Summary
  • The program requires the completion of 84 semester hours.
  • At least 18 credits of formal course work are required.
  • In consultation with their committee and their supervisor/mentor, students will be able to customize the program of study to suit the particular interests and goals of the student.
  • Additional credits will be comprised of specialized disciplinary courses
    chosen in consultation with the mentor and advisory committee.
  • Laboratory rotations will not be required. However, rotations may be planned at the discretion of the student and their advisory committee.
  • Advancement to candidacy will be dependent on successfully passing a formal comprehensive examination that includes both a written proposal of the dissertation research and an oral examination in the broader areas that pertain to that research study. This will generally take place at the end of the second academic year. The written portion of this exam will have the form of an NIH or NSF proposal, complete with expected budget requirements, biosketch, facilities requirements and a training component, and is expected to propose the remaining two to three years of research and training, backing up the proposed concepts with preliminary results obtained up to that point. In the oral exam, students will be broadly questioned about the proposed research and related areas.