The Ph.D. in Biomedical Sciences is research-based and typically takes five to six years to complete, culminating in writing and defending a dissertation. This option is more comprehensive in scope than the research-based master's degree and is designed for motivated students who have the ability to develop critical thinking skills and conduct original research in one of the three primary areas of study in the Department of Biomedical Sciences: cardiovascular physiology, reproductive physiology, and neurobiology.
Students interested in graduate work should refer to the Graduate and Professional Bulletin. Visit the Department of Biomedical Sciences for more information.
Learning Objectives
Upon successful completion of this Ph.D. program, students will be proficient in the following areas:
- FOUNDATIONAL KNOWLEDGE: Students will gain a thorough knowledge of principles in biomedical sciences* by synthesizing knowledge of their core discipline with the contribution of other interdisciplinary fields of sciences related to their thesis project. Foundational knowledge is gained via core and elected course work, scientific presentations in journal clubs and scientific meetings and seminars, as well as via literature review. .
- LITERATURE REVIEW: Students will critically analyze and evaluate scientific literature to develop a rationale for how their research incorporates into and expands the body of knowledge in the biomedical sciences*.
- HYPOTHESIS-DRIVEN EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Students will develop original hypotheses in the biomedical sciences*, then design experiments and apply discipline-specific laboratory techniques to test these novel questions related to their dissertation project.
- RIGOUROUS RESERCH METHODOLOGY: Through hands-on training and by performing laboratory research in the biomedical sciences*, students will become experts in the laboratory techniques utilized to test their hypothesis towards their thesis. Students will learn and adhere to the details of Responsible Conduct of Research, acquired via available classroom and online trainings.
- COLLABORATION: Students learn to establish meaningful collaborations within and to a limited extent outside of their home laboratory to advance their thesis research in the biomedical sciences* and learn the basics of effective teamwork.
- COMMUNICATION: Students will be able to communicate the design, methodology, and results of their original research in the biomedical sciences*, both orally and in writing.
*Research areas in biomedical sciences as aligned with faculty research areas.
Effective Fall 2026
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Core Courses | ||
| GRAD 544 | Ethical Conduct of Research | 1 |
| Select one group from the following: | 4-8 | |
Group A: | ||
| Mammalian Physiology I and Mammalian Physiology II | ||
Group B: | ||
| Mammalian Physiology I | ||
or BMS 501 | Mammalian Physiology II | |
| BMS 784 | Supervised College Teaching | Var. |
| Select one group from the following: | 4-8 | |
| Group A: | ||
| Seminar: Biomedical Sciences | ||
or BMS 792B | Seminar: Neurophysiology | |
or BMS 792C | Seminar: Reproductive Physiology | |
| Group Study: Topics in Neuroscience | ||
or BMS 796B | Group Study: Cardiopulmonary Physiology | |
or BMS 796C | Group Study: Reproductive Physiology | |
| Group B: | ||
| Seminar: Biomedical Sciences | ||
or BMS 792B | Seminar: Neurophysiology | |
or BMS 792C | Seminar: Reproductive Physiology | |
or | ||
| Group Study: Topics in Neuroscience | ||
or BMS 796B | Group Study: Cardiopulmonary Physiology | |
or BMS 796C | Group Study: Reproductive Physiology | |
| Selected Courses 1 | Var. | |
| Nerve and Muscle-Toxins, Trauma and Disease | ||
| Cardiopulmonary Physiology | ||
| Introduction to Systems Neurobiology | ||
| Endocrinology | ||
| Pharmacology | ||
| Essentials of Pathophysiology | ||
| Pathophysiology Perspectives | ||
| Readings in Cellular Neurobiology | ||
| Developmental Neurobiology | ||
| Neuronal Circuits, Systems and Behavior | ||
| Neuroanatomy | ||
| Mechanisms of Hormone Action | ||
| Metabolic Endocrinology | ||
| Reproductive Physiology and Endocrinology | ||
| Research Techniques for Gametes and Embryos | ||
| Applied Andrology | ||
| Independent Study: Endocrinology | ||
| Independent Study: Neurophysiology | ||
| Independent Study: Cell Physiology | ||
| Independent Study: Cardiopulmonary Physiology | ||
| Independent Study: Reproductive Physiology | ||
| Group Study: Topics in Neuroscience | ||
| Group Study: Cardiopulmonary Physiology | ||
| Group Study: Reproductive Physiology | ||
| Molecular Genetics | ||
| Molecular Regulation of Cell Function | ||
| Techniques in Molecular & Cellular Biology | ||
| Developmental Neurobiology | ||
| Neuroscience of Disease | ||
| Writing, Submitting, and Reviewing Grants | ||
| Neuroscience Seminar | ||
| Group Study: Ion Channels | ||
| Group Study: Neuronal Growth and Regeneration | ||
| Group Study: Seizures and Epilepsy | ||
| Group Study: Neuroendocrine Mechanisms | ||
| Design and Data Analysis for Researchers I | ||
| Design and Data Analysis for Researchers II | ||
| Dissertation | ||
| BMS 799 | Dissertation | Var |
| Program Total Credits: | 72 | |
A minimum of 72 credits are required to complete this program.
