Curriculum

Students admitted to the Ph.D. in Biomedical Sciences at Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine must be enrolled in at least nine credits for each fall and spring term and six for the summer term. The program requires a minimum of 75 post-baccalaureate credits. A minimum of 24 credits must be for dissertation research.

During the first year, students are expected to:

Complete all coursework.
Maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher, with no grade less than a "B" in any mandatory course.
Actively participate in laboratory rotations (three required).
Regularly attend graduate seminars and specialty seminar series offered by basic science departments.
Select their dissertation advisor and Dissertation Advisory Committee members.
Register for elective courses in consultation with their Dissertation Advisory Committee.
Begin research and explore dissertation project opportunities.

Core Courses and Laboratory Rotations

Course Number	Course Name
GMS 6220	Molecular Genetics and Cellular Biology
GMS 6864	Principles of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics
GMS 6939	Graduate Seminar and Seminar Series
GMS 6962	Formation of Committee: Appointment of Dissertation Committee: Preliminary Proposal
GMS 6979	Research Credits
GMS 6003C	Introduction to Biomedical Sciences
GMS 6993C	Lectureship Seminar

Online Training Courses

Before laboratory rotations, students must complete several safety training courses. The Laboratory Hazard Awareness, HazCom: In Sync with GHS, and Fire Safety training courses are required for every person working in a lab area.

Additional training may be required for specific labs. For example, students using biosafety cabinets or fume hoods must complete the Safe Use of Biosafety Cabinets or Safe Use of Fume Hood training courses. The Environmental Awareness Part 2 training course is required for all students and faculty who handle hazardous waste. Students working with human cell lines must complete the Bloodborne Pathogens training course.

Students involved in human or animal research must complete the required training and obtain approval from the Institutional Review Board (for research involving human subjects) or from the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (for research involving animals). Research involving recombinant DNA requires approval from the Institutional Biosafety Committee.

More information on safety training courses can be found in the Department of Environmental Health and Safety.

During the second year, students are expected to:

Complete all core courses and elective credit requirements.
Regularly attend graduate seminars and specialty seminar series offered by basic science departments.
Make progress on research projects and define their dissertation project.
Perform duties for their teaching assistantship.
Take the Qualifying Examination (GMS 6961).

Core Courses

Course Number	Course Name
GMS 6481	Physiology and Immunology
GMS 6939	Graduate Seminar and Seminar Series
GMS 6979	Research Credits

In addition to the core courses, students must earn a minimum of five credits in elective courses. At their discretion, dissertation advisors or Dissertation Advisory Committee members may suggest other elective courses described in the FIU Graduate Catalog. Examples of elective courses are listed below.

Elective Courses

Course Number	Course Name
BME 6545	Biosensors and Nanobioelectronics
CGS 5166	Introduction to Bioinformatics Tools 2
CHM 5305	Graduate Biological Chemistry
CHM 6088	Environmental Chemistry of Trace Elements
CHM 6157	Advanced Analytical Chemistry
CHM 6382	Advanced Biological Chemistry
GMS 6300	General Pathology
GMS 6500	Basic Pharmacology
GMS 6904	Introduction to Scientific Writing

During the third year, students are expected to:

Pass the Qualifying Examination.
Prepare and successfully defend a doctoral dissertation proposal for admission to Ph.D. candidacy.
Complete the Responsible Conduct of Research online training.
Attend specialty seminar series offered by basic science departments and present their research.
Make substantial progress in research to achieve the aims of their dissertation project.
Present at a national scientific meeting.
Register for the Graduate Seminar.

Core Courses

Course Number	Course Name
GMS 6961	Qualifying Examination
GMS 6963	Doctoral Dissertation Proposal
GMS 6964	Dissertation Proposal Seminar
GMS 7980	Dissertation Research Credits
GMS 6939	Graduate Seminar and Seminar Series

During the fourth and fifth years, students are expected to:

Attend specialty seminar series offered by basic science departments and present their research.
Present at national conferences or symposia.
Publish at least one manuscript on which they’re the first author.
Complete their dissertation research.
Write and successfully defend their dissertation.
Secure a job in academia, the government, medical research, or biomedical and biotechnology industries.

Dissertation Research

During the fourth and fifth years, students engage primarily in dissertation research and work toward completion of the doctoral degree. Students must register for the Graduate Seminar during the spring term of each year. During this phase, students are expected to achieve expert knowledge and skills in their specialty areas, attain broad knowledge in various aspects of biomedical sciences, focus on developing research and communication skills and present and publish major research findings. The average time to completion of the doctoral degree is five years. However, if significant progress is made, students may be able to graduate in the fourth year.

Dissertation Defense

The dissertation defense is the last formal step before the dissertation manuscript is submitted and the Ph.D. degree is awarded. Dissertation defenses are open to the public, and we encourage the FIU community to attend.

Curriculum Details

Every student in the Biomedical Sciences program has a personalized curriculum designed to meet their specific learning needs.

See the course catalog

Get to know the faculty

Two students working on a dry erase board

Search this website