GRADUATE REQUIREMENTS
The minimum overall requirements for the doctorate program are nine courses. Full-time course work will extend for 12 months, starting in July. Students must enroll in a minimum of two courses in each of the first three terms: summer, fall, and spring. The majority of the course requirements are to be completed by the end of the first year of study. Elective courses are often taken in the second year, with the expectation that they be completed by the end of the second year. Electives are chosen in consultation with the student's advisor.

Students are required to hold their first qualifying committee meeting by January 31 of the first year at which time the preliminary prospectus is presented, reading topics for the directed reading course (IMED 635) are assigned, and an estimated timeline is set for the comprehensive qualifying examination.

To be eligible to take the comprehensive qualifying examination, students must achieve the grade of Honors in two courses (one course if a full-year course), have a minimum grade average of High Pass, and have completed a minimum of six courses. When requirements are met (typically by December 31 of the second year), students submit their thesis proposal and undertake the comprehensive qualifying examination. To be admitted to candidacy, students must pass both the written and oral comprehensive qualifying examinations and submit a thesis prospectus which has been approved by their qualifying committee.

Students admitted to candidacy will then continue their dissertation research. Oversight during this period will be provided by the student's thesis committee. Thesis committee meetings are required at 6 month intervals throughout the duration of training. The remaining degree requirements include completion of the dissertation project, writing of the dissertation, and its oral defense.

CURRICULUM
The major goals of the curriculum for the Investigative Medicine Program are to provide the rigorous training needed to fulfill requirements for the Ph.D. degree; to ensure success in a career in biomedical investigation; and to link the research training with the clinical expertise and perspective of the students. Student will enter the program with a broad range of experiences and interests, ranging from molecular biology to disease-oriented and patient-oriented research. The curriculum is designed to provide core training, but also sufficient flexibility to meet the individualized needs of each student.

Course Requirements for Clinically Based Patient-Oriented Research

1. IMED 660 Methods in Clinical Research (summer – year 1)
2. IMED 661 Methods in Clinical Research (fall – year 1)
3. IMED 662 Methods in Clinical Research (spring – year 1)
4. IMED 680 Topics in Human Investigation (spring – year 1)
5. IMED 630 Practical and Ethical Issues in Clinical Investigation(fall – year 1)
6. IMED 635 Directed Reading in Investigative Medicine (spring – year 1)
7. IMED 655 Grants, NIH and Manuscripts (spring – year 2)
8. Elective
9. Elective

Course Requirements for Laboratory-Based Patient-Oriented Research

1. IMED 615 Functional Genomics in Translational Research (summer – year 1)
2. IMED 625 Principles of Clinical Research (summer – year 1)
3. IMED 645 Introduction to Biostatistics in Clinical Research (summer – year 1)
4. CBIO 601 Molecular and Cellular Basis of Human Disease (fall & spring – year 1)
5. IMED 630 Practical and Ethical Issues in Clinical Investigation(fall – year 1)
6. IMED 680 Topics in Human Investigation (spring – year 1)
7. IMED 635 Directed Reading in Investigative Medicine (spring – year 1)
8. IMED 655 Grants, NIH and Manuscripts (spring – year 2)
9. Elective