Curriculum

Curriculum

Candidates are required to complete a minimum of 8 semester courses (32 credit hours) at the graduate level, including an original laboratory based thesis.  The degree program is usually completed within two years.

Requirement by Topic Updated Curriculum consistent with the currently-approved program Alternatives
Pathology GMS PA 710, Principles of Basic and Applied Pathology,  2 cr Fall
Pathology GMS PA 700 Basic and Experimental Pathology, 4 cr Spring
Biochemistry GMS BI 755 Biochemistry A, 4 cr Fall GMS BI 751 Biochemistry and Morphology, 6 cr Fall
Biostatistics GMS CI 670 Biostatistics with a Computer, 4 cr Fall MA 700A1 Elementary Biostatistics, 2 cr Fall or GMS MS 700 & AN704 Elementary Biostatistics, 2 cr Spring
Immunology GMS PA 510 Medical Immunology, 2 cr Spring Other courses (toxicology, forensics, etc)
Pathology Seminar GMS PA 800 A1 Pathology Seminar, 2 cr Fall

Optimized sequence of courses within the current requirements:

Fall: Biochemistry (4 or 6 cr), Principles of Basic and Applied Pathology (2 cr), Pathology Seminar (2 cr), and Biostatistics (2 or 4 cr). Total credits 10-14 depending on the choice of courses.

Spring: Pathology (4 cr), Biostatistics (if not taken in Fall, 2 cr), Immunology (2 cr), and Electives/Special Topics (4 or more cr). Total credits 12 – 14, or more depending on the choice of courses.

Other: Histology and Molecular Biology courses are highly recommended but not mandatory.

Attendance at Friday departmental seminars (PA800, fall and PA900, spring) is required throughout the program in Fall and Spring semester. The courses are completed in the first year of study, as are two laboratory rotations. The rotations teach basic histomorphologic techniques and their applications. Each rotation lasts 6-8 weeks part time (at least 15 hours per week) or 3 weeks full time (e.g., in summer or intersession). A required rotation is taken in the Department of Pathology at Boston Medical Center under the supervision of its faculty and working with its technical staff and utilizing available equipment. This rotation teaches basic tissue preparation techniques, including special stains and quality control methods in use in clinical and experimental anatomic pathology laboratories. The second rotation is determined by the student’s particular interest and generally will be in the student’s likely thesis research laboratory. It might, for example, be focused on immunohistochemical or molecular diagnostic techniques or in situ or confocal or electron microscopic techniques in use in a laboratory. Research laboratories at the medical center or in biotechnology companies are the sites used for both rotations and thesis research with which the department or individual faculty has managing, consulting or service associations.