Curriculum

The university is no longer accepting applicants to the Interdisciplinary Ph.D. program. Please explore our new Ph.D. program for our current offering.

Primary Discipline in Bioinformatics

Required curriculum

Students may work with the discipline coordinator to create an individualized plan of study that includes the following:

  • 6 credit hours of biostatistics
  • 6 credit hours of research methodology and research ethics
  • 6 credit hours of informatics courses 

Full course listing

Qualifying examination

Students will take and pass a written qualifying examination that is created by department faculty in order to verify that the student is proficient in the fundamentals of the discipline. The exam will cover the core minimum coursework listed and must be passed before the student is deemed qualified to carry out doctoral-level research.

The exam must be taken within one year of completing the doctoral core coursework.

Comprehensive examination

The comprehensive examination is the mechanism used to review and approve the plan for dissertation research which will be structured around a common question/theme/issue. There will be a written component and an oral component of the comprehensive examination. Students are required to have prepared and have an accepted comprehensive proposal of their dissertation research plan within two years following successful completion of the qualifying examination. Upon successful completion of the written and oral components of the comprehensive examination, the student wills be classified as a Ph.D. candidate.

For the department’s policy on academic progression or more information about the qualifying or comprehensive examinations, please contact the discipline coordinator.

Compatible Co-disciplines

Some suggested co-discipline areas include:

  • Mathematics and statistics
  • Cell biology and biophysics
  • Molecular biology and biochemistry
  • Oral biology and craniofacial sciences
  • Pharmaceutical sciences
  • Pharmacology and toxicology
  • Computer science
  • Engineering
  • Public affairs and administration

Co-Discipline in Bioinformatics

Recommended curriculum

While the following courses are suggested core components for the biomedical and health informatics co-discipline, students may work with the discipline coordinator to create an individualized plan of study.

  • MEDB 5510, Clinical Research Methodology or MEDB 5512, Clinical Trials
  • MEDB 5511, Principles and Applications of Epidemiology or
  • MEDB 5514, Human Genome Epidemiology
  • MEDB 5521, Clinical Informatics
  • MEDB 5501 and 5502, Biostatistics I & II

For the department’s policy on academic progression, please contact the discipline coordinator.

Compatible Primary Disciplines

Some suggested primary discipline areas for bioinformatics co-discipline

  • Mathematics
  • Oral and craniofacial sciences
  • Cell biology and biophysics
  • Molecular biology and biochemistry
  • Pharmaceutical sciences
  • Pharmacology
  • Computer science
  • Public affairs and administration