Graduate Program in the Biomedical Sciences

Concentration-Specific Course Requirements and Course Recommendations

Each concentration (or department) within the Graduate Division has its own set of required or recommended graduate courses. Course credits earned by successfully completing the concentration-specific courses do count towards satisfying the program course credit requirements. In addition to the concentration-specific courses, students are encouraged to take additional courses more relevant to their research interests.

Upon approval from their department chair, and associate dean, a student may be granted a course waiver from a concentration-specific required course. However, the program course/course-credit requirements must be met before a waiver may be granted. A course waiver form is required and is available in the Graduate Division office.

Basic Science Concentrations:

  1. Biochemistry
  2. Cell Biology
  3. Developmental & Molecular Biology
  4. Genetics
  5. Microbiology & Immunology
  6. Molecular Pharmacology
  7. Neuroscience
  8. Pathology
  9. PhD in Clinical Investigation (PCI)
  10. Systems & Computational Biology

Please note that departments may require participation in other departmental activities, such as journal clubs, WIP (work-in-progress) seminars and retreats. Additional departmental specific information may be obtained by contacting the relevant Graduate Executive Committee representative or the Departmental Graduate Committee.

Listed below are concentration-specific course requirements and/or recommendations.

  1. Biochemistry (BC)
    Requires successful completion of the following graduate courses:
    • Biochemistry,
    • And at least two of the following:
      • Gene Expression: Beyond the Double Helixr
      • Human Metabolism: Regulation and Disease, and/or
      • Chemical Biology
  2. Cell Biology (CB)
    Strongly recommends successful completion of the following graduate courses:
    • Biochemistry,
    • Molecular Genetics,
    • Gene Expression: Beyond the Double Helix,
    • Molecular Cell Biology,
    • Stem Cells, Development and Disease, and/or
    • Quantitative Skills for the Biomedical Researcher I and II.
  3. Developmental and Molecular Biology (DMB)
    Requires successful completion of the following graduate courses:

    PhD students:
    • Biochemistry, and
    • Molecular Genetics,
      And at least one of the following: 
    • Gene Expression: Beyond the Double Helix, or
    • Molecular Cell Biology.

      MD-PhD students: 
    • Biochemistry,
      And at least two of the following: 
    • Molecular Genetics,
    • Gene Expression: Beyond the Double Helix, and/or
    • Molecular Cell Biology.
  4. Genetics (GENE)
    Strongly recommends successful completion of the following graduate courses:
    • Biochemistry,
    • Molecular Genetics,
    • Gene Expression: Beyond the Double Helix, and/or
    • Quantitative Skills for the Biomedical Researcher I.
  5. Microbiology and Immunology (MCIM)
    Requires successful completion of at least two of the following graduate courses:
    • Biochemistry,
    • Molecular Genetics,
    • Gene Expression: Beyond the Double Helix, and/or
    • Molecular Cell Biology;

      And requires the successful completion of at least one of the following graduate courses: 
    • Immunology, and/or
    • Viruses.
  6. Molecular Pharmacology (MP)
    Requires successful completion of the following graduate course:
    • Molecular Approaches to Drug Action and Design.
  7. Neuroscience (NS)
    Requires successful completion of the following graduate course:
    • Principles of Neuroscience I
    • Principles of Neuroscience II
  8. Pathology (PATH)
    Requires successful completion of the following graduate course:
    • Biochemistry, and
    • Mechanisms of Disease.
  9. PhD in Clinical Investigation (PCI)
    Requires successful completion of the following graduate courses:

    All in year two:
    • Clinical Research Intensive,
    • Multivariable Regression, and
    • Epidemiologic Research Methods.

      Strongly recommended: 
    • Year 1: Design and Conduct of Clinical Research (strongly recommended for those without clinical research experience)
    • Year 2 and beyond: Further methodologically or analytically-oriented course work specific to each trainee, to be determined by program directors and mentors
  10. Systems and Computational Biology (SCB)
    Requires successful completion of the following graduate courses:
    • Introduction to Systems Biology: Theory and Case Studies, and
    • Systems Biology Seminar.