Curriculum - UTCOMLS Graduate Programs
The College of Medicine & Life Sciences at The University of Toledo offers several graduate-level degree and certificate programs. Ph.D. and M.S. degrees in biomedical sciences and academic certificates are offered in several basic science and clinical tracks.
All five tracks are research-oriented and will combine rigorous coursework with sufficient
time for intensive research activity. Previous students on average have completed
the Ph.D. in approximately five years, and the M.S. program in about 3 years or less.
Graduates progress to post-doctoral training (Ph.D. degree graduates) or to research,
teaching, and other scientific positions in academia, industry, and the government
(Ph.D. and M.S. degree graduates).
All incoming Ph.D. and M.S. students enter the program after choosing a specific track,
although not a specific advisor. All students take a common core of coursework and
rotate though faculty laboratories during the first year. The common core of coursework
all students take in the first year is rigorous, integrated, and helps to promote
fruitful cross-fertilization between disciplines. Students then align with a faculty
major advisor and begin the Ph.D. dissertation or M.S. thesis research project. Students
complete any additional track-specific coursework and their research project during
ensuing years. Students who maintain a 3.0 or higher GPA are eligible to take the
Qualifying Exam no later than the end of their first year (M.S. students), or first
semester of second year (Ph.D. students). Students who pass both the written and oral
QE then become official candidates for their graduate degree and will subsequently
spend the majority of their remaining training time performing thesis (M.S.) or dissertation
(Ph.D.) research under the guidance of their major advisor and faculty committee members.
Our recent graduates from the Ph.D./M.S. in Biomedical Science program have received research positions at leading academic institutions, government, and industry. Institutions include Centers for Disease Control, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratories, Columbia University, Cornell University, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Gliatech, Immusol, Johns Hopkins University, Harvard University, Merck, National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Pfizer, Salk Research Institute, Stanford University, University of Pennsylvania, Vanderbilt University, University of Michigan, and Yale University.
See 2021-2022 Program PDF Catalog for Track-Specific Courses and Information.
Individual Track Curriculum Information
Bioinformatics
Cell and Cancer Biology
Medical Microbiology & Immunology
Molecular Medicine
Neurosciences & Neurological Disorders
Advising
Students must meet with their faculty advisor for the purpose of developing a Plan of Study. It is the student’s responsibility to meet all requirements for the degree as specified by the graduate program, the department, the College of Graduate Studies and the University of Toledo. Students are encouraged to complete the Plan of Study no later than the first academic year and submit the completed, signed form to the College of Graduate Studies.
Academic Standards
In addition to the general academic standards outlined in the general section of the College of Graduate Studies Catalog, for the following programs, a maximum number of credits of C will be allowed on a candidate’s Plan of Study as listed below:
10 credits PhD degree (biomedical sciences - all tracks)
8 credits MSBS research tracks (including CAB, MOME, MMIM, NND, and BIPG)
11 credits Physician Assistant Program (PA)
12 credits MSBS clinical track programs including MS Medical Sciences (unless stated
otherwise)
3 credits Certificate programs
In addition, students in all graduate programs at UToledo must earn a cumulative GPA of 3.0 to graduate.