugs (3 cr)
The effects of pharmacological agents on the physiology and pathophysiology of the mammalian nervous
system.
BMS 6/70595 Special Topics, as offered.
2. CONCENTRATION OR GENERAL ELECTIVES
These electives should serve primarily as a guide to students. The Guidance Committee will be charged with approving the plan of study including the selection of electives. As part of this plan of study, students will also be expected to participate in Seminars and Special Topics courses and in courses that may be developed in the future where these are appropriate to the student’s research interests.
Concentration Electives may include courses listed above not selected, other pertinent courswork at a
consortial institution not otherwise selected, and/or the following:
BMS 6/70710 Functional Neuroanatomy (6 cr)
BMS 6/70429 Neurophysiology (4 cr)
BSCI 5/70435, 5/70436 Reproductive Physiology of Mammals (4 cr)
BSCI 5/70432 Endocrinology (3 cr)
BSCI 6/70461 Neurochemistry (2 cr)
BSCI 6/70431 Neuroendocrinology (2 cr)
BSCI 6/70440 Cellular and Molecular Endocrinology (3 cr)
BMS 6/70220 Human Microscopic Anatomy (5 cr)
BMS 6/70240 Medical Microbiology and Immunology (5 cr)
3. Seminar in Pharmacology (BMS 6/70591 - 1 cr)
The purpose of these seminars is to help the student develop effective oral communication skills in a group setting, as well as demonstrate his/her integrative capacity, mastery of the background literature, and scientific inquiry. Seminars (2/yr) will be presented in years 1 and 2. Informative seminars on pertinent areas of modern pharmacology are expected. The seminars should include:
1. Introduction to the field
2. Methods used
3. Pros and cons of the contrasting hypotheses
4. Future directions
An additional seminar in each post candidacy year will be used to review the student’s current research.
Each seminar presentation will be assessed by a written evaluation from each faculty member in attendance.
4. Individual Investigation in Pharmacology (BMS 6/70596 - 1-3 cr)
The purpose of these laboratories is to expose the student to various laboratory techniques and procedures used in pharmacological research. It also will provide the student with experience in experimental design. Each student will select 3 research projects. These projects will be directed by 3 different faculty members and performed in their respective laboratories. Each project will last a minimum of 10 weeks and the number of credits to be assigned will be agreed upon at the beginning of the semester. At the end of the semester, the student may be required to submit a written laboratory report in a particular journal format. This will be evaluated by the appropriate faculty member. A written summary evaluation will be made and will be based on the student’s laboratory performance. The following semester the student will then rotate to the next laboratory. The rotations are generally completed prior to candidacy.
MASTER OF SCIENCE
The M.S. degree is awarded upon satisfactory completion of the coursework core, appropriate elective courses including research hours, 6 credits of Thesis I (BMS 60199) for a total of 32 hours, and an acceptable research thesis. There is no non-thesis option.
DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY
Admission to doctoral work requires either completion of the master's degree or direct matriculation to the doctoral program following completion of no less than 20 hours of graduate course work (including the core curriculum). Recommendation for matriculation (M.S. degree program to Ph.D. degree program) is accorded by the student’s Guidance Committee and the Director of the School of Biomedical Sciences. The Ph.D. will be awarded upon completion of a minimum of 90 graduate hours post-baccalaureate or 60 hours post-masters including 30 hours of Dissertation I (BMS 80199) and the presentation of an acceptable dissertation.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Candidates for the Ph.D. are expected to engage, to the extent possible, in other activities beneficial to their professional development. The teaching of laboratories and lecture courses, as appropriate, is considered valuable, and each student should have this experience during his or her graduate career, including those on non-teaching scholarships or research appointments for most or all of their tenure. Students should also seek membership in professional organizations, attend meetings to present research results, and maintain currency in the relevant literature.