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The physiology Ph.D. program combines exposure to the fundamentals of the discipline through courses in the first two years with focused research and scholarship in a student’s area of particular interest. To be awarded a Ph.D. degree in physiology, a student must successfully complete:
Required Courses
The first-year curriculum includes courses in systems and endocrine physiology, supplemented with courses in metabolism, cellular and molecular biology, immunology, and a course on bioethics. The second-year curriculum includes graduate seminars in physiology and courses in biostatistics and professional development.
Qualifying Examination
Given at the end of the first year, the qualifying exam comprises a written paper that tests a student’s ability to analyze the primary literature in physiology and an oral exam that tests a student’s knowledge of physiology gained over the first year.
Competency in English
The J. Jeffrey and Ann Marie Fox Graduate School requires that students demonstrate proficiency in written and oral English.
Comprehensive Examination
The comprehensive exam is usually taken before the start of the third year; it consists of the student's thesis proposal and an oral defense.
Research Project
An original investigation under the supervision of a physiology program faculty advisor leading to a written dissertation.
Thesis Defense
A public presentation of a student's thesis research and oral examination by a student’s doctoral committee.
The time from admission to thesis defense is generally five years. Students must maintain a grade-point average of 3.0 or higher in academic courses to be retained in the program and to continue to receive financial support.
The master’s degree in Integrative and Biomedical Physiology is structured much like the Ph.D. program during the first year, with similar course requirements. The second year can be modified to accommodate the goals of the student. Master's students are required to complete a research thesis.
To be awarded a M.S. degree in Physiology, a student must successfully complete:
Required Coursework
Master's students must have a minimum of 30 credits at the 400 – 600 levels. The first-year curriculum includes courses in physiology, supplemented with courses in cellular, molecular, and systems biology, and bioethics. The second-year curriculum includes graduate seminars in physiology, a course in biostatistics, and professional development.
Research Project
An original investigation under the supervision of a physiology program faculty advisor leading to a written thesis.
Thesis Defense
A public presentation of a student's thesis research and oral examination by a student’s thesis committee.
Competency in English
The J. Jeffrey and Ann Marie Fox Graduate School requires that students demonstrate proficiency in written and oral English.
The time from admission to thesis defense is generally two years. Students must maintain a grade-point average of 3.0 or higher in academic courses to be retained in the program and to continue to receive financial support.
A doctoral program consists of a combination of courses, seminars, individual study, and research, to meet the minimum course requirements for either the PhD or M.S. degrees in Integrative and Biomedical Physiology. A minimum of 30 credits beyond the B.S. degree, which include 6 research credits, is required as follows:
You can use this handbook to navigate the Integrative and Biomedical Physiology graduate program. It provides essential information about coursework, research, examinations, teaching, academic progress, and the policies and resources that support students from enrollment through graduation.
