Cellular and Molecular Pathology (CMP) Graduate Training Program - Student Guidelines - MSTP Program

MSTP (MD/PhD) Students entering the CMP Program

The overall University and Cellular and Molecular Pathology (CMP) program requirements for obtaining a PhD, as described in this manual, are similar for MD/PhD students except the only required course is Tissue Growth and Differentiation.  MD/PhD students first transfer into the IBGP and then immediately transfer into CMP.

Coursework

All CMP graduate students are required to enroll in the Pathology Research Seminar (MSCMP 2750) for a minimum of five terms although, students may excused from this seminar series during the term in which they will defend their thesis. Additional coursework is typically completed during the first 1.5 years after MD/PhD students enter the CMP graduate program, thereby maximizing the time students can focus on their PhD dissertation research. Students entering the CMP program are required to take MSCMP 2730 (Molecular Mechanisms of Tissue Growth & Differentiation), as well as three electives of their choice.  CMP elective courses include Molecular Pathobiology (MSCMP 2740, 3.0 Cr, Spring only), Cancer Biology and Therapeutics (MSCMP 3710, 3.0 Cr, Fall only), Intro to Tissue Engineering (MSCMP 2760, 3.0 Cr, Spring only), Synthetic Biology (MSCMP 2820, 3.0 Cr, Fall only), ECM in Tissue Biology (MSCMP 3735, 3.0 Cr, Fall only), Stem Cells (MSCMP 3740, 3.0 Cr, Spring only), Angiogenesis (MSCMP 3750, 3.0 Cr, Spring only), Cell Therapy (MSCMP 3770, 3.0 Cr, Spring only) or Basics of Personalized Medicine (MSCMP 3790, 3.0 Cr, Fall only); however, students may elect to take electives sponsored by other Health Science graduate programs.   A typical curriculum might be as follows:

Year 1 in CMP Graduate Program

Fall Term

Spring Term

Fall, Spring, or Summer Term

Years 2 and 3 in CMP Graduate Program

Fall or Spring Terms

Comprehensive Examination

All MD/PhD students in the CMP graduate training program are required to complete their comprehensive examination by the end of the second Fall term in the CMP program.  Shortly after completing the Comprehensive Examination (before Spring term drop/add ends), students should have a second committee meeting and submit the Application for Admission to Candidacy form. This ensures that students can obtain PhD Dissertation Credit Hours beginning the Spring term of the second year.  The University requires that PhD students accumulate at least 40 Credit hours of PhD Dissertation Research, which requires a minimum of 1.5 years to complete.  Therefore, MD/PhD students rapidly progress through this important program milestone.  A full description of the Comprehensive examination is described in section 10.2 of this handbook.  A one-page guideline for the comprehensive exam can be obtained from the Director.

Ph.D. Dissertation Committee

Typically, the faculty participants in the PhD Dissertation Committee are the same as in the Comprehensive exam committee.  This permits the Dissertation Committee to quickly contribute to the experimental design of the thesis project.  All CMP students are required to meet with their PhD Dissertation Committee at least twice per year.  An evaluation form is available from the Graduate Coordinator and must be returned to the Graduate Coordinator after each committee meeting.  Additional information regarding the PhD Dissertation Committee can be obtained in section 10.3 of this handbook.

Subsequent Years and Completion

Students focus on dissertation research and are required to meet with their thesis committee every six months to discuss progress and future plans. A student is awarded a degree upon successfully writing and defending his/her thesis. Important steps for graduation are outlined in section 10.4.