MD/PhD Program Curriculum
Yearly Overview
First 2 Years:
The program begins with Phase I of the UNM School of Medicine
curriculum.
Next 3-4 Years:
The student takes graduate courses and completes their PhD dissertation research.
Last 2 Years:
The program ends with Phase II and III of the UNM School of Medicine
curriculum and fulfillment of a teaching requirement.
Curriculum
A total of 48 credits hours plus 18 dissertation hours and good standing throughout the SOM curriculum is required for the MD/PhD degree. The only change from the MD curriculum takes place during the summer of the first academic year. In place of the Practical Immersion Experience (PIE) the MD/PhD students take laboratory research rotations (BIOM 506). In addition to the MD degree curriculum the MD/PhD students are required to take the following courses in the BSGP:
| Course | Title | Credits |
|
BIOM |
Fundamentals for Graduate Research | 1 |
|
BIOM |
Special Topics in Biomedical Research (rotations) | 3 |
|
|
Advanced Molecular Biology | 4 |
|
|
Advanced Cellular Biology | 4 |
|
|
Cell and Molecular Basis of Disease Journal Club (2 semesters, year 1) | 4 |
|
|
Cell and Molecular Basis of Disease Seminar | 1 |
| BIOM 555 | Problem Based Research Bioethics | 1 |
MD/PhD students must also take 3 credit hours from the courses listed below. Other available courses offered for MD/PhD students through the BSGP are listed here.
| Course | Title | Credits |
|
|
Principles of Neurobiology | 3 |
|
|
Physiology | 3 |
|
|
Immunobiology | 3 |
|
|
Cancer Biology | 3 |
|
|
Molecular Genetics and Genomics | 3 |
To view the program's curricular map as a suggested time line to follow,
click here.
Course Descriptions
BIOM 501 Fundamentals for Graduate Research
This course provides first year students with information for making an
educated choice of a dissertation research advisor, of various teaching and
research resources and facilities, and teaching and communication skills.
BIOM 506 Special Topics in Biomedical Research
In this course, first year graduate students will participate in research
with potential thesis or dissertation mentors and gain first-hand experience
in a variety of techniques and approaches to biological problems. Offered on
a CR/NC basis only. (Laboratory Rotations)
BIOM 507 Advanced Molecular Biology
This course covers the structures and functions of nucleic acids and
proteins, mechanisms and macromolecular synthesis and principles of
enzymology.
BIOM 508 Advanced Cellular Biology
This course covers advanced topics in cell biology, including microscopy,
the nucleus, protein and membrane trafficking, cytoskeleton signal
transduction, cell cycle and division and extracellular matrix.
BIOM 509 Principles of Neurobiology
This course covers cellular structure of neurons and glia, the electrical
properties of neurons, intercellular communication, and the formation,
maintenance and plasticity of chemical synapses.
BIOM 510 Physiology
This is a course in regulatory and systems biology, and cardiovascular and
pulmonary biology.
BIOM 514 Immunobiology
This is a comprehensive, fundamentals-based immunology course for graduate
students in the biomedical sciences or related fields. The course will have
a problem-based component that will introduce students to experimental
design in immunological research.
BIOM 515 Cancer Biology
This course will focus on fundamental elements of cancer development and
progression. Basic biochemical and genetic mechanisms of tumorigenesis,
including genomic instability, principles of tumor cell invasion and growth
dysregulation will be emphasized.
BIOM 516 Molecular Genetics and Genomics
This course covers genetic and genomic approaches in model organisms
(prokaryotes, fungi, worms, mouse and fruit flies) and humans to study
biological processes at the molecular, cellular, tissue, organism,
population and evolutionary levels. It provides an introduction to
bioinformatic and computational methods used in such studies.
BIOM 525 Cell and Molecular Basis of Disease Journal Club
This course offers new graduate students experience in oral presentation
skills, experience in reading and discussing scientific literature and
exposure to research seminars. Student led discussions partner with weekly
Cell and Molecular Basis of Disease Seminar.
BIOM 530 Cell and Molecular Basis of Disease Seminar
This seminar is a crosscutting, interdepartmental seminar series offered for
graduate credit. Weekly seminars are presented by preeminent scientists on a
wide variety of broadly relevant research topics.
BIOM 555 Problem-Based Bioethics
This course is a problem-based discussion course on topics in
bioethics such as publication credits and authorships, conflict of interest
and fraud, scientific misconduct, human genomics and other relevant issues.
