Course requirements for PHD in Biomedical Science

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What are the course requirements for the PHD in Biomedical Science? Will the pre-medical requirements be enough?

I realize that it may be different for different schools.

 

[Scottish Chap]

What are the course requirements for the PHD in Biomedical Science? Will the pre-medical requirements be enough?

I realize that it may be different for different schools.

Most good programs prefer that you have a background in a rigorous biological discipline like biochemistry, physiology, pharmacology etc. However, many programs just look for one year in each of chemistry, biology, and physics. The physics requirement is a bit more flexible.

I've seen people with degrees in physics fair well in a biochemistry Ph.D. program (with little prior knowledge of the biosciences) because the Ph.D. core classes provide them with the background that they will need to survive in their lab work. That's the beauty of American Ph.D. programs - you can change paths after your undergraduate. In other countries, this is usually not possible.

Science, by its nature, is a quantitative discipline and it?s wise to have a reasonable background in mathematics, including calculus. I?ve found that to be important.

 

[calimaven]

For acceptance into a graduate biomed sciences program you need to have a decent GRE score, good letters of rec, and taken courses in the life or physical sciences. Some programs prefer that you have had upper division sciences courses but if you have good letters of rec they will overlook that. You must have a letter of rec from someone that you have either done research for or a faculty member that can state you have an interest in research even if you don't have research experience. The point is that just as long as in the admissions process you can get the message across that you are interested in research you'll be fine.