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PhD Courses

Required Anatomy Courses

ANAT 503 (Human Gross Anatomy)
ANAT 512 (Human Embryology)
ANAT 505 (Human Microscopic Anatomy I)
ANAT 506 (Human Microscopic Anatomy II)
NEURO 511 (Human Neurobiology) – PhD candidates only
ANAT 590 (Colloquium)

Required Core Courses

BMS 503 (Regulation of Cellular Metabolism) (PhD candidates)
BMS 502 (Cell and Systems Biology) (PhD candidates)

Required Ethics training

Online SARI course (completion mandated by May of the first year)
PHS 500/BMS 591 (1 credit) or equivalent

Required Statistics training for PhD students

This requirement (greater than or equal to 1 credit) can be met with STAT 500, a 3-credit online course from the Eberly College of Science. Exemption from this requirement can be requested from the Program Director with evidence of previous graduate level statistics training.

Suggested Schedule: PhD

Below is a representative schedule of courses for doctoral students.

For PhD students, the Qualifying Examinations are scheduled in mid-May after the first 2 semesters of coursework, whereas the Comprehensive Examinations are scheduled during May-July following completion of didactic coursework, usually at the end of the 4th semester in the second year. Successful completion of the comprehensive exams allows for significant reduction in tuition costs. Post-comprehensive coursework is designated as ANAT 601 – taken for 0 credits and no letter grade.

Details on the Qualifying Examinations and Comprehensive Examinations are included in the handbook.

Required core courses are listed in Bold and must be satisfactorily completed with a “B-” or better. An overall GPA of 3.0 is required in order to take the Qualifying and the Comprehensive Examinations. The 3.0 GPA takes into consideration all courses providing “letter” grades. ”R” graded courses do not contribute to the GPA.

View information on electives here.

ANAT 503 – Gross Anatomy (6 credits)
ANAT 512 – Embryology (2 credits)
ANAT 505 – Histology (2 credits)
ANAT 506 – Histology (2 credits)
ANAT 590 – Colloquium (1 credit)

NEURO 511 – Neurobiology (3 credits)
PHS 500 – Ethics (1 credit)
STAT 500 – Applied Statistics (3 credits)
Electives (1-3 credits) – see Electives in handbook
ANAT 596 – Independent Study, Research Rotations (R grade, 1 to 3 credits)

ANAT 602 – Supervised teaching (2-3 credits)
BMS 502 – Cell and Systems Biology (3 credits)
BMS 503 – Flow of Cellular Information (3 credits)

Electives (3-6 credits) (if not taken earlier) – see Electives in handbook
STAT 500 – Statistics (or equivalent) (3 credits) (if not taken earlier)
PHS 500 – Ethics (1 credit) (if not taken earlier)
ANAT 596 – Independent Study, Research Rotations, “R” grade (1-9 credits)

Suggested schedule: Master’s degree

Below is a representative schedule of courses for years 1 and 2 of the Masters Degree track.

Required core courses are listed in Bold and must be satisfactorily completed with a “B-” or better. An overall GPA of 3.0 is required for graduation and takes into consideration all courses providing “letter” grades.”R” graded courses do not contribute to the GPA.

Any student who receives less than a B- in a required course will be asked to repeat the class or pass a remedial examination. Any student who receives less than a B- in more than one required course may be asked to withdraw from the program.

View information on electives here.

ANAT 503 – Gross Anatomy (6 credits)
ANAT 512 – Embryology (2 credits)
ANAT 505 – Histology (2 credits)
ANAT 506 – Histology (2 credits)
ANAT 590 – Colloquium (1 credit)

NEURO 511 – Neurobiology (3 credits) (optional)
PHS 500 – Ethics (1 credit) (required)
ANAT 596 – Independent Study, Research Rotations (R grade, 1 to 6 credits)
Electives (3-6 credits) (required) – see Electives in handbook

BMS 502 – Cell and Systems Biology (3 credits) (optional)
BMS 503 – Flow of Cellular Information (3 credits) (optional)
ANAT 600 – Thesis Research, graded (3 credits)
ANAT 596 – Research, “R” grade (1-3 credits)
Elective (3 credits) – see Electives in handbook
PHS 500 – Ethics (if not already taken) (1 credit)

ANAT 600 – Thesis Research, graded (3 credits)
Elective (3-6 credits) – see Electives in handbook