Course of Study

• Courses
• Exams
• Research
• Teaching
  

The curriculum is designed to provide all students with a solid foundation in biochemistry, cell and molecular biology, and statistics. Beyond that, depending on the student's interests, core courses in immunology, toxicology, or experimental pathology will provide the comprehensive knowledge neces­sary to carry out thesis research. In addition, upper level special topics courses designed to present a particular subject in a detailed seminar format are available for upper level students.

Students choose a research mentor after three laboratory rotations done during the fall semester of the first year. These preliminary research projects are normally four to six weeks in length, allowing students to identify a research mentor with similar interests. Research is a large component of the Ph.D. program. We are committed to maintaining an open and interactive atmosphere where graduate students can freely interact with other laboratories in the program or across campus to learn new techniques and gain new insights into approaching their research. To that end, we have developed journal clubs, where students can present and discuss current journal articles, and the Pathobiology Colloquium, where students and faculty present their research to others in the program. These programs help students develop the communication and organization skills they will need in the future. All graduate students are required to complete one credit of V SC 590 Colloquium each semester as well as 8 credits from list of courses.