School of Medicine

Departmental E-mail: cellphys [at] iupui [dot] edu

Departmental URL: http://physiology.medicine.iu.edu/

Curriculum

Curriculum
Courses
Faculty

Degrees Offered

Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy

Graduate training in the department reflects the modern view of physiology as an integrative science, utilizing information ob­tained from several different levels to gain a better understand­ing of organ system functions. State-of-the-art techniques are used to study physiological responses at the molecular, cellular, and whole-organ levels. The research interests of the faculty span cardiovascular physiology, cell growth and development, respiratory biology, cancer biology, and signal transduction mechanisms.

Special Departmental Requirements

None (See general University Graduate School requirements.)

Admission Requirements

Students should have a background in biology, chemistry, phys­ics, and mathematics. Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or Medical College Admission Test (MCAT), or Dental Admission Test (DAT) scores are required as a part of the application and are used as guidelines for admission together with GPA and letters of recommendation.

Master of Science Degree

Course Requirements

This curriculum is designed for students with a goal of entering earning a professional degree in medically related fields including allopathic medicine (M.D.), osteopathic medicine (D.O.), dental, or physician assistant programs. Those students desiring an advanced degree in the field of physiology are also encouraged to apply. A total of 30 credit hours is required to complete the degree; two degree options are offered, non-research and research. Elective, graduate-level science courses needed for completion of the M. S. degree may be taken at any of the colleges on the Indianapolis campus.
 
The non-research option consists of 30 credit hours of didactic course work. Required courses include: B500 Biochemistry (3 cr.), F503 Basic Human Physiology (5 cr.), B561 Introduction to Biostatistics (3 cr.), F702 Seminar in Physiology (2 cr.) and electives to complete 30 credits.

The research option consists of 26 credit hours of didac­tic course work and 4 credit hours of research. Required courses include: B500 Biochemistry (3 cr.), F503 Basic Human Physiology (5 cr.), B651 Introduction to Biostatistics (3 cr.), F702 Seminar in Physiology (2 cr.), F701Research in Physiology (4 cr.) and electives to complete 30 credits.

Thesis

Optional

Final Examination

Oral defense is required with M.S. thesis option. Research option requires a written report, using a scientific manuscript format.

Doctor of Philosophy Degree

Course Requirements

A total of 90 credit hours, including 30 credit hours of formal course work, (of which 12 are in the minor field). Required courses include: G717 (3 cr.), G735 (1 cr.), G736 (1 cr.), G718 (6 cr.), F702 (1 cr.), G855 (1 cr.), G655 (1 cr.), G505 (1 cr.). Three credits of Physiology electives complete the 18 credit hours of course work for the major.

Minor

Comprised of 12 credit hours in one of the following fields: anatomy, biochemistry, cardiovascular sciences, microbiology and immunology, phar­macology, medical genetics, neurobiology, life sciences, aging diabetes, imaging, bioinformatics, or cancer biology.

Qualifying Examination

Written and oral.

Final Examination

Oral defense of dissertation.

Other Provisions

Participation in Preparing Future Faculty (PFF) program or de­partmental teaching is required.

Ph.D. Minor in Cellular and Integrative Physiology

Students outside the department desiring to obtain a doctoral minor in physiology must complete a minimum of 12 credit hours in physiology courses other than research (F701) and seminar (F702).

Ph.D. Minor in Cardiovascular Sciences

The objective of the Cardiovascular Sciences minor is to provide students with a comprehensive background and understanding of integrative cardiac, vascular, renal and pulmonary (patho)biology. This objective will be accomplished by providing students with a wide variety of options to advance their education in the area with advanced didactic coursework as well as student driven journal clubs.

Course Requirements

A minimum of 12 credit hours outside the student’s major department; that would include requirements: G735 (2 cr.); G830 (3 cr.); G831 (2 cr.). The remaining courses to reach 12 credit hours are to be approved by student’s advisory committee.  The advisory committee may approve additional and/or substitution of appropriate courses to complete the degree requirements. The minor representative on this Committee will be selected from outside the student’s major department.

For more information see: http://physiology.medicine.iu.edu/graduate-programs/phd-minor-in-cardio/

Ph.D. Minor in Cancer Biology

The following required courses must be taken to fulfill the requirements for the Minor in Cancer Biology- G715 Biomedical Science I (3 cr.), G716 Biomedical Science II (3 cr.), G717 Biomedical Science III (3 cr.), G504 or G505 Research Ethics (1-2 cr.), G855 or PBHL-B561 Biostatistics (1-3 cr.), and G582 Cancer Signaling Gone Awry (2 cr.).

The remainder of the minor will be selected from the following courses:

• G720 Stem Cell Biology;
• G724 Molecular Cancer Genetics,
• G726 Developmental Genetics;
• G729 Immunology I-Introduction to the Immune System;
• G737/ANAT-D851 Introduction to Histology;
• G748 Principles of Toxicology 1;
• G751 Advances in Cytoplasmic and Nuclear Signaling,
• G848 Bioinformatics, Genomics, Proteomics and Systems Biology;
• G817 Molecular Basis of Cell Structure and Function;
• G749 Introduction to Structural Biology
• G807 Structural and Chemical Biology;
• G837 Mammalian DNA Repair and Disease;
• G727 Animal Models of Human Disease;
• J807 Current Topics in Immunology;
• J829 Current Topics in Molecular Genetics of Microorganisms; and
• J842 Neoplastic Determinants.

The minor program must be approved by the student's Advisory Committee, which will take into consideration the student's total didactic experience. In the case of combined M.D./Ph.D. students, the Committee may approve substitution of appropriate medical school courses. The minor representative on this Committee will be selected from outside the student's major department.