Graduate programs are offered leading to the Doctor of Philosophy degree in molecular pathobiology. The Ph.D. degree requires 48 credit hours of course work and 12 credit hours towards the successful completion and defense of an original research dissertation. Additional elective courses, which may be taken from other departments or from the interdepartmental Cell and Molecular biology program or from other universities in the area, are selected in collaboration with a departmental advisor to best suit the needs of the student. Starting in the second year, students present their research progress yearly in the Departmental Research colloquium. A written Preliminary and Oral Examination is taken at the end of the second year which focuses promarly on the student's proposed area of thesis research.
Research fellowships are available for qualified student accepted into the Ph.D. program.
Health insurance is provided by the department and can be extended to cover spouse and children at reasonable cost. The Department of Pathology faculty works closely with graduate students in the department to assist them in acquiring the requisite academic background and practical laboratory skills for successful research careers in academics, industry, medicine or government. Excellent research facilities for cellular and molecular studies in pathobiology are available for student use. Facilities include fluorescence and confocal microscopy, flow cytometry, tissue culture facilities, video image analysis, and an EM lab equipped with both scanning and transmission microscopes. Excellent library facilities are available.