PhD curriculum

Students in MUSC’s PhD in Biomedical Sciences degree programs enroll in approximately 15 credit hours per semester (3 semesters per year), which includes a combination of didactic course credits and research project credits. The total credit hours taken per year is typically 45. Because time to complete the degree is significantly affected by progress in one’s research project(s), the range of credits students acquire by graduation varies.

The degree can be earned in four to seven years. Degree completion in fewer than 4 or more than 7 years requires prior approval by the Dean of the College of Graduate Studies. The number of credit hours associated with these time frames follows:

4 years (12 semesters)=180 credit hours
5 years (15 semesters)=225 credit hours
6 years (18 semesters)=270 credit hours
7 years (21 semesters)=315 credit hours

Students typically graduate with 225-270 credit hours (5-6 years)

Year	Semester	Course		Credit Hours
1	Fall	CGS*720	Laboratory Rotation	4
		CGS*765	Proteins:Dynam Struct & Funct	3
		CGS*766	Genes: Inheritance/Expression	4
		CGS*767	Cells:Organization/Communicat	3
		CGS*768	Techniques & Experimental Desi	2
			Total Semester Hours	16
1	Spring	CGS*721	Laboratory Rotations	4
		CGS*770	Principles Practices & Prof	2
		CGS*772	Learning From the Literature	2
		CGS*790	Topics in Contemp. Biomed Sci	2
		TBD	Additional Courses in Concentration and or Research	4
			Total Semester Hours	14
1	Summer	CGS*764	Science Writing As Persuasion	1
		TBD	Additional Courses in Concentration and or Research	14
			Total Semester Hours	15
2	Fall	TBD	Additional Courses in Concentration and or Research	13
		CGS*817	Rig. Extram. Fellowship App	2
			Total Semester Hours	15
2	Spring	TBD	Additional Courses in Concentration and or Research	15
			Total Semester Hours	15
2	Summer	TBD	Additional Courses in Concentration and or Research	15
			Total Semester Hours	15
3	Fall	TBD	Additional Courses in Concentration and or Research	15
			Total Semester Hours	15
3	Spring	TBD	Additional Courses in Concentration and or Research	15
			Total Semester Hours	15
3	Summer	TBD	Additional Courses in Concentration and or Research	15
			Total Semester Hours	15
4	Fall	TBD	Additional Courses in Concentration and or Research	15
			Total Semester Hours	15
4	Spring	TBD	Additional Courses in Concentration and or Research	15
			Total Semester Hours	15
4	Summer	TBD	Additional Courses in Concentration and or Research	15
			Total Semester Hours	15
5	Fall	TBD	Additional Courses in Concentration and or Research	15
			Total Semester Hours	15
5	Spring	TBD	Additional Courses in Concentration and or Research	15
			Total Semester Hours	15
5	Summer	TBD	Additional Courses in Concentration and or Research	15
			Total Semester Hours	15
6	Fall	TBD	Additional Courses in Concentration and or Research	15
			Total Semester Hours	15
6	Spring	TBD	Additional Courses in Concentration and or Research	15
			Total Semester Hours	15
6	Summer	TBD	Additional Courses in Concentration and or Research	15
			Total Semester Hours	15
7	Fall	TBD	Additional Courses in Concentration and or Research	15
			Total Semester Hours	15
7	Spring	TBD	Additional Courses in Concentration and or Research	15
			Total Semester Hours	15
7	Summer	TBD	Additional Courses in Concentration and or Research	15
			Total Semester Hours	15
			Total Credit Hours (minimum)	180
			Total Credit Hours (maximum)	315