- 1
Select courses with approval of advisor and graduate committee.
Non Curriculum Requirements:
Thesis Requirement:
It is recommended that students formally select an individual graduate committee by the end of the first year; it is required by the end of the third semester. At this time the student shall file a Program of Study (GS Form 6) with the Graduate School. The Program of Study is a summary of academic planning and provides a formal statement of what is to be done for the degree. Additionally, the GS Form 6 includes the formal identification of the student’s graduate advisory committee. Students who enter the department after completion of the Molecular, Cellular and Integrative Neurosciences (MCIN) Program must file their GS Form 6 during their first semester as members of the department, which corresponds to their third semester as graduate students.
The student's graduate committee advises and approves of the selection of appropriate coursework, the selection, preparation, and execution of a research project and administers and evaluates advanced degree examinations. The student’s graduate committee shall consist of a minimum of four faculty members. The minimum committee shall include the advisor, acting as chairperson, at least two additional members from the Department of Biomedical Sciences, and one member from outside the Department who is selected by the student but is officially appointed by the Dean of the Graduate School, and who represents the Graduate School.
The names of the student’s graduate committee members are submitted to the Department Head for approval and then forwarded to the Dean of the Graduate School for formal appointment as part of the GS Form 6. Committee members may be added or removed with the approval of the student, advisor, Department Head, Dean of the Graduate School and the member(s) involved. Such committee changes must be done using a GS Form 9A, Petition for Change in Committee. Students are to maintain an association with the laboratory of their advisor until completion of their PhD; no student shall continue in the program without an association with the advisor identified on the GS Form 6, unless the student obtains approval from his/her graduate committee and the Department Head, and also has identified a willing advisor.
Students admitted to and progressing through a designated Program of Research and Scholarly Excellence (PRSE) such as the Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology Laboratory (ARBL) or Molecular Cellular and Integrative Neurosciences (MCIN) may have additional requirements administered by the PRSE.
Preliminary Exam –
The preliminary exam shall be administered to students who have completed at least their first year of residency in the Department of Biomedical Sciences and plan to seek a PhD degree in the Department. The student’s graduate committee shall administer the exam. The specific format of this exam will be at the discretion of the student’s graduate committee but will include both written and oral components. The written component will require the completion of a grant proposal in the style of an NIH F31 proposal (Predoctoral Individual National Research Service Award) or similar granting agency that is related to the student’s research. The exact format of the grant and topic is at the discretion of the student’s graduate committee. The oral component of the preliminary exam shall consist of a public presentation and a private oral defense. The oral defense will include the graduate committee and the student, and will consist in answering questions from the committee on the written and oral research proposal presented to the committee. The research proposal provides the background, specific aims, methods, preliminary results, possible outcomes, alternative strategies and tentative interpretations for the proposed study.
The purpose of the preliminary exam is to determine the student's:
- broad understanding within the biomedical sciences
- understanding of the selected area of study
- writing skills
- problem-solving skills
- potential to obtain an advanced research degree
Upon successful completion of the Preliminary Exam, the student’s graduate committee shall sign the Report of the Preliminary Examination (GS Form 16), which must be submitted to the Graduate School within 2 working days following the exam. The preliminary examination must be passed at least two semesters prior to the Final Examination.
