PhD in Anatomy & Neurobiology (And Vesalius Module)
This 64 credit doctoral program includes courses in Anatomy and Neuroscience that are part of the Medical School curriculum, are offered within this department or are offered by related departments on the Medical Campus. An integral part of the program is the requirement for students to participate as Teaching Fellows in Medical and Graduate school courses as part of our Vesalius Teaching Apprenticeship. The PhD program is designed to produce well-rounded biomedical scientists who expect to include both research and teaching in their career.
The PhD curriculum consists of required courses, seminars and electives as well as Dissertation Research. Overview of the 64-credit PhD program:
- Required Courses: 44-48 credits, including 4 credits of Department Seminar Courses.
- Electives and/or Research: 20-24 credits
To see more details on the courses we offer, please visit the Course Description page.
Required Courses (Anatomy focus: 48; Neuroscience focus: 44)
Medical Gross Anatomy OR Systems Neurobiology |
8cr 4cr |
AN701 AN810 |
Medical Neuroscience | 4cr | AN703 |
Fundamentals of Cell & Molecular Neurobiology | 4cr | AN777 |
Cognitive Neuroscience OR Biomedical Imaging Foundations |
4cr | AN811 IM600 |
Methods in Neuroscience | 4cr | AN718 |
Advanced Neuroanatomy (even years) OR Special Topic: Graduate Histology (odd years) OR Cells, Organs and Tissues |
4cr 2cr 4cr |
AN724 AN803 AN722 |
Exptl. Design & Statistical Methods OR Elementary Biostatistics OR SPH Introduction to Biostatistics |
2cr 2cr 3cr |
AN704 MS700 BS704 |
Vesalius 1: Teaching in Biomedical Sciences | 2cr | AN806 |
Vesalius 2: Teaching Apprenticeship (fulfilled by Teaching Fellow assignments) | variable | AN809 |
Scientific Writing | 2cr | AN815 |
Professional Skills | 2cr | AN715 |
Research Colloquium in Anatomy & Neurobiology (Journal Club)* *Journal Club is taken once per year, but only one time for credit |
2cr | AN802 |
One Departmental Seminar Course | 2cr | List Below |
One Departmental Advanced Seminar Courses:
Neurobiology of Learning and Memory (even years) | 2cr | AN702 |
Dynamic Modeling (on demand*) | 2cr | AN820 |
Neurobiology of Aging (odd years) | 2cr | AN707 |
Neurobiology of Visual System (on demand*) | 2cr | AN807 |
* on demand = 4 or more students |
Department Elective Courses include:
Advanced Clinical Anatomy | 2cr | AN708 |
Vesalius 3: Mentored Teaching Project (Practicum) | 2cr | AN805 |
Special Topic: Graduate Histology (odd years) | 2cr | AN803 |
Molecular Basis of Neurologic Disease | 2cr | MS783 |
Methods of Functional Imaging of the Brain | 2cr | IM630 |
Forensic Biology | 2cr | FS702 |
Forensic Pathology | 3cr | FS712 |
Molecular Biology of Forensic DNA | 3cr | FS720 |
Human Anatomy and Osteology | 4cr | FA712 |
Advanced Human Osteology | 4cr | FA806 |
Requirements for the PhD Vesalius Module:
Students are required to have taken at least two of the following prerequisite courses to pursue the Vesalius Module:
Medical Gross Anatomy | 8cr | AN701 |
Medical Neuroscience | 4cr | AN703 |
Systems Neurobiology | 4cr | AN810 |
Cognitive Neuroscience | 4cr | AN811 |
The Module consists of three courses/components, two of which (Vesalius 1 & 2) are included in the list of required courses for all PhD students. The program begins with a course on the development of teaching skills in the biomedical sciences. This is followed by a teaching apprenticeship (160 hours service as a Teaching Fellow in one or more of the medical or graduate required courses, above), and concludes with a Mentored Teaching Project that involves the development of a didactic lesson or exercise under the direct mentorship of experienced and award-winning faculty.
Vesalius 1: Teaching in the Biomedical Sciences | 2cr | AN806 |
Vesalius 2: Teaching Apprenticeship | variable | AN809 |
Vesalius 3: Mentored Teaching Project (Practicum) | 2cr | AN805 |
Example of a typical curriculum for PhD students (see required courses and options above)
Year 1: Fall
Medical Gross Anatomy or Systems Neurobiology 8cr/4cr AN 701/AN 810
Medical Neuroscience (Credits assigned in Spring) 4 cr AN 703
10-12 cr
Year 1: Spring
Cognitive Neuroscience and/or Advanced Neuroanatomy 4 cr/4 cr AN 811/AN724
Vesalius 1: Teaching in the Biomedical Sciences 2 cr AN 806
Research Colloquium (Journal Club)** 2 cr AN 801/802
**Journal club is taken once every year but only one time for credit
Elective(s) (see list above) 2-4 cr
10-14 cr
PhD students typically rotate through 2-3 labs during the Spring semester. This enables them (and faculty research mentors)
to find a lab in which dissertation research will be performed.
Year 2: Fall
Fundamentals of Cell & Molecular Neurobiology 4 cr AN 777
Exptl. Design & Statistical Methods or Elementary Biostats. 2 cr AN 704/MS 700
Cells, Organs and Tissues (Histology) or elective(s) 4 cr AN 722
Scientific Writing 2 cr AN 815
10-12 cr
Year 2: Spring (Note this is when most students take their PhD qualifying exam)
Advanced Seminar (1 required, see list above) 2 cr (see list above)
Professional Skills for Students in the Biomedical Sciences 2 cr AN 715
Elective(s) Variable
Year 3: Fall
Research Variable
Elective(s) (see list above) Variable
Vesalius 2: Teaching Apprenticeship
(continues to 160 hrs) 6 Cr AN 805
Year 3: Spring
Research Variable
Elective(s) (see list above) Variable
Advanced Seminar (see list above) Variable
Year 4: Spring-Fall
Research and Dissertation Variable
Year 5: Spring-Fall
Research and Dissertation Variable
Dissertation Defense