Graduate Scholar Program Curriculum
The CPRIT training program includes a recommended curriculum that is designed to provide a strong platform in basic biological or biophysical concepts in year one and flexibility to train in diverse cancer-related disciplines in year two. Two tracks are available: Basic cellular and molecular concepts and applications in cancer biology (Cellular Track); and Oncologic applications of quantitative and biophysical sciences studies (Biophysical Track).
The amount of coursework required is similar to that of current GSBS students and allows sufficient time to perform laboratory research. Flexibility in curriculum requirements is allowed for advanced students or in other circumstances, pending consideration by the CPRIT Graduate Scholar Steering Committee.
| Semester | Cellular Track Coursework |
| Fall-Year 1 | |
| Cell Biology | |
| Select 2 | Developmental Biology Experimental Genetics |
| Ethical Dimensions of Biomedical Sciences | |
| Spring-Year 1 | Eukaryotic Gene Expression |
| Select 2 | Structure and Function of Biological Macromolecules Topics in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology |
| Summer-Year 1 | Critical Thinking in Science Biomedical Statistics |
| Fall-Year 2 | Basic Concepts of Tumor Biology |
| Select 2 | Cancer Biology Immunology I Principles in Therapeutics Human Protocol Research Current Topics and Approaches in Epigenetics Genetics and Human Disease |
| Spring-Year 2 | Cancer Cell Signaling |
| Select 2 | Molecular Mechanisms of Carcinogenesis The Biology of Cancer Metastasis Immunology II and III Clinical Perspective of Human Disease Translational Sciences: Bench to Bedside and Back Integrative Bioinformatics Stem Cells in Biomedicine |
| Summer-Year 2 | CPRIT Seminar course |
| Semester | Biophysical Track Coursework |
| Fall-Year 1 | Fundamental Biological Principles of Molecular Imaging & Therapeutics |
| Select 3-4 | Metabolic Biochemistry Mathematics for Medical Physics Introduction to Biostatistics and Bioinformatics Introduction to Medical Physics I: Basic Interactions Radiation Biology |
| Ethical Dimensions of Biomedical Sciences | |
| Spring-Year 1 | Radiation Detection, Instrumentation, and Data Analysis |
| Select 2-3 | Introduction to Medical Physics II: Medical Imaging Mathematical Statistics I Cell and Systems Physiology |
| Summer-Year 1 | Critical Thinking in Science Introduction to Radiation Protection |
| Fall-Year 2 | Anatomy and Physiology for Medical Physicists |
| Select 2-3 | Cancer Biology Cell Biology Mathematical Probability Mathematical Statistics II Principles in Therapeutics Human Protocol Research |
| Spring-Year 2 | Introduction to Medical Physics IV: Nuclear Medicine |
| Select 2 | The Biology of Cancer Metastasis Survival Analysis Clinical Perspective of Human Disease Translational Sciences: Bench to Bedside and Back Integrative Bioinformatics |
| Summer-Year 2 | CPRIT Seminar course Physics of Positron Emission Tomography |
Important aspects of the training program include participation in the monthly CPRIT journal club and the CPRIT Annual Symposium.
