Formal coursework depends on the requirements of the particular Area of Concentration, but must include a minimum of 12 semester hours of graduate level course credit apart from laboratory rotations and thesis research. Thesis work will be conducted in the laboratory of a member of the graduate faculty with a primary appointment at the University of Connecticut Health Center. Exceptions to this policy require the approval of the Graduate Programs Committee. Throughout the years in the Graduate Program, students are required to participate in the Student Research Seminars series and to present their work at appropriate intervals. Medical School coursework completed during the first two years satisfies the Graduate School requirement for a Supporting Area of Study in lieu of the language requirement for the Ph.D. degree.
Detailed information regarding the curriculum in the clinical years is available here.
The progress of the CD students during their clinical clerkships is monitored by the CDP Steering Committee. This is accomplished through the Office of the Dean for Medical Student Affairs from which a letter describing the student's performance is sent to the CDP Steering Committee by May 1 of the third year and April 1 of the fourth year of Medical School. Fellowship support is provided only to those students who have successfully met all requirements of each of the CDP components. Should a student need more than three years to fulfill the Ph.D. requirements, additional fellowship support is primarily the responsibility of the major advisor and the graduate program in which the student is enrolled. Fellowship support is guaranteed for 5 years of Ph.D. research by the Graduate and Medical School administration.