Dr. Pauley, who directs the IBS curriculum, says the major change is that PhD students are now required to complete a one-year common curriculum, which introduces all students, regardless of their specialty, to common areas of science. Although the IBS program is new to Wayne State, multidisciplinary and integrated courses are catching on across the country. According to Dr. Pauley, approximately one-third of the nation's graduate schools have adopted an interdisciplinary curriculum, and it is proving to be a worthwhile effort. As scientists share information and findings, new linkages and applications are made to advance many fields. Programs like the annual Graduate Student Research Day allow young investigators to share their work with colleagues.
Students also participate in electives, seminars, journal clubs and laboratory rotations.
In this way, the interdisciplinary nature of modern biomedical science is always key. For example, in a specialized discipline, students might spend an entire career studying only one or two enzymes. In a multidisciplinary setting, students don't delve into one particular enzyme. Instead, they learn to understand the triggers, systems, outcomes and mechanisms associated with major enzymes. It is better for the students' education, it's better for the faculty, and it promotes better research contributions.