Academic Progression Timetable & Ph.D. Guidelines

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First Year Foundations in Biomedical Sciences - Common Curriculum Laboratory Rotations At the end of the first year: Selection of a mentor & graduate program of study

Second Year Selection of Graduate Advisory Committee After the student has chosen an advisor, he/she will form an advisory graduate committee with the help of his/her advisor of at least four other members of the graduate faculty. The advisory committee needs to be organized no later than November of the second year. The advisory committee will provide guidance and monitor progress during the remainder of the student's Ph.D. program. Students are required to have their first committee meeting by December of their second year. At this meeting, students should present a brief outline of the specific aims of their proposed research. You are required to meet with your committee once a year. Advanced Course Work Students are required to take 12 units of advanced course work beyond the common first year curriculum. Students can take any course offered in any of the MCBP Divisions. In addition, students may take courses offered by any of the other departments in the graduate program at MUSC. Predoctoral students must enroll for 15 hours each semester. Students can elect to take their advanced courses during their second year or to spread them out into their third year as well. It is expected that the majority of the student's time from the second year on will be devoted to research. MCBP Seminar Series (MCBP 724) On Monday 12:00 noon, students give a short seminar based on their own research to their peers and to their graduate committee members. Students are required to give at least two formal seminars during their training. The Thursday 4:00 pm MCBP External Seminar Series invites leading scientists from the United States and foreign countries to present their work to both students and faculty in the MCBP Program. These seminars are on a broad range of topics representing each of the six divisions within the MCBP Program. Importantly, students have the opportunity to meet informally with the speakers over lunch. You must register for seminar, MCBP 724, every semester while in the program. Students presenting seminars in the Monday Noon Series will receive a merit gade. All others will be graded as Pass/Fail. In order to receive a passing grade, a student must attend two thirds of the combined Monday and Thursday seminars during the semester. A failing grade must be removed by passing an additional Written Qualifying Examination Question. Excused absences must be approved by the MCBP course directors. Select a MCBP Division Sometime in the second year with the help of their mentor, students will pick a division in the MCBP program. Each Division offers track-specific advanced courses as well as one or more journal clubs. Research Written Qualifying Examination The examination is usually offered during one week in June. The students will be given four or five questions and a week to answer two of them. The objective of the examination is to determine if the student understands the principles of cell and molecular biology, can read and comprehend relevant literature related to the question, and then synthesize a coherent response that convinces the examination committee that the student has a solid background in cell and molecular biology.

Third Year Oral Qualifying Examination The Oral Qualifying Examination must be taken within nine months of passing the Written Qualifying Examination. The student will submit a research proposal of approximately 20-30 pages in NIH grant format on his dissertation topic. This will be submitted to his graduate committee at least one week before the oral defense. The examination will include a public presentation of his dissertation research proposal. After the conclusion of that presentation, there will be general questions from the audience followed by a closed session with the student's advisory committee and other program faculty who further question the student on the proposal and general questions to test the breadth of the student's background. The students in the second year of the program are encouraged to attend at least one or two of their fellow students' oral defenses in order to get an idea of what is expected. Examples of the proposals are available from the Director's office. Upon certification of completion of the program of study, successful passing of both the written and oral qualifying examinations and approval of the research proposal, the student will be certified as a candidate for the Ph.D. degree. Such admission to candidacy must occur at least one year prior to completing requirements for the degree. Research MCBP Monday and Thursday Seminar Series (MCBP 724) Annual Meeting with Graduate Committee Advanced Course Work

Fourth/Fifth Year Research MCBP Monday and Thursday Seminar Series (MCBP 724) Dissertation Seminar and Defense A dissertation based on original investigation is required which gives evidence of mature scholarship and critical judgement, indicates knowledge of research methods and techniques and demonstrates the ability to carry out independent investigation. Publication of doctoral dissertation is required of all students. After your mentor has approved your written dissertation, it should be submitted to each of your Graduate Committee members. The Graduate Committee requires 7-14 days to review your dissertation before they sign the Dissertation Defense Notice certifying that it is ready to defend. The Dissertation Defense Notice needs to be turned into the Graduate Office at least three weeks before the scheduled public defense. Each candidate is required to present his work in a public seminar. Following this formal presentation of at least 30 minutes, general questions are taken from the audience which includes students and faculty members of the MCPB program as well as general graduate faculty. After general questions, a closed door examination is conducted by the student's advisory committee and graduate faculty. The advisory committee will have the primary responsibility for evaluating the student's research including the written dissertation, the formal oral presentation, and for administrating the final oral examination. Approval of the advisory committee with no more than one dissenting vote is necessary for recommendation for awarding the degree. In the event of disapproval by the committee, Dean or graduate faculty, the candidate may be permitted to retake the examination in not less than six months and not more than two years from the time this decision was made. Only one opportunity for re-examination is given. Your academic progression is recorded through timely submission of requirement forms. Academic requirements are completed in the following order: 1) selection of an advisor; 2) selection of an advisory committee; 3) program of study (approved courses); - written and oral qualifiers - 4) admission to candidacy/plan of research; 5) dissertation defense notice; 6) successful final defense. At the end of your lab rotations, after you have selected a permanent lab, the Appointment of a Major Advisor form is submitted. Once an advisory committee is formed, you are to meet with your committee no less than once a year, more is recommended. Each time you meet, you are to turn in a signed copy of the progress sheet.

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