Program Requirements
Subdisciplines within mcip interdepartmental program
The major subdisciplines available for graduate training in Molecular, Cellular and Integrative Physiology include:
- Cellular and Molecular Physiology
- Integrative and Comparative Physiology
- Biophysics
Course requirements
All students enrolled in the MCIP IDP complete approved graduate coursework in molecular biology, cellular biology, research ethics and physiology during their first year. Students admitted via the ACCESS program satisfy the course requirement for molecular biology, cellular biology and research ethics by completion of the ACCESS first year curriculum. Students who have completed graduate degrees prior to admission to the IDP (e.g., M.D., D.D.S., M.S.) may be exempted from required first year course work if substantially similar coursework has been previously completed. Students will also complete one seminar course each quarter of their first year of enrollment. During the second year of graduate training, students complete graduate coursework that is related to the research interests of the student and is approved by the student's mentor and the graduate subdiscipline committee. The remaining units necessary for completion of the degree are fulfilled by research training, or developing and completing dissertation research .
Additional requirements
- Written Qualifying Examination
The Written Qualifying Examination must be completed by the end of winter quarter of the second year. Students are required to write a National Institute of Health (NIH) style grant proposal that is approximately half the length of standard NIH proposals. Each student will independently select the topic of the research proposal, design the hypotheses to be tested and formulate the experimental approach. The topic of the proposal will require approval in advance by the student's advisory committee and by the IDP Steering Committee. Although the topic and hypotheses are to be selected by the student, the student will be free to consult with other individuals in formulating the experimental approach. The topic for the proposal may not be the anticipated dissertation research topic, and may not be an active or anticipated research project in the lab of the student's mentor. The examination is graded pass/fail by the IDP Steering Committee. Students who do not pass the examination are permitted one re-examination by the same committee in the same examination format on a date no later than the end of the spring quarter of the second year. - Oral Qualifying Examination
The University Oral Qualifying Examination must be completed before the end of the fall quarter of the third year. Students prepare a written description of the scientific background of the dissertation research project, the specific aims of the project, a description of preliminary findings and an experimental plan for addressing the specific aims. The dissertation proposal is then submitted to the student's doctoral committee in advance of the Oral Qualifying Examination of the student. The exam consists of an oral presentation of the proposal by the student to the committee. The student's oral presentation and examination are expected to demonstrate: 1) a scholarly understanding of the background of the dissertation proposal; 2) well-designed and testable specific aims; 3) a critical understanding of the technical applications to be employed in the dissertation; and 4) an understanding of potential experimental outcomes and their interpretation. - Advancement to Candidacy
Students advance to candidacy upon completion of the written and oral qualifying examinations. - Teaching Assistantship
Two quarters (total) of undergraduate teaching experience are required in years two and three. - Final Oral Examination (Defense of the Dissertation)
A final oral presentation and defense of the Doctoral Candidate's Ph.D. dissertation to members of the doctoral committee is required for completion of the degree. The Ph.D. dissertation should be an original body of work performed by the Candidate.