Students take a limited number of core courses, thus having ample time to pursue individualized programs. Core courses include physiology, cell biology, and biochemistry. Elective courses cover a wide variety of topics, including neuroscience, molecular biology, immunology, developmental biology, and pharmacology. In addition, students can select from a variety of specialized laboratory, lecture, and seminar courses offered by other departments and programs within the graduate and medical schools. During the first and second years, students undertake independent research rotations in several laboratories, gaining reading and practical knowledge of research programs in a number of areas.
Students also participate in faculty-student journal clubs and departmental research seminars.
A written thesis proposal is prepared during the spring quarter of the second year under the supervision of the student's chosen thesis advisor. Following completion of the oral comprehensive examination, students are advanced to candidacy for the Ph.D degree. After completion of the research project, the doctoral dissertation is written and defended according to the rules of the Graduate School. The University of Colorado Health Sciences Center is fully equipped with the modern instrumentation required to conduct research in all of the biological sciences. The Medical School maintains close ties with the main campus in Boulder, which is about a 30 minute drive to the north of Denver.