Curriculum

Overview

Doctorate without prior master’s degree

  • Total credits required: 72
  • Transfer credits (from other institutions): Up to 10 (with advisory committee, department, and Graduate School approval)
  • Credits earned at CSU (post-admission): At least 62
  • Graduate-level courses (500+ level): At least 37 of the CSU credits

Credits may include courses taken before and after Graduate School admission.

Doctorate with prior master’s degree

  • Total credits required: 72 (including up to 30 credits from master’s degree)
  • Credits from master’s degree: Up to 30 (must be documented in GS6 Program of Study form)
  • Credits earned at CSU (post-admission): At least 32
  • Graduate-level courses (500+ level): At least 21 of the CSU credits

Credits may include courses taken before and after Graduate School admission.

Core course requirements

Required courses for all Ph.D. students – part of 72 credits (about 14 total credits):

  • BMS 500 Mammalian Physiology I or BMS 501 Mammalian Physiology II (4 credits)
  • BC 563 Molecular Genetics or BC 565 Molecular Regulation of Cell Function (4 credits)
  • GRAD 544 Ethical Conduct of Research (1 credit)
  • BMS 784 Supervised College Teaching
  • Seminar/Journal Club (choose 4 credits total):
    • BMS 792A/B/C Seminar
    • BMS 796A/B/C Group Study

Electives

To complete remaining credit hours; selections should align with student’s research interests and committee guidance.

  • BMS 503/NB 503 Developmental Neurobiology
  • BMS 505/NB 505 Neuronal Circuits, Systems, and Behavior
  • BMS 545 Neuroanatomy
  • BMS 631 Mechanisms of Hormone Action
  • BMS 632 Metabolic Endocrinology
  • BMS 640 Reproductive Physiology and Endocrinology
  • BMS 642 Research Techniques for Gametes and Embryos
  • BMS 795A/B/C/D/E Independent Study
  • BMS 796A/B/C / NB 796C Group Study
  • NB 502/CM 502 Techniques in Molecular and Cellular Biology
  • NB 771 Writing, Submitting, and Reviewing Grants
  • NB 793 Neuroscience Seminar
  • NB 796A/B/D/E Group Study
  • STAR 511 Design and Data Analysis for Researchers I
  • STAR 512 Design and Data Analysis for Researchers II
  • BMS 799 Dissertation