Health Sciences Center
Hospital and Clinic
Primate Center
Public Health
Tropical Medicine

1. First Year: Fall and Spring

   Assignment of student to temporary advisor
   Beginning of required and, elective courses (80% of time)
   Beginning of research training by rotation through departmental projects (20%)

   End of First Year: Departmental evaluation

    

2. Summer: First Year

   Choosing permanent advisor by mutual agreement between student and physiology faculty member

    

3. Second Year:

   Organization and Initiation of research program
   Completion of required courses
   Continuation of elective courses
   Selection of preliminary examination committee (3 departmental, at least 2 Interdepartmental)

    

4. Summer: Second Year

   Preparation for preliminary examination
   Continue research
   Continue electives if necessary

    

5. Preliminary Examination (Summer, Second Year)
    
   1. Written Examination, in two parts:
       
      1. Comprehensive examination covering at least three major areas of expertise of the department. These areas will include, at a minimum, renal-cardiovascular, neural, and endocrine physiology, with additional areas to be added at the discretion of the Dissertation Committee. The exam is prepared by the Dissertation Committee with the questions reviewed and approved by the Director of Graduate Studies and the Chairman of the Department.

          

      2. Research problem to be selected from a list of topics proposed by the members of the Dissertation Committee and screened by the Graduate Education Committee. The paper will be written In a 15-page (maximum) double spaced document consisting of pertinent background information, hypotheses to be tested, and the proposed experiments, and will be submitted to the dissertation committee two weeks following the comprehensive examination.

       

   2. Oral examination including defense of the research problem and follow-up questions in any areas related to the comprehensive examination. This oral examinaton will be administered 7-10 days after submission of the written research problem.

    

6. Dissertation Research Requirements (Third Year through conclusion of Program)
    
   1. Weekly attendance at the Departmental seminars.
      
   2. Teaching role in Medical Physiology sessions.
      
   3. Teaching in one or two Medical Physiology lectures recommended in Senior year.
      
   4. A formal Dissertaton Prospectus should be presented to committee and faculty. This should be announced formally at least two weeks prior to the date of the presentaton.
      
   5. A Progress report should be presented to committee and faculty by student (yearly) and major professor (each semester).
      
   6. A Formal Dissertation Presentation should be made by the student, followed by oral defense of the dissertation. Formal notice of this presentation should be made at least two weeks prior to the date of the defense.