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