Unsatisfactory performance on the preliminary exam could result in the student being shifted to an MS degree (see below) or being dismissed. At the discretion of the student's graduate committee, a student may retake the exam before the end of the next semester.
Dissertation Requirements –
The PhD candidate is required to conduct an independent and original research project with the guidance and encouragement of the student’s graduate committee. The candidate must demonstrate intellectual achievement, scholarly ability, and breadth of knowledge. In addition, the student must be the primary participant in the completed research. The research project shall provide the basis for the dissertation, which is presented to the student’s graduate committee in a format acceptable to the Graduate School. The dissertation presents the results of sustained research or investigation on an important intellectual problem. The dissertation must represent independent intellectual achievement and must make a meaningful contribution to knowledge. The student’s graduate committee shall meet approximately six months prior to the Final Examination, at which time they will give the student formal permission to schedule his/her dissertation. It is expected that there be one (or more) publications associated with successful dissertation research. In the event that this does not occur, as a condition for graduation, the Department requires that part of the dissertation include a manuscript suitable for submission to a refereed journal.
The Final Examination for PhD candidates is a public oral presentation of the dissertation, allowing for questions from faculty and students. A private discussion of the dissertation will then take place between the graduate student committee and the PhD candidate that will discuss and probe the quality of the dissertation. The objective of the Final Examination is to afford the doctoral candidate an opportunity to present his/her dissertation research in public and to defend the approaches used and conclusions reached. The student's graduate committee shall be responsible for the administration and evaluation of the examination. In the event the dissertation or defense is deemed unsatisfactory by a majority of the student's graduate committee, at the committee's discretion the defense may be rescheduled, consistent with rules of the Graduate School. The student is responsible for bringing the Report of the Final Examination (GS Form 24) to the examination and then submitting it completed and signed to the Graduate School within 2 working days following the examination.
After passing the Final Examination, the dissertation will be prepared in final form conforming to the rules of the Graduate School for its preparation. The student’s graduate committee shall examine and approve the dissertation in its final form prior to the submission. Suggestions for the preparation of the dissertation may be found in the “Thesis and Dissertation Manual” publication from the Graduate School. The dissertation must be submitted to the Graduate School by the published deadline of the student’s graduating term. All PhD students are required to complete an exit survey and schedule an exit interview with the Graduate Education Coordinator before being cleared to graduate.
For more information, please visit Requirements for All Graduate Degrees in the Graduate and Professional Bulletin.
Summary of Procedures for the Master's and Doctoral Degrees
NOTE: Each semester the Graduate School publishes a schedule of deadlines. Deadlines are available on the Graduate School website. Students should consult this schedule whenever they approach important steps in their careers.
Forms are available online.
| Step | Due Date |
|---|---|
| 1. Application for admission (online) | Six months before first registration |
| 2. Diagnostic examination when required | Before first registration |
| 3. Appointment of advisor | Before first registration |
| 4. Selection of graduate committee | Before the time of fourth regular semester registration |
| 5. Filing of program of study (GS Form 6) | Before the time of fourth regular semester registration |
| 6. Preliminary examination (Ph.D. and PD) | Two terms prior to final examination |
| 7. Report of preliminary examination (GS Form 16) - (Ph.D. and PD) | Within two working days after results are known |
| 8. Changes in committee (GS Form 9A) | When change is made |
| 9. Application for Graduation (GS Form 25) | Refer to published deadlines from the Graduate School Website |
| 9a. Reapplication for Graduation (online) | Failure to graduate requires Reapplication for Graduation (online) for the next time term for which you are applying |
| 10. Submit thesis or dissertation to committee | At least two weeks prior to the examination or at the discretion of the graduate committee |
| 11. Final examination | Refer to published deadlines from the Graduate School Website |
| 12. Report of final examination (GS Form 24) | Within two working days after results are known; refer to published deadlines from the Graduate School website |
| 13. Submit a signed Thesis/Dissertation Submission Form (GS Form 30) to the Graduate School and Submit the Survey of Earned Doctorates (Ph.D. only) prior to submitting the electronic thesis/dissertation | Refer to published deadlines from the Graduate School website. |
| 14. Submit the thesis/dissertation electronically | Refer to published deadlines from the Graduate School website |
| 15. Graduation | Ceremony information is available from the Graduate School website |