Degree Requirements and Curriculum
Successful completion of the Ph.D. is fulfilled through coursework, a Ph.D. candidacy exam, laboratory research, and a written thesis with oral defense.
Coursework
G&D Course Requirements
To be considered a full-time GSBS student, you must register for a minimum of nine credit hours for the Fall and Spring terms and six credit hours for the Summer term.
- GS04 1203 Experimental Genetics (satisfies GSBS Systems Area Requirement)
- GS04 1123 Molecular Biology of the Eukaryotic Cell (satisfies GSBS Molecular Area Requirement)
- One Elective:
- GS04 1223 Fundamental Mechanisms of Cancer Development
OR - GS04 1073 Developmental Biology
- GS04 1223 Fundamental Mechanisms of Cancer Development
- One Biochemistry Course (satisfies GSBS Molecular Area Requirement):
- GS03 1015 Metabolic Biochemistry
OR - GS03 1024 Topics in Biochemistry
- GS03 1015 Metabolic Biochemistry
- One Quantitative Course (satisfies GSBS Quantitative Area Requirement):
- GS01 1014 Biomedical Statistics
OR - GS03 1102 Current Methods in Molecular Research
- GS01 1014 Biomedical Statistics
- GS21 1051 Biomedical Ethics
- Topics in Genes & Development (2 semesters):
- GS04 1801 Current Topics in Genes and Development (Fall term-writing and Spring term-oral presentation)
Seminar Courses
Before graduation, Genes & Development students are required to participate in at least five seminar courses, journal clubs, departmental activities and/or other groups that require them to make an oral presentation. Some recommended courses include:
- GS04 1731 Seminar in Developmental Biology
- GS11 1631 Current Topics in Human and Molecular Genetics
- GS04 1721 Seminar in Tumor Suppressor Genes
- GS04 1761 Current Topics in Oncogene Research
- GS04 1771 Current Topics in Tumor Progression
- GS04 1791 Topics in Programmed Cell Death
- GS04 1812 Seminar in Molecular Mechanisms of Human Cancer
Other Elective Courses
The student may choose to supplement his or her career with additional coursework from the selections based on their individual needs.
- GS21 1061 Critical Thinking in Science
- GS01 1062 Introduction to Bioinformatics
- GS00 1620 Literature Survey
- GS04 1013 Cell Biology
- GS04 1782 Topics in Extracellular Matrix
- GS11 1023 Molecular and Cellular Approaches to Human Genetics
- GS12 1072 Developmental Anatomy
Suggested Course Timeline
| Fall | Spring | Summer |
|---|---|---|---|
Year 1 | Experimental Genetics Biomedical Ethics ELECTIVE: Fundamental Mechanisms of Cancer Development | Molecular Biology of the Eucaryotic Cell ELECTIVE: Developmental Biology | Biomedical Statistics (or alternate course to fulfill GSBS Molecular Area Requirement) |
Year 2 | Metabolic Biochemistry Current Topics in G&D – Scientific Writing Introduction to Bioinformatics | Current Topics in G&D – Oral Scientific Presentations | Critical Thinking in Science (optional) |
Ph.D. Candidacy Exam
Students must write three one-page "off-topic" abstracts. One abstract will be chosen by the student’s examining committee to write an NIH style original research proposal. This proposal is then presented and defended in an oral presentation. The candidacy exam is meant to be an evaluation of the student’s ability to construct a hypothesis, to design the means by which to test it, and to critically analyze obtained results.
Prior to forming the examining committee, all required coursework must be completed, and the advisory committee must recommend that the student is ready to take the exam and approve the three off-topic abstracts. The examining committee selects the abstract for the research proposal.
GSBS Requirements
Students must petition for Ph.D. candidacy by the end of the second year following matriculation (i.e. the end of the summer of your second year). The oral exam must be scheduled no later than the end of the first term of the third year of study (i.e. the end of the fall semester of your third year). The deadlines for students who matriculate in the summer term are one term earlier respectively.
- GSBS Ph.D. Candidacy information
- G&D Candidacy Exam information (pdf - 18 pages)
Exam Resources
- Faculty Critique Guidelines for G&D Oral Exam (pdf - 1 page)
- GSBS Candidacy Forms
- NIH Sample RO1 Grant Applications and Summary Statements
- Writing Effective Grant Proposals (from MD Anderson Scientific Publications, intranet)
http://inside.mdanderson.org/departments/genes-and-development-graduate-program/candidacy-exam.html
Laboratory Research
In the first year of graduate studies, students typically complete three laboratory tutorial research experiences (GS00 1514 Tutorial Research Experience). The student then chooses a laboratory and forms an Advisory Committee composed of the student's advisor and four additional faculty members to direct the student in the first phase of their research (GS00 1520 Research in Biomedical Sciences) through the time of petitioning for candidacy. Students advance to Ph.D. candidacy after satisfactorily completing the candidacy exam by the end of the first semester of their third year. After advancing to candidacy, students concentrate on completing their dissertation research (GS00 1920 Dissertation for Doctor of Philosophy).