GSBS logo
 
Degrees of Discovery logo
 
 

Courses

General Course Requirements

Area Course Requirements

Molecular Area Course Requirements

Program Course Requirements

Suggested Courses for First Year Students by Programs

GENERAL COURSE REQUIREMENTS

The University of Texas Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences at Houston requires a minimum of 54 credit hours to obtain the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.). The 54 credit hour minimum includes one credit hour of the Ethical Dimensions of the Biomedical Sciences (GS210051), 12 credit hours of Tutorial Research Experience (GS000514), four required GSBS area requirement courses, and a minimum of one year of registration for research which includes Research in Biomedical Sciences (GS000520) and Dissertation for Doctor of Philosophy (GS000920). Any exceptions to this minimum credit hour requirement must be approved by the Dean upon recommendation by the Academic Standards Committee. The majority of these 54 credit hours, plus the majority of any additional coursework required by the ASC or the student's Advisory or Supervisory Committees, must be taken at the UT GSBS at Houston, at other UTHSC schools, or at an institution with which we have consortium arrangements (i.e., Rice University, the University of Houston, or Baylor University).

The Graduate School does not prescribe a set of required courses for all students in a given area of research. Rather, each student's program is individualized and depends on the background and research interests of the student. Full-time students must register for at least 9 credit hours each fall and spring semester, and 6 in summer terms.

Additional courses necessary to complete the Ph.D. degree will be recommended by the student's Advisory Committee, which must be formed by the end of the third tutorial.

Tutorials

With the exception of students who are supported by particular faculty members, departments or programs, students may choose their tutorial instructors from the entire GSBS Faculty and are not limited to those in a specific area of research. Tutorials must be taken under the supervision of three different faculty members, and, if possible, one of the tutorials should be outside the student's major area of specialization.

For students who are not paid by GSBS, the following guidelines apply to the selection of tutorials:

Breadth Requirement

To meet the breadth requirement, students take one of the approved courses in each of four areas, and again, the course selection will be determined by the student's background and interests.

The only exception to this requirement is made for students who are formally affiliated with one of four Programs which have their own required courses (Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Genes & Development, and Microbiology & Molecular Genetics). Students in those Programs take an alternate group of specific courses specified by the Programs and approved by the Faculty.

Time Limits

Students in the Ph.D. program are expected to complete three tutorials during their first two semesters of enrollment and to meet the breadth requirement by the end of their second year.

Recognition of Previous Coursework/Research Experience

Students in the Ph.D. program who have had previous graduate-level coursework or extensive research experience may petition the Academic Standards Committee to substitute that work for one or more of the area courses or tutorials. For more details on the waiver process, see your Dean's Office Advisor.

Requirements for M.S. Degree

The requirements for students admitted to the M.S. program are thirty (30) semester hours (effective beginning with the 2006-2007 academic year) of coursework, including The Ethical Dimensions of the Biomedical Sciences (GS210051), and a research thesis. M.S. students are not required to do tutorials, although they may do a tutorial-like Special Project (GS000530) to help them find a thesis advisor. The required coursework in an M.S. program is determined by the student and his/her Advisory Committee. The majority of these 30 credit hours, plus the majority of any additional coursework required by the ASC or the student's Advisory or Supervisory Committees, must be taken at the UT GSBS at Houston, at other UTHSC schools, or at an institution with which we have consortium arrangements (i.e., Rice University, the University of Houston, or Baylor University).

Students in an M.S. degree program who have completed graduate courses in the general area of biomedical sciences at another institution may request that credit hours be used toward the 30 credit hour requirement at GSBS. While there is no limit to the number of hours for which you may be credited, no more than two courses may be used toward the GSBS requirement. You must have received at least a C (if the course had A,B,C... grades) or P (if the course was pass/fail) in the course to forward credit to GSBS. Contact the Office of Academic Affairs for more information about receiving credit for previous graduate coursework.

AREA COURSE REQUIREMENTS

All students pursuing the Ph.D. degree must complete one course from each of the following four areas:

The only exception to this policy is made for students who join one of the four Programs which have been approved by the Graduate Faculty to require an alternate group of specified courses (see Program Course Requirements). Those Programs are:

Courses must be completed with a grade of at least C (or demonstrate equivalent proficiency as determined by the Academic Standards Committee).

The primary and alternative courses approved by the Academic Standards Committee to satisfy the area course requirements are listed below.

Primary Courses

QUANTITATIVE

An introductory, graduate level course in the quantitative biophysical sciences.

MOLECULAR

An introductory, graduate level course in which the major emphasis is the understanding of intracellular chemical processes and their biological control.

CELLULAR

An introductory, graduate level course in which the major emphasis is the understanding of the structure, function and control of the individual cell as an autonomous biological unit.

SYSTEMS

An introductory, graduate level course in which the major emphasis is the understanding of the regulation of homeostatic and integrative functions of vertebrate or invertebrate organisms.

Alternative Courses

In the event that students can demonstrate extensive (e.g. two undergraduate courses of at least three credit hours each, each passed with at least a grade of B) previous undergraduate academic experience in one or more of the areas, they may petition to substitute one of the following alternative courses to satisfy an area requirement.

The first step in this process is to get a one-page form from the GSBS Office of Academic Affairs (OAA). On this form you will need the signature of the director of a primary course in the particular area. For example, to substitute GS120063 Histology as an alternate course in the cellular area, you may seek approval from Dr. Roger O'Neil, director of the GS040013 Cell Biology course (indicated by his signature). The signed form is then submitted to the Office of Academic Affairs for final approval.

Of course, you are welcome to enroll in any of the alternate courses without this approval, but you will not receive area credit unless this process is completed.

MOLECULAR

CELLULAR

 

MOLECULAR AREA REQUIREMENT

A thorough understanding of biochemistry is an essential ingredient in the education of a biomedical scientist. The following information is provided to help you decide which course(s) would be most appropriate for you given your particular background and research interests. Your Dean's Office Advisor will help you with this decision.

Primary Course

GS030014 Metabolic Biochemistry. Fall annually. This course addresses molecular biology, physical biochemistry, metabolism, and biochemistry of cellular constituents at the graduate level through lectures and small group conferences. Emphasis will be on regulation at the molecular level and quantitative description of biochemical events. Students are expected to have a good foundation in biochemistry before enrolling in this class. This course fulfills the molecular area requirement.

OR

GS030024 Topics in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. Spring annually. A survey of currently active areas in biochemistry and molecular biology, covering at an advanced level the structure-function relationships of the major classes of biomolecules and subcellular organelles, as well as aspects of metabolism in prokaryotes and eukaryotes. Requirement for students in the Programs in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Genes and Development, and Microbiology and Molecular Genetics.

Advanced (Alternative) Courses

The following courses can be used to fulfill the molecular area requirement if:

--the student has a strong background in biochemistry, and

GS040123 Eukaryotic Gene Expression. Fall annually. This is an advanced molecular genetics course in which current results and theories, based on primary journal articles, will be discussed. The primary emphasis will be on the transcriptional regulation of gene expression. The effect of chromatin conformation, RNA splicing and 3' sequences on gene expression will also be discussed. Requirement for students in the Program in Genes and Development. 

GS040113 Mechanisms of Carcinogenesis. Spring annually. Prerequisite: Cancer Biology(GS040063) or Basic Concepts of Tumor Biology (GS040083) or consent of instructor. The course focuses on molecular and genetic mechanisms involved in multistage chemical, radiation, and viral induced carcinogenesis. This course is taught at the UT Science Park in Smithville, Texas.