About the Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program (BSGP)

The BSGP consists of the MS and the PhD Programs. This program offers you an exciting opportunity to gain a broad understanding of the biomedical sciences in a spectacular southwestern setting of unsurpassed beauty, rich cultural heritage and geographic diversity.

The Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program is an integrated departmental program. It provides students with a broad-based, one-year core curriculum followed by focused course work and thesis/dissertation research. Research is conducted in faculty laboratories in the various basic science departments in the School of Medicine. In addition to our School of Medicine faculty, the BSGP is complemented by affiliated faculty in the UNM College of Pharmacy, Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute and Los Alamos National Laboratory who may direct graduate student research. To receive their degree, students fulfill the requirements of the BSGP in one of six areas of research. For more information, take a look at the
BSGP brochure.

 

PhD Students

PhD Students select a research area of study after completing their first year of studies. All first-year students share a one-year core curriculum.

     Financial support packages are offered to highly qualified, first-year PhD students. As of 2007, students receive an annual stipend of $23,000, health insurance coverage, and remission of tuition and GPSA fees. Early application (by December 1st) ensures consideration for these financial packages. After the first year, students are funded by their dissertation advisor, training grants, or the advisor's department. Students are responsible for payment of the Health Sciences Center Library fee of $75 per semester.

At the end of the first year, PhD students choose a research advisor, declare an area of specialization, and take and pass a qualifying exam so that they may advance to candidacy. Students also choose a faculty Committee on Studies to help guide them through their thesis/dissertation research. In their third or fourth year, all students must successfully complete a comprehensive examination which is administered by their Committee on Studies.

In subsequent years, students complete advanced coursework and laboratory research in preparation for completing their PhD dissertation. Most students complete their PhD degrees within 4-6 years.

 

MS Students

MS students may take up to two years to complete the core courses. MS students rotate through a minimum of two laboratories during their first year. They are not required to take the PhD Qualifying Examination unless they wish to be
 considered for the PhD program. After completion of the core curriculum, students are
 required to enroll in divisional seminars each semester until graduation.

 First-year MS students are not eligible for stipend or tuition support by the BSGP, although many find funding in their second year.

 By the beginning of the second year, students choose a thesis advisor and form a Committee on Studies. The Committee outlines any additional divisional course requirements relevant to the specific area of interest. The MS student is expected to present a minimum of one seminar during the second year, in addition to their thesis defense. Students must complete an original and creative research project as well as write and defend their thesis. Most students complete their MS degrees within 2-3 years.