The purpose of the department's graduate program is to prepare young men and women to become highly qualified and productive scientists in the biological sciences. Typically, the doctoral program involves four years of study beyond the bachelor's degree. The particular program for each student is planned according to his or her interests and special needs.
Students select a thesis research area and a sponsor as early in the program as possible.
The majority of the time spent by the students during their stay in the department will be devoted to research and preparation of the doctoral dissertation. Students may select courses from those offered in the medical school and basic science departments of the University as well as at other universities in the Washington area and at the National Institutes of Health. In certain cases, training in specialized research techniques may be obtained at the National Institutes of Health and the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology. Postdoctoral research programs are available in a number of areas, including cancer biology, developmental and reproductive biology, and neurobiology. The research interests of the faculty are indicated on the reverse side of this page.