During the first and second years, all students receive broad-based training in modern biomedical research through an interdisciplinary core curriculum.The core curriculum is intended to give students the basic knowledge and skills necessary for research in all areas of the biomedical sciences. The "Biomedical Science I-IV" courses cover the basic principles of biochemistry, cell and molecular biology. Students also receive training in written and oral communication skills and statistics.
Students have the opportunity to explore their individual research interests through laboratory rotations. They are encouraged to sample a variety of faculty research programs by participating in rotations across departments.
Please see the 2024-2025 Graduate Catalog for more information on specific concentrations and course requirements.
Ph.D. CORE COURSE REQUIREMENTS & Descriptions
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BIOM 6010 - Biomedical Science I - Biochemical, Molecular, and Cellular Foundations of Life (3 Credits)
Introduces the fundamentals of modern biomedical research important in biomedical science, and presents a foundation in modern biochemistry, cell biology, and molecular biology. Topics may include model organisms, microscopy, protein and biomembrane structure and function, mechanisms of DNA replication and repair, transcription, translation, and mechanisms of cellular energy production. -
BIOM 6020 - Biomedical Science II - Gene Expression and Regulation (3 Credits)
Describes the fundamentals of modern biomedical research important in biomedical science, and presents a foundation in modern biochemistry, cell biology, and molecular biology. Topics may include molecular genetic techniques used to find disease-causing genes, the structure of genes and chromosomes, mechanisms of regulation of gene expression, and cellular responses to external and internal environments. -
BIOM 6030 - Biomedical Science III - Cellular Organization and Function (3 Credits)
Builds on the fundamentals of modern biomedical research important in biomedical science, and presents modern biochemistry, cell biology, and molecular biology. Topics introduce molecular structure of cell membrane and skeleton, as well as cellular biological functions, including ion exchange, protein transportation, cellular signaling transduction, and cell movement. -
BIOM 6040 - Biomedical Science IV - Cell Growth, Cell Differentiation, and Immunology (3 Credits)
Describes the fundamentals of modern biomedical research in biomedical science in respect to cell interactions, stem cells, nervous system cells, cell cycle, cancer and immunology as well as other related topics. -
MDED 6010 - Biometry and Biomedical Computing I (3 Credits)
This course is a combination of lectures and computer laboratory sessions covering statistical data analysis implemented on microcomputers. Topics discussed include descriptive and inferential statistical methods for independent and dependent samples, one- and two-factor analysis of variance multiple comparison procedures, nonparametric analysis, binomial data analysis, and categorical data analysis. Computer applications are integrated into the course. Two hours per week of lecture and two hours per week of computer laboratory. (fall semester) -
BIOM 6210 - Scientific Communication I (2 Credits)
Provides skills in researching and organizing scientific information in a focused area of research, as well as skills and technical aspects of effective oral communication of complex scientific information. -
BIOM 6220 - Scientific Communication II (3 Credits)
Provides skills in performing a literature review on a focused area of biomedical science and developing a scientific approach to expand knowledge in that literature. -
BIOM 6110 - Introduction to Biomedical Research (2 Credits)
Introduces research faculty, biomedical laboratory techniques, resources, and facilities. This course includes participation in a laboratory rotation and the completion of a short paper about the ongoing research in that laboratory.