First Year Coursework
Becoming a scientist is more than just getting a Ph.D. degree--it means learning how to combine a unique way to think about biological problems with a knowledge of cutting edge technology. But what constitutes the best training for you depends on your individual needs. During your first year, we will help you match your background and goals with your education as you select from among a wide array of courses.
A wide range of courses are available to you during your first year. Both core courses (taught by the Graduate School) and speciality courses (offered by individual departments) allow you to acquire a depth and breadth in a number of different areas, combined with a more intensive investigation of topics of particular interest to you.
Our academic year is organized into five terms, each two months long. Most students take six to eight hours of coursework each term, which leaves plenty of time for rotations in potential thesis laboratories. We require that you complete a total of 30 didactic course hours (most courses count as either two or three hours), which can be easily achieved by the end of your first year. This means that at the start of your second year, there are no course requirements that stand in the way of what you really came to graduate school to do--research.
Your choices for first-year curriculum can be individualized, depending on what you have already had during your undergraduate and/ or master's studies. However, we also want to ensure that by the end of your first year, you have acquired a broad base of knowledge. We achieve this by offering a curriculum that is a mix of required courses, flexible required courses and elective courses. The courses provide you with a solid foundation in modern molecular, cellular and structural biology.
We also offer what we call the "Directors' Course" exclusively for CMB first year students. In this small seminar course, taught by CMB directors and faculty during terms 1-4, you will develop both practical and intellectual skills as you learn to critically evaluate the primary scientific literature, design and interpret experiments, and give presentations. The intimate format enables you to get to know the director and co-directors early in your graduate career, and encourages close working relationships with your fellow first-year CMB classmates.