Curriculum
Overview
In year one of the graduate program, students participate in a very rigorous medical curriculum coupled with problem based learning sessions designed to develop analytic research skills in the design and interpretation of experimental models of human pathophysiology.
By year two, the primary focus of our students is their dissertation research. Students can still elect to pursue specialized optional coursework relevant to their dissertation research
Normative time for completion of the program is five years.
The Six Components of the Integrated Biomedical Graduate Curriculum
BMSC 229 (Summer of year one) Foundations in Translational Research
The introductory course in our doctorate program begins mid-August and immediately introduces students to a fast paced, integrated systems-based medical curriculum. This course also includes graduate student specific sessions introducing students to the conduct (and misconduct of science), research as intellectual property and “Good Laboratory Practice” (GLP) standards used in biotechnology and in biomedical translational research (8 units).
BMSC 232 (Fall), 233 (Winter), 234 & 235 (Spring) Foundations of Medicine
The foundation of the first year biomedical graduate curriculum is a year-long series of courses drawn from our disease-based integrated medical school curriculum. This series brings together graduate students and medical students for shared instruction in human physiology, pathophysiology, histopathology, epidemiology and biostatistics. This amalgamation between our medical students and our graduate students is highly innovative and benefits both groups (units vary by quarter).
BMSC 260 A (Fall), -B (Winter), -C (Spring) Topics in Biomedical Research
In year one, graduate students apply the knowledge gained in their medical curriculum in a concurrent series of research-oriented problem based learning courses. These problem based learning sessions are organized into five week blocks that begin with the clinical presentation of a specific prevalent human disease. Students led by a faculty facilitator identify and explore the theoretical and practical aspects of designing and interpreting experimental models of human pathophysiology (2 units/quarter).
BMSC 261 (Fall, Winter, Spring) Methods in Biomedical Research
Students in year one of the Biomedical Sciences program are required to participate in two — five-week technique tutorials — each quarter. These tutorials introduce students to laboratory methods and experimental models at the forefront of translational research, and familiarize students with faculty members and their research expertise (1 unit/quarter).
BMSC 252 (Fall, Winter, Spring) General Seminar in Biomedical Sciences
Each quarter, seminar presentations from leading scientists focus on a specific disease-based research topic. In addition to the formal seminar, students participate and have the opportunity to host student-only lunch forums with invited speakers (1 unit/quarter).
BMSC 254 (Fall, Winter, Spring) Graduate Seminar in Biomedical Sciences
This is work-in-progress forum in which students, fellows and faculty present and critically discuss their ongoing research while gathering for pizza lunch. Students participate and present each year that they are in the graduate program (1 unit/quarter).
