# Curriculum

#### Core Curriculum  

All PhD students must complete a Core Curriculum. The Core Curriculum will vary depending on the training area and the specific PhD degree (Biomedical Sciences or Neuroscience). The Core Curriculum provides the students with a strong set of general concepts and vocabulary that underpins much of the cutting-edge biomedical research in their area of interest. 

All MD/PhD students take "Biomedical Sciences for the MD/PhD Student" as their Core Curriculum. This Core has been developed with the unique training needs of the dual MD and PhD degree students.  

Students in the PhD in Biomedical Sciences program will complete the Biomedical Sciences Core, a yearlong course that consists of six units. They are BMS Fall: Enzymes and Metabolism; Genetics and Genomics and Gene Expression and Biological Chemistry); BMS Spring: Cell Biology; Development and Regeneration and Mechanisms of Disease.  

Students in the Neuroscience PhD program must complete the Neuroscience Core curriculum, found in the[ corresponding MTA chapter](https://ismms-gs.gitbook.io/graduate-student-handbook/chapter-on-multidisciplinary-training-areas/multidisciplinary-training-areas/neuroscience-neu).

In exceptional cases, students who have had prior graduate level coursework relevant to a Core Curriculum may seek exemption from a core course. Refer to [Chapter 3: Grading Policies](https://ismms-gs.gitbook.io/graduate-student-handbook/chapter-3/enrollment-and-registration/grading-policies) for information about course waivers and transfer credits. 

Research Courses include rotations, BSR1006 (Fall), BSR1007 (Spring), BSR8000 Independent Research, and BSR9000 Dissertation Research. These courses are pass/fail. To pass, students must submit check-in forms or lab declarations for BSR1006 and BSR1007. They must also attend advisory committee meetings and submit progress reports for BSR8000 and BSR9000.

Failure to meet these requirements in the required timeframe will result in an Incomplete Grade (I). Once rectified before the end of the following semester, the incomplete grade will be updated to a Pass (P). If not remediated, the incomplete grade will be converted to a Fail (F).

Satisfactory completion of the initial General Program Requirements (i.e., excluding advanced coursework and seminars) will be evaluated at the end of the first year in the Program:

**Biomedical Sciences Core**\
**Fall**\
BSR1006 Laboratory Rotation - Fall (4 credits)\
BSR1012 Biomedical Science - Fall (6 credits)\
BSR1021 Responsible Conduct in Research (0.5 credits)\
MPH0300 Introduction to Biostatistics (3 credits) or BIO6400 Biostatistics for Biomedical Research (3 credits) - *or BSR1715 Modern Statistics for Modern Biology in the Spring (3 credits)*

**Spring**\
BSR1007 Laboratory Rotation - Spring (4 credits)\
BSR1013 Biomedical Science - Spring (6 credits)\
BSR1022 Rigor and Reproducibility (0.5 credits)\
BSR1715 Modern Statistics for Modern Biology (3 credits) - *if MPH0300 or BIO6400 not taken in Fall*

**Neuroscience Core**\
**Fall**\
BSR1006 Laboratory Rotation - Fall (4 credits)\
BSR1021 Responsible Conduct of Research (0.5 credits)\
BSR1705 Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience (3 credits)\
BSR1706 Systems Neuroscience (3 credits)\
BSR2707 Techniques and Approaches in Neuroscience (1 credit)\
BSR4702 Selected Topics in Neuroscience (1 credit)\
BSR5701 Seminar in Neuroscience (1 credit

**Spring**\
BSR1007 Laboratory Rotation - Spring (4 credits)\
BSR1022 Rigor and Reproducibility (0.5 credits)\
BSR1707 Behavioral and Cognitive Neuroscience (3 credits)\
BSR1708 Pathophysiology of Neurological and Psychiatric Disorders (2.5 credits)\
BSR4702 Selected Topics in Neuroscience (1 credit)\
BSR5701 Seminar in Neuroscience (1 credit)\
BSR6705 Clinical Topics in Neuroscience (0.5 credits)\
BSR1715 Modern Statistics for Modern Biology (4 credits)

#### **Advanced Coursework**

Students in their second year are required to pursue advanced courses that are recommended by their MTA and appropriate for their particular interests. Please see the [MTA chapter ](https://ismms-gs.gitbook.io/graduate-student-handbook/chapter-on-multidisciplinary-training-areas/multidisciplinary-training-areas)for more details on the typical courses taken in each MTA