Interdisciplinary Graduate Studies
The Texas A&M Health Science Center interdisciplinary graduate program in Medical Sciences offers unique, integrated educational and research opportunities for post-baccalaureate study.
Doctoral students in Medical Sciences can receive instruction and research training in six potential emphasis areas:
- Biochemistry and Structural Biology
- Systems and Translational Biology
- Cell and Molecular Biology
- Microbial and Molecular Pathogenesis
- Neurosciences
- Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics
The College of Medicine M.D./Ph.D. program interfaces with this interdisciplinary graduate program.
Overview
The graduate program in the College of Medicine offers doctoral degrees in Biomedical Sciences through the Texas A&M Health Science Center Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences. The recently adopted Interdisciplinary Graduate Studies tract transcends traditional departmental boundaries, offering students the opportunity to do thesis research in any lab in the College of Medicine. Six curricular tracts have been developed: (1) Biochemistry and Structural Biology, (2) Systems and Translational Biology, (3) Cell and Molecular Biology, (4) Microbial and Molecular Pathogenesis, (5) Neurosciences and (6) Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics. Each tract has its own defined curriculum, which builds on broad-based foundations courses taken by all students in the program.
Research training is available in a wide range of areas in many labs in which a student may choose to work. Most faculty members employ multidisciplinary approaches and/or actively collaborate with other local (College of Medicine or adjacent Texas A&M University) or national/international scientists. Students typically do 3-4 laboratory rotations during their first year. Rotations provide students with a chance to explore new research areas, and identify the research topic and environment that best suits their interests. Incoming students are uncommitted: they can sample each and any curricular tract or research lab.
