Ph.D. Course Schedule
Tumor Biology doctoral students must complete 33 credits (26 credits of required courses and 7 credits of electives, with at least a B average); three different laboratory rotations; a comprehensive examination; a thesis proposal; a written dissertation; and a final oral defense.
Coursework is completed in the first two years of the program. Thesis research begins in the second year.
Transfer Credit/Advanced Standing: A Ph.D. student may make a written request for the transfer of credit for specific applicable courses or apply for advanced standing. Please speak with program leadership and review the policy on transfer credit and advanced standing.
M.D./Ph.D. students should consult the M.D./Ph.D. Course Schedule.
- Jump To: Year 1
- Year 2
- Year 3 through Graduation
Year 1
Before July 1st, register for all Fall 1 and Summer 1 courses listed below for Health Insurance purposes.
Summer 1
| Course Name | Credit(s) |
|---|---|
| TBIO 9985 TBIO Lab – Rotation Summer | 0 (Pass/Fail) |
| TBIO 7120 Tumor Biology Student Seminar | 0 |
| 0 Credits |
- Review the BGE New Student Checklist
- Attend the mandatory Biomedical Graduate Education Summer Orientation
- Sign up to take the Laboratory Safety Training from Environmental Health & Safety training before students enter the labs
Fall 1
| Course Name | Credit(s) |
|---|---|
| BCMC 5001-01 Biochemical & Cellular Sciences | 4 |
| TBIO 6528 Modern Methods in Molecular Biology | 3 |
| TBIO 6508 Cellular & Molecular Aspects of the Transformed Cell | 4 |
| TBIO 6546 Resources for Cancer Research | 0 |
| TBIO 9986 TBIO Lab Rotation – Fall | 0 (Pass/Fail) |
| TBIO 7030 Current Topics in Cancer Research | 0 (Pass/Fail) |
| TBIO 7110 Tumor Biology Student Seminar | 0 (Pass/Fail) |
| Elective(s) | 3 |
| 14 Credits |
Spring 1
| Course Name | Credit(s) |
|---|---|
| TBIO 6562 Survival Skills & Ethics for Science | 2 |
| BCMC 5390 Molecular Cell Biology | 3 |
| TBIO 6536 Cancer Pharmacology | 4 |
| TBIO 9987 TBIO Lab Rotation – Spring | 0 (Pass/Fail) |
| TBIO 7040 Current Topics in Cancer Research | 0 (Pass/Fail) |
| TBIO 7120 Tumor Biology Student Seminar | 0 (Pass/Fail) |
| Elective(s) | 4 |
| 13 Credits |
- Register for Summer 2
- Start working on Comprehensive Exam
Year 2
Summer 2
| Course Name | Credit(s) |
|---|---|
| TBIO 9999-01 Thesis Research or TBIO 9985 TBIO Laboratory Rotation – Summer | 0 or 0 (Pass/Fail) |
| 0 Credits |
- Register for Fall 2 Courses
- Take and Pass the Comprehensive Exam by end of Summer 2. The comprehensive exam is a written review research paper followed by an oral viva, where the student presents their paper.
- Establish Thesis Committee and defend Thesis Proposal within one year of completing comprehensive exam.
Fall 2
| Course Name | Credit(s) |
|---|---|
| TBIO 6599 Practical Data Analysis & Experimental Design | 2 |
| TBIO 7030 Current Topics in Cancer Research | 0 (Pass/Fail) |
| TBIO 7110 Tumor Biology Student Seminar | 0 (Pass/Fail) |
| TBIO 9999-03 Thesis Research Students with fewer than 9 credits of coursework must register for TBIO 9999 Section 03 to maintain full-time status. | 0 |
| 2 Credits |
Spring 2
| Course Name | Credit(s) |
|---|---|
| BINF 5990 Next Generation Sequencing Data Analysis | 2 |
| TBIO 6588 Preparing a Scientific Paper | 2 |
| TBIO 7040 Current Topics in Cancer Research | 0 (Pass/Fail) |
| TBIO 7120 Tumor Biology Student Seminar | 0 (Pass/Fail) |
| TBIO 9999-03 Thesis Research Students with fewer than 9 credits of coursework must register for TBIO 9999 Section 03 to maintain full-time status. | 0 |
| 4 Credits |
Year 3 through Graduation
Summer 3
| Course Name | Credit(s) |
|---|---|
| TBIO 9999-01 Thesis Research | 0 |
| 0 Credits |
- Register for Fall 3 Courses
- Thesis Committee should have been established and Thesis Proposal defended by this time.
Fall 3
| Course Name | Credit(s) |
|---|---|
| TBIO 7030 Current Topics in Cancer Research | 0 (Pass/Fail) |
| TBIO 7110 Tumor Biology Student Seminar | 0 (Pass/Fail) |
| TBIO 9999-01 Thesis Research Students must register for TBIO 9999 Section 01 to enable automatic registration thereafter. | 0 |
| 0 Credits |
After Fall 3
- Each fall: Complete Trainee Individual Development Plan (IDP)
- Each semester:
- Register for TBIO 7030/7040 Current Topics in Cancer Research
- Register for TBIO 7110/7120 Tumor Biology Student Seminar
- You will be registered automatically for TBIO 9999-01 Full-Time Thesis Research
- Every 6 months: Meet with your thesis committee
Dissertation, Graduation and Commencement
- Dissertation, Doctoral Project, and Thesis Information & Templates
- Submission of Dissertation or Doctoral Project
- Follow the Graduating Student Checklist to apply for graduation in your second-to-last semester, receive your degree and attend Commencement
Paper Reading Bootcamp
Get documents for the TBIO Paper Reading Bootcamp.
M.D./Ph.D. Program
A dual doctorate program designed for students interested in careers as physician-scientists.