Our PhD curriculum is designed for independent students who seek an interactive, challenging and creative research environment.
We offer students:
For full information on PhD requirements, policies and course descriptions, please consult our general catalog.
Year | Requirements |
---|---|
Year 1 |
Coursework |
Beginning of Year 2 |
Dissertation laboratory selected |
Year 2 |
Dissertation research initiated |
End of Year 2 |
Candidacy Qualifying Examination |
Years 3-5 |
Dissertation research |
Year 4-5 |
Preparation of dissertation |
The core coursework and laboratory rotations are completed in the first year, and additional discipline-specific training will be provided during the second year as required. The focused program will allow the majority of students to graduate within five years. Throughout the training experience, students are required to engage in continual learning through participation in journal clubs, seminars and laboratory meetings.
The Graduate School follows an academic calendar that includes several annual breaks and holidays. See our general catalog for a detailed calendar and our leave policies.
Required lectures and training programs are highly interactive and designed to facilitate stimulating discussions of the latest research findings, theory, research methods and ethical issues.
Required coursework includes:
See our general catalog for full course descriptions.
Students conduct laboratory research and participate in relevant clinical experiences from the beginning of year two through degree completion. Each student selects a Doctoral Advisory Committee of up to five committee members to provide guidance and support through the dissertation process.
To complete the dissertation, students will conduct original research, analyze and compile the data, report the results and significance of the work and orally defend the dissertation. They will also be required to author or co-author two accepted/published manuscripts and to apply for independent funding to support their research.
See Our Science to explore the diverse research expertise and facilities at St. Jude.