Curriculum Overview

As a Ph.D. student in the Biomedical Sciences, you will take an interdisciplinary first year curriculum that allows exposure to all departments and programs before a research area and mentor are selected. The Fall core curriculum provides a strong, contemporary foundation in the disciplines of biochemistry, molecular biology, genetics and cell biology, as well as discussion of experimental design and a broad range of experimental techniques.

In the Spring, students will either choose an intensive program in Neuroscience or will choose 3 of 6 mini-courses focused on a variety of areas of contemporary biomedical science and participate in an interactive course focused on learning from the literature. Students will also receive training in the ethical conduct of research, scientific rigor, reproducibility and transparency, and professional development. Three self-selected, 9-week laboratory rotations allow students to gain experience with a range of scientific topics, experimental approaches, and mentoring styles. 

After the first year, we encourage you to define your own schedule of courses to complete your educational plan. Students at MUSC will perform research in well-equipped, successful laboratories supported by state-of-the-art core facilities; participation in departmental seminar series and journal clubs rounds out the scope of your scientific exposure. For many of our students, the research experience culminates in publications in high impact peer-reviewed journals. Opportunities are also available to participate in teaching and professional development activities.