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Curriculum

Coursework:

All Pathology M.S. students must have a minimum of 21 credit hours of coursework and 9 hours of research. Required coursework is as follows:

  • BMED:5207:000A Principles Molecular & Cellular Biology (3 s.h.)
  • BIOS:4120:0AAA Introduction to Biostatistics (3 s.h.)
  • PATH:6220:0001 Seminar in Pathology (1 s.h. x 2 semesters)
  • PATH:5270:0001 Pathogenesis of Major Human Diseases (3 s.h.)
  • BMED:7270:0002 Principles of Scholarly Integrity

Required coursework results in:
1. A basic understanding of molecular and cellular biology.
2. A basic understanding of biostatistics.
3. An advanced understanding of pathobiology and mechanisms of human disease.
Remaining coursework consists of electives focused on the area or topic of the student's thesis project. These electives are graduate level courses offered by a range of departments on the biomedical campus. All coursework is completed within the first two years.

Thesis:

The thesis project is carried out under the guidance of the mentor and thesis committee. The committee is composed of the student's mentor and two additional faculty members. In general, the thesis consists of four chapters with the first being a concise review of the literature, the second materials and methods, and the last two a scholarly description of the project results. The student must meet with the thesis committee at least once a year, with a satisfactory report submitted after each meeting. The thesis must be defended before the committee prior to final approval.