Core Courses
Course | Credits | Description |
GMS 6003C | 6 | Introduction to Biomedical Science: This course provides students with foundational skills essential for success in biomedical research and mentorship-based instruction. Students will learn to navigate evaluation metrics, set developmental milestones through mentor-mentee agreements, and prepare for guided, research-focused learning. The course also introduces general approaches of experimental design, including hypothesis formulation and the physical-chemical principles underlying common laboratory techniques. Students will gain experience analyzing results obtained in the lab and communicating scientific findings using appropriate media and formats. |
GMS 6097 | 3 | Methods in Biomedical Research: This course explores contemporary methodologies used to study cell structure and function, with a focus on signal transduction, cell metabolism, cell proliferation, and immunoassays. Each biweekly topic begins with an introductory lecture followed by a student-led discussion of relevant research paper. For example, weeks one and two will cover microscopy techniques. This structure provides foundational knowledge and reinforces it through literature review. |
GMS 6220 | 6 | Molecular Genetics and Cellular Biology: This course introduces fundamental concepts in biochemistry, cellular and molecular biology, and genetics, with an emphasis on medically relevant applications. |
GMS 6864 | 2 | Principles of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics: This course introduces students to the foundational principles of epidemiology and biostatistics. |
GMS 6925 | 2 | Graduate Student Presentations: This course provides graduate students with the opportunity to present their laboratory research findings in a formal scientific talk during Graduate Research Day, organized by the University Graduate School. Students will analyze, organize, and communicate their results to peers and members of the FIU scientific community. Presentations will be evaluated by faculty with doctoral degrees in biomedical sciences and by fellow graduate students. Constructive feedback will be provided to support the development of scientific communication skills. |
GMS 6926 | 2 | Research Symposium Presentations: Graduate students will analyze and organize the results of their scientific research and present them at the FIU Medicine and FIU Research Symposiums as part of their coursework. This course is repeatable. Students in the program will showcase their findings during the FIU Medicine Research Symposium and throughout the Graduate Research Day organized by the University Graduate School. |
GMS 6927 | 2 | Scientific Oral Presentations: The course prepares graduate students in the Ph.D. program in biomedical sciences to design, create, and present posters, as well as deliver short and long oral scientific presentations. Students will use their own research for the presentations and will perform multiple formats, including elevator talks, 10-minute chalk talks, 15-minute presentations, and 35-minute or longer seminars, as time allows. |
GMS 6930 | 2 | Lectureship Seminar:This seminar introduces students to a range of research topics in the biomedical sciences and exposes them to various scientific presentation styles. The course emphasizes the critical skill of identifying and synthesizing key information from scientific talks. Students are expected to summarize major findings from each lecture in concise written essays. |
GMS 6939 | 1 | Graduate Seminar: A weekly seminar/discussion course consisting of research presentations by students, faculty, and visiting scientists in biomedical sciences will form part of a recurring credit. |
GMS 6961 | 5 | Qualifying Examination: The purpose of the Qualifying Examination is to confirm the readiness of the graduate student to conduct Ph.D. research. |
GMS 6962 | 1 | Formation of Committee: Appointment of Dissertation Committee: Preliminary Proposal: The student submits a preliminary research proposal approved by his/her committee. |
GMS 6963 | 3 | Doctoral Dissertation Proposal: The Doctoral Dissertation Proposal is written in the style of an AHA, NIH or NSF predoctoral fellowship application. |
GMS 6964 | 1 | Dissertation Proposal Seminar: After completion of the Qualifying Examination (QE) and Dissertation proposal approval, the student must present his proposal to the Dissertation Committee. The student will give a PowerPoint presentation of the proposed research to the members of the dissertation committee. The dissertation committee will specifically evaluate the following: (i) Has the student demonstrated the ability to design a feasible project? (ii) Has the student shown a reasonable knowledge of the literature regarding the project? (iii) Has the student presented the proposal (both written and oral) in a scholarly fashion? (iv) Has the student demonstrated competent scientific knowledge concerning overall fundamental principles and applications in biomedical science? and (v) Does the proposed research constitute an acceptable and feasible dissertation project? This will be achieved through an oral question-and-answer component within the scheduled time of the dissertation proposal exam meeting. The chairman of the dissertation committee will (i) ensure that the proposal exam is held for a reasonable length of time; (ii) ensure that the student is evaluated fairly and rigorously; and (iii) see that a written evaluation is promptly prepared and sent to the student and the director of the graduate program. |
GMS 6979 | 1-10 | Research Credits: Research may be conducted in the Ph.D. advisor’s laboratory. May be repeated. |
GMS 7980 | 1-10 | Dissertation Research Credits: Research conducted in support of the doctoral dissertation. This course may be repeated as needed to fulfill dissertation requirements. |
GMS 7981 | 1 | Dissertation Defense Seminar: Dissertation defense seminar. |
Elective Course Choices – Minimum 5 Credits*
*This is not the complete list of possible elective courses. Dissertation advisors or Dissertation Advisory Committee members, at their discretion, may suggest potential electives described in the FIU Graduate Catalog.
Course | Credits | Description |
BME 6545 | 3 | Biosensors and Nanobioelectronics: Advanced topics in the design and practical application of bioelectronic devices such as biosensors, DNA nanowires, analytical electrochemistry and biomolecular electronics. |
CGS 5166 | 2 | Introduction to Bioinformatics Tools: Introduction to bioinformatics; analytical and predictive tools; practical use of tools for sequence alignments, phylogeny, visualizations, pattern discovery, gene expression analysis, and protein structure. |
CHM 5305 | 3 | Graduate Biological Chemistry: Structures of biological molecules; biochemical reaction mechanisms; enzyme kinetics; biomolecular thermodynamics; biomolecular spectroscopy. |
CHM 6088 | 3 | Environmental Chemistry of Trace Elements: Occurrence, transformation, detection, speciation, and other aspects of trace elements in the environment. |
CHM 6157 | 3 | Advanced Analytical Chemistry: Modern analytical methods, applications, and instrumentation. Topics include spectroscopy, chromatography, electrochemistry, optimization theory, and computerized instrumentation. |
CHM 6382 | 3 | Advanced Biological Chemistry: In-depth exploration of one or more biological chemistry areas, for example, the use of multinuclear NMR in examining nuclear acids and proteins; biosynthesis of toxins and roles of porphyrins. |
GMS 6300 | 4 | General Pathology: This course introduces the molecular and genetic basis of human diseases while emphasizing the basic pathologic processes and vocabulary. |
GMS 6500 | 4 | Basic Pharmacology: This course is an introduction to the basic principles of pharmacology and provides an overview of drugs from a molecular, cellular and basic science perspective. |
GMS 6940 | 1 | Supervised Teaching in Biomedical Science: Students will assist the faculty members who teach either graduate or medical students. |