Curriculum

The next generation of cancer researchers requires a strong interdisciplinary graduate curriculum with a major focus on the biology of cancer and opportunities to regularly interact with clinicians engaged in cancer diagnosis and treatment. The goal of the Cancer Biology Graduate Program is to develop scientists with capacities for critical scientific thinking needed for a wide range of careers related to cancer biology including research, education, policy and clinical care.  The Ph.D. program consists of formal course work which provides a comprehensive education in the basic concepts, along with solid training in the core disciplines, that serves contemporary cancer biology.  Graduates gain a broad understanding of the fundamental principles that underlie this diverse and dynamic field with in-depth knowledge in their dissertation discipline. An integral part of the training experience involves opportunities to develop strong written and oral communication skills essential to future professional success.

 *CB7300 Special Topics in Cancer Biology

Future Topics - TBD

It is expected that the majority of the course work will be completed during the first and second years of PhD study. A written comprehensive qualifying exam is administered in the late spring of the first year of study, followed by an oral comprehensive exam of the proposed dissertation research. During the summer of the first year, a month-long, full day clinical rotation is required (CB7130) during which graduate students "round" with oncologists treating cancer patients in the Karmanos cancer hospital. The third and subsequent years are primarily devoted to dissertation research. Twenty-five credits of general research, including 18 credits of candidate status dissertation research (see below), will complete the Graduate School requirements for the PhD degree. Candidate credits must be taken in consecutive terms, with the exception of the spring/summer term.

In addition to traditional classroom learning, there are additional educational opportunities available to our students including seminars by nationally/internationally renowned scientists both within and outside the cancer center, an annual Cancer Biology Graduate Symposium, special non-credit courses, fellowship and grant writing courses, and research workshops.