Curriculum & Admissions

Curriculum

For the first year, all graduate students in the School of Medicine enroll in a combined First Year curriculum, Interdisciplinary Biomedical Sciences (IBS), which has the aim of providing a broad based knowledge of the important areas of Biomedical research. Faculty from all departments participate in the teaching, which emphasizes critical discussion of primary and secondary literature. The fall semester covers Molecular and Cell Biology. During the winter semester of the first year, coursework includes two two-credit IBS course offerings chosen by the student, together with two required Departmental courses: BMB 7320, Protein Structure and Function, and BMB 7330, Molecular Biology.

In addition to these courses, students undertake a series of ten-week laboratory rotations designed to acquaint them with the details of those research programs of greatest interest to them. During the first weeks of the fall semester, faculty with available slots in their laboratories will participate in a briefing session for incoming students to describe their research work. Further one-on-one discussion with individual faculty members is also encouraged. Students are urged to gather as much background information as possible before making these choices as they are likely to be a major factor in determining the direction of their entire professional career. Generally, each student does three rotations during the fall and winter semesters and on the basis of this experience, chooses the laboratory in which they will carry out their doctoral research
FALL credits WINTER credits
IBS 7010 ­ Molecular Biology 5 Two selected IBS courses* 4
IBS 7020 ­ Cellular Biology 5 BMB 7320 ­ Protein Structure and Function 4
Lab rotation #1, Sept-Nov 0 BMB 7330 ­ Molecular Biology 2
Lab rotation #2, Nov-Feb 0 Lab rotation #3, Feb-April 0

*Two–credit IBS courses offered in the Winter semester include: IBS 7030, Functional Genomics; IBS 7040, Biomedical Cardiovascular, Respiratory & Renal Systems; IBS 7050, Biomedical Neurobiology; IBS 7060, Biomedical Endocrine, Reproductive & Developmental Systems; IBS 7090, Biomedical Immunology. The student can select any two of these in the Winter semester.

After the first year in the program, students are able to choose courses from anywhere in the University, to focus on their particular interests. Six credit hours in an appropriate minor are required, which need not be confined to coursework offered in the School of Medicine. In fact, favorite choices for the minor include courses in computer science or chemistry. In addition, all students in year 2 and beyond are required to register for Journal Club (BMB 7890) each year. It is expected that most course work will be completed in the first and second years. A written comprehensive qualifying exam is required by the end of the first year, followed by an oral exam in the subject area of the proposed thesis research. The third and subsequent years will be primarily devoted to dissertation research.

Requirements for Admission

The Department does not offer direct entry into a program leading to a master’s degree. Entry into the doctoral program is available only once a year, in September. Applicants to the program should present a bachelor’s degree with a minimum overall grade point average of 3.0. Degrees in biology, biochemistry, chemistry or physics are preferred, although other majors are acceptable if they include a suitable amount of science coursework. Of particular interests to the Admissions Committee is any experience in doing experimental research. This experience should be described in the Personal Statement (see below) and also noted in the student’s curriculum vitae. A copy of any abstracts or papers on which the applicant is a co-author should be included. Additional requirements include the results of a recent Graduate Record Exam (GRE), three letters of reference, official transcripts of coursework, official degree certificates (if applicable) and a Personal Statement. This last document should be no longer than two pages in length and should include a description of the development of the applicant’s interest in science as well as their long-term career objectives.

All application materials should be sent to:
  Graduate Officer
  Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
  Wayne State Medical School
  540 E. Canfield
  Detroit, MI 48201
  USA
  mdoscher@med.wayne.edu

Foreign Applicants

Application forms for admission to the Graduate School and a waiver of the application fee may be obtained from the Department’s Graduate Officer. Applications from overseas should present, in addition to the items listed above, a recent TOEFL score of at least 600 (250, computer-scored), a certified English translation of any transcripts, and a small photograph signed on the back.

Timing

The Admissions Committee begins considering complete applications for the following September in December. There is no official deadline for the consideration of an application, but most positions in the program have been filled by the 1st of May. If an application is favorably received, the student will then be contacted for an interview, by phone or in person, with two members of the committee. If feasible, students are encouraged to visit the department at this stage, with funds being provided to cover the expenses of such a trip. On the basis of the results of this interview as well as the overall quality of the application, the Admissions Committee will decide whether to recommend admissions to the program.

Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Homepage • WSU-School of Medicine • WSU updated 5/04