Graduate Program in Biochemistry & Molecular Pharmacology
Curriculum
In the first year of the program students complete Foundations in Biomedical Sciences, a course that lays the foundation in Biochemistry, Cell Biology, Genetics, and Molecular Biology. They then proceed to basic courses in Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology; followed by more advanced specialized training, generally geared to meet the individual needs of students as they move into the specific areas of their thesis research. The PhD degree requires a minimum of 180 credits; at least 54 credits must be obtained from formal courses (including research rotations and seminars) of which a minimum of 18 credits must be in disciplines other than the major. The BMP Program requires the completion of 9 credits of seminar. The Graduate School requires successful completion of GC 640 - Research Ethics: The Responsible Conduct of Research, of all doctoral students.
Course requirements are usually completed by the end of the second year and students spend an average of another 2-3 years to complete their individual thesis projects. Throughout their experience, students take part in weekly journal clubs, attend seminars, and have many opportunities to present and discuss their work with both faculty and students at TJU and at national scientific meetings.
| Fall | Spring 1 | Spring 2 | Summer | |
| Full-time Enrollment | 20 credit total | 30 credit total | 10 credit total | |
| Year 1 | GC 550 10 credits |
Biochemistry-Genetics Information Transfer BI 525 — 3 credits |
Electives – see list below |
Research BI 930 |
| Macromolecular Structure PR 613 — 3 credits |
Applied Statistics in Neuroscience NS 740 — 2 credits |
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| Ethics GC 640 — 1 credit |
Seminar in Biochemistry & Molecular Pharmacology BI 730 — 1 credit |
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| Seminar in Biochemistry & Molecular Pharmacology BI 720 — 1 credit |
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| Research Rotation 1 BI 511 — 3 credits |
Research Rotation 2 BI 521 — 3 credits |
Research Rotation 3 BI 531 — 3 credits |
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| Research BI 910 |
Research BI 920 |
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| Year 2 | Planning & Writing a Research Grant GC 730 — 1 credit |
Elective(s) | Elective(s) | Research BI 930 |
| Seminar in Biochemistry & Molecular Pharmacology BI 710 — 1 credit |
Seminar in Biochemistry & Molecular Pharmacology BI 720 — 1 credit |
Seminar in Biochemistry & Molecular Pharmacology BI 730 — 1 credit |
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| Research BI 910 |
Research BI 920 |
Research BI 930 |
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| Year 3 to completion |
Research BI 910 |
Research BI 920 |
Research BI 930 |
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| Common Electives | |||
| Course Number | Course Name | Credits | Semester Offered |
| BI 612 | Advanced Topics in Protein Function and Dysfunction | 3 | Fall |
| BI 614 | Macromolecular Function | 3 | Spring 2 |
| BI 535 | Biochemistry-Metabolism | 3 | Spring 2 |
| PR 522 | General Pharmacology | 3 | Fall |
| GC 630 | Fundamentals of Clinical Trials | 3 | Fall |
| GC 645 | Genomics and Bioinformatics | 3 | Spring 2 |
| GC 665 | Cell Signaling | 4 | Spring 2 |
| GE 612 | Genetics of Model Organisms | 3 | Spring 1 |
| GE 636 | Regulation of Cell Cycle & Apoptosis | 3 | Fall |
| GE 637 | Advanced Human Genetics | 3 | Spring 2 |
| GE 651 | Pathobiology of Cancer | 2 | Spring 1 |
| GE 652 | Molecular Basis of Cancer | 2 | Spring 1 |
| CB 615 | Developmental Biology I - Embryology | 3 | Fall |
| CB 625 | Mechanisms of Development | 3 | Spring 1 |
| IMP 505A and B | Fundamentals of Immunology, Parts 1 and 2 | 2 each | Spring 1 |
| NS 700 | Cellular Neurophysiology | 4 | Spring 1 |
| NS 715 | Molecular & Cellular Neuroscience | 3 | Spring 2 |
