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University of Pittsburgh    
2019-2020 Graduate & Professional Studies Catalog 
    
 
  Mar 29, 2024
 
2019-2020 Graduate & Professional Studies Catalog [Archived Catalog]

Interdisciplinary Biomedical Graduate Program


Through the Interdisciplinary Biomedical Graduate Program, students may be admitted into one of the following 4 PhD degree-granting programs in the School of Medicine:

 

Students will not be admitted to pursue a master’s degree. However, students who cannot complete the PhD program due to extenuating personal, financial, academic, or medical reasons may be awarded a master’s degree.

The Interdisciplinary Biomedical Graduate Program is flexible and accommodates students whose research interests are still evolving by introducing them to a variety of fields through interdisciplinary courses and laboratory experiences. For those students who have a clearly defined research interest, the program offers the opportunity to move quickly into a laboratory and accelerate their study.

For more information on Admissions, Financial Assistance, Training Faculty, etc. please visit www.gradbiomed.pitt.edu

Contact Information

Associate Dean for Graduate Studies
Office of Graduate Studies
M240 Scaife Hall
3550 Terrace Street, Pittsburgh PA 15261
412-648-8957
Fax: 412-648-1077
E-mail: gradstudies@medschool.pitt.edu

Academic Standards


Students must maintain a minimumoverall cumulative GPA of 3.00. In addition, a minimum of a B grade must be earned in each of the required courses and in each of the degree-granting program core courses.

General Degree Requirements - All Interdisciplinary Biomedical Graduate Students


The first term core course, Foundations of Biomedical Science, is required of all students and is followed by increasingly specialized course work in the discipline-specific program the student has chosen. A course in biomedical experimental design and analysis and a course in research ethics are also required of all students. The first year includes three laboratory research rotations. (See listing of Required Courses below.) Students are guided through their first year of graduate study by a faculty mentor assigned by the program.

The mentor helps to identify rotation laboratories, provides advice on classes, and ensures that students reach appropriate milestones in the first year of the program. At the end of the first year, a preliminary student performance evaluation is conducted by the Program Steering Committee. When a student has successfully completed the preliminary evaluation and chosen a dissertation advisor, the student transfers into one of the degree-granting programs.

Evaluation following the first year is undertaken by the degree-granting program and includes course performance and a comprehensive exam at the end of the second year of study. The comprehensive exam is in the form of an original research proposal followed by an oral examination before a faculty committee. Upon successful completion of the comprehensive exam, the student nominates a dissertation advisory committee composed of a minimum of 5 members. A majority of the committee (including the major advisor) must have graduate faculty status. The student then presents a dissertation proposal to the committee and is admitted to candidacy. The training program is completed by execution of an original and independent research project and defending a dissertation. Please see Regulations Pertaining to Doctoral Degrees.

Required Courses-All Students

The following courses are required of all students in the Interdisciplinary Biomedical Graduate Program:

INTBP 2000 - FOUNDTNS OF BIOMEDICAL SCIENCE  

INTBP 2005 - FOUNDATIONS CONFERENCE  

INTBP 2013 - D2K: FROM DATA TO KNOWLEDGE- BIOMEDICAL EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN AND ANALYSIS  

INTBP 2290 - SCIENTIFIC ETHICS AND THE RESPONSIBLE CONDUCT OF RESEARCH  

INTBP 2010 - LABORATORY RESEARCH ROTATION   

A minimum of 72 credits (32 course credits and 40 PhD dissertation research credits) beyond the baccalaureate degree is required for the PhD degree.



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