Biomedical Research Education Programs : UNM Health Sciences Center

BSGP Program Curriculum

All first year students (PhD and MS) share a one-year core curriculum. MS students may take up to 2 years to complete these courses:

Course Title Credits
BIOM 501 Fundamentals for Graduate Research 1
BIOM 506 Special Topics in Biomedical Research (rotations) 3
BIOM 507 Advanced Molecular Biology 4
BIOM 508 Advanced Cellular Biology 4
BIOM 525 Cell and Molecular Basis of Disease Journal Club (2 semesters, year 1) 4
BIOM 530 Cell and Molecular Basis of Disease Seminar 1

Students have their choice of a minimum of 9 credit hours selected from the following list of course offerings:

Course Title Credits
BIOM 509 Principles of Neurobiology 3
BIOM 510 Physiology 3
BIOM 514 Immunobiology 3
BIOM 515 Cancer Biology 3
BIOM 516 Molecular Genetics and Genomics 3
BIOM 522 Experimental Methods and Design 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 522 Experimental Design and Methods in Molecular and Cellular Biosciences
This case-based course is intended for first year graduate students and focuses on practical issues of how to design, plan and conduct scientific studies through appropriate use of experimental methods and data analysis.

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.