The doctoral program's new curriculum emphasizes research experience and practical skills from day one and allows students to make a more educated choice when selecting a specialized program. The approach is flexible, and accommodates students whose research interests are still evolving by introducing them to a variety of fields through interdisciplinary courses and laboratory experiences. For those students who have a clearly defined research interest, the program offers the opportunity to move quickly into the laboratory and accelerate their study. The first semester's core course, Foundations of Biomedical Science , is followed by increasingly specialized coursework in the program the student has chosen. Background knowledge particular to the student's chosen field is presented, and courses are largely didactic.
Students elect advanced courses examining contemporary problems and the current literature.
All students take courses in statistics,data analysis, and research ethics as well as participate in journal club and seminar programs. The first year includes three research rotations . New students are encouraged to begin their first rotation on July 1, and advisors are available to help students select a laboratory matching their interests for the first rotation. During the first semester, representative faculty give presentations on each of the specialized programs, which aids students in their selection of subsequent research rotations. In addition to their formal academic training, students in this program enroll in the career development course Survival Skills and Ethics for Emerging Scientists.