Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences

Graduate School Curriculum

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Year One Courses: The Baylor Difference

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Our three-tiered curriculum is designed to ensure that all students have the strong foundational knowledge and quantitative skills essential for all biomedical scientists while providing the opportunity to dive deep into their chosen field of research.

Foundational Curriculum

The first tier of our Ph.D. program is our foundational curriculum. During the first two terms of the year, students in most programs participate in a rigorous pair of Foundations courses that provide a breadth of knowledge across the biological sciences, including cellular biology, genetics, macromolecules, proteostasis, tissues, development and biostatistics. Additionally, all students participate in a four-course series in the Responsible Conduct of Research throughout their first four years in the program. These courses are a combination of the required National Institutes of Health training in areas of authorship, research ethics regarding humans and animals, rigor, reproducibility and collaboration, as well as additional workshops on important professional and personal development topics.

Programmatic Core

Beyond the Foundations, each of our Ph.D. programs has a core of required courses to provide students with an in-depth understanding of their field, including theory, practical aspects and methodologies, as well as exposing students to vital skills in critical thinking, evaluating contemporary research literature, presentation skills, grant writing and collaboration. Additionally, students regularly attend lecture series by Baylor faculty and researchers, visiting experts and their fellow students.

Student-Choice Electives

The third tier of our cross-cutting curriculum allows students to select elective coursework that supports their interests in their specific area of research. Students may select from dozens of elective options offered by our graduate programs, as well as interdisciplinary courses offered by the Graduate School in our central curriculum.  

Responsible Conduct of Research

All students participate in a four-course series in the Responsible Conduct of Research throughout their first four years in the program. The required training complies with the current recommendations of the National Institutes of Health for instruction in the responsible conduct of research including in areas of authorship, research ethics regarding humans and animals, rigor, reproducibility and collaboration, as well as additional workshops on important professional and personal development topics.  Upon completion of the requirements, a certificate of attendance will be issued.

Graduate School Bulletin

The Graduate School Bulletin is published on July 1 preceding each academic year. It provides students with a comprehensive document showing the academic calendar, the schedule of classes for the year, catalog descriptions of courses, key academic policies and important contact information. The Graduate School Bulletin is updated during the year with any changes to the schedule of classes, so users are encouraged to access the current document online, rather than downloading it.

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Research Rotations

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During the first year, students also complete laboratory rotations. One of the great things about pursuing a Ph.D. is that you choose to explore an area of research that really interests you. Rotations offer students the opportunity to explore multiple areas of research and get to know the faculty members who ultimately will guide and support them as mentors. Students complete a minimum of three required rotations, with most students spending time in four or five laboratories before selecting their mentor.

Students have the option to complete rotations with any graduate school faculty member. If upon completion of rotations, a student selects a thesis advisor who is not a faculty member within their program, the student may request approval from their program leadership for this person to be their mentor.

Find faculty whose research interests match yours.
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Year Two

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In year two students continue with coursework focused on building the knowledge and skills required for their area of focus. Studens will work with their program leadership and thesis mentor to identify which courses are needed to round out their didactic education. Students will complete the Qualifying Exam, which requires them to prepare and defend their research proposal. Working with their mentors, students develop their thesis project, assemble a Thesis Advisory Committee and begin conducting dissertation research.

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Individual Development Plans

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After successful completion of the Qualifying Exam, students begin their Individual Development Plan (IDP). The IDP enables students to identify professional goals that match their interests and values for the purpose of identifying and developing the appropriate career-specific skills. The creation and regular review of the IDP encourages discussions between students and mentors about career goals early in the training process and implements a course of action to achieve these goals. The three interactive steps and the proposed timeline for completion of the IDP are described in “The Baylor College of Medicine IDP Process.”

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Year Three to Graduation

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The average time to degree for Baylor graduate students is six years. In years three through graduation and beyond, students will conduct dissertation research while meeting regularly with their mentor and Thesis Advisory Committee for guidance and assistance in monitoring progress. Students also attend seminars and conferences at the College as well as at other institutions of the Texas Medical Center and national and international meetings.

The final goal is a dissertation describing the results of original research. Most students have multiple publications that constitute the core of their dissertation. These papers frequently are published in high-quality, peer-reviewed journals. The dissertation defense involves a public seminar and oral defense to the Thesis Advisory Committee

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Degree Requirements

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The degree plan document is provided as a guide for students to assist in course registration.  It includes a list of required & elective courses and typical plan of study. The degree plan is not considered a comprehensive list of graduation requirements, but a tool for ensuring completion of all required coursework.  Additional graduation requirements beyond required coursework are provided in each graduate program’s student handbook. 

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Career Development Center

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The Baylor College of Medicine Career Development Center provides the training, resources and connections you need to achieve your professional goals.

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Team Launch

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Team Launch provides innovative, interdisciplinary learning opportunities that will prepare students for careers in team-based science.

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Student Voices

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Hear directly from our students how our collaborative and innovative research environment is helping them to prepare to shape the future of biomedical research.

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Meet Our Team

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First Name
Christopher
Last Name
Foster
Honorific Title
M.A.
Manager, Office of Curriculum
First Name
Lloyd
Last Name
Bronner
Honorific Title
M.P.H.
Curriculum Coordinator