Overview
The Department of Cell Biology in the College of Medicine at the University of Oklahoma Health campus offers a PhD program. Our PhD students and post-doctoral fellows train in more than 25 different laboratories engaged in cutting-edge biomedical research across OUHC and OMRF campuses. Students in the Cell Biology training program are involved in research projects that span a broad range of topics. This is a time of tremendous change and opportunity in research. Training in our Cell Biology PhD program involves the use of new tools to uncover the molecular causes of human disease, reveal new drug targets, and foster the development of innovative new therapies. With a PhD degree in Cell Biology our students will be well equipped to solve some the most vexing and complex health problems of the day. The quickening pace of research, together with the growing emphasis on interdisciplinary approaches to research, dictate that tomorrow's scientists be not only dedicated experimentalists. They will have to be flexible and versatile and capable of integrating information across a wide spectrum of fields. Successful Scientists must also be effective communicators. We must be able to accurately and effectively present written and oral reports, and to skillfully use the written word to secure funding. Moreover, in today's complex society, the Scientist must be able to clearly communicate with the lay public who support much of our labor. The PhD Program in Cell Biology provides multiple venues to hone these skills in addition to classes. Students are provided with numerous opportunities to interact with faculty in seminar programs, journal clubs and the Graduate Student Retreat. The faculty of the Department of Cell Biology is committed to providing the highest quality training for our PhD candidates.
It is the student’s responsibility to ensure they are enrolled in the prescribed courses and to pay tuition and fees at the time designated by the Bursar's Office. Details regarding tuition/fee charges and collection are available from the Bursar's Office.
Doctor of Philosophy Degree Requirements
Candidates for the PhD degree must meet the following minimum requirements:
- 90 credit hours acceptable to the student's graduate committee;
- obtain at least a B average in the required graduate courses (Integrated Core Curriculum, Cellular and Molecular Developmental Biology, Statistics);
- attendance and participation in departmental seminar activity and Journal Club;
- successful completion of a comprehensive qualifying examination;
- a research proposal, original investigation, written dissertation, and general dissertation defense (A maximum of 60 credit hours is allowed for dissertation research.)
At the discretion of the Graduate Education Committee, equivalent courses from other accredited institutions may be substituted for any of the requirements.
Fall YEar 1
Spring year 1
Course List
| Code |
Title |
Hours |
| CELL 6111 | Advanced Cell Biology I-Cells and Tissues | 1 |
| CELL 6121 | Advanced Cell Biology II-Advanced Cell Signaling | 1 |
| BMSC 5011 | Experimental Design and Applied Statistics | 1 |
| CELL 5990 | Special Studies in Cell Biology * | 3 |
| 7 |
Summer year 2
Course List
| Code |
Title |
Hours |
| CELL 5990 | Special Studies in Cell Biology | 1-8 |
| or CELL 6000 | Cell Biology Laboratory Rotation |
Fall Year 2
Course List
| Code |
Title |
Hours |
| CELL 6130 | Advanced Cell Biology III-Capstone | 2 |
| CELL 5960 | Current Topics in Cell Biology | 1 |
| CELL 6010 | Cell Biology Graduate Research Seminar | 1 |
| CELL 5990 | Special Studies in Cell Biology | 2 |
| or CELL 6000 | Cell Biology Laboratory Rotation |
| CELL 6980 | Research for Doctors Dissertation | 3-6 |
| |
Spring Year 2
Course List
| Code |
Title |
Hours |
| CELL 5960 | Current Topics in Cell Biology | 1 |
| CELL 6010 | Cell Biology Graduate Research Seminar | 1 |
| CELL 6980 | Research for Doctors Dissertation | 14 |
| |
Summer year 3
Course List
| Code |
Title |
Hours |
| CELL 5960 | Current Topics in Cell Biology | 1 |
| CELL 6010 | Cell Biology Graduate Research Seminar | 1 |
| CELL 6980 | Research for Doctors Dissertation | 4-7 |
Fall Year 3
Course List
| Code |
Title |
Hours |
| CELL 5960 | Current Topics in Cell Biology | 1 |
| CELL 6010 | Cell Biology Graduate Research Seminar | 1 |
| CELL 6980 | Research for Doctors Dissertation | 4-7 |
Spring year 3
Course List
| Code |
Title |
Hours |
| CELL 5960 | Current Topics in Cell Biology | 1 |
| CELL 6010 | Cell Biology Graduate Research Seminar | 1 |
| CELL 6980 | Research for Doctors Dissertation | 4-7 |
Summer YEar 4
Course List
| Code |
Title |
Hours |
| CELL 5960 | Current Topics in Cell Biology | 1 |
| CELL 6010 | Cell Biology Graduate Research Seminar | 1 |
| CELL 6980 | Research for Doctors Dissertation | 4-7 |
Fall Year 4
Course List
| Code |
Title |
Hours |
| CELL 5960 | Current Topics in Cell Biology | 1 |
| CELL 6010 | Cell Biology Graduate Research Seminar | 1 |
| CELL 6980 | Research for Doctors Dissertation | 4-7 |
Spring Year 4
Course List
| Code |
Title |
Hours |
| CELL 5960 | Current Topics in Cell Biology | 1 |
| CELL 6010 | Cell Biology Graduate Research Seminar | 1 |
| CELL 6980 | Research for Doctors Dissertation | 4-7 |
Electives/Selectives
Course List
| Code |
Title |
Hours |
| CELL 6063 | Cellular and Molecular Developmental Biology | 3 |
| CELL 6321 | Molecular and Cellular Aspects of Vision | 1 |
| CELL 6401 | OU Cancer Center Program Meeting | 1 |
| CELL 6421 | Tumor Board | 1 |
| CELL 6960 | Directed Readings in Cell Biology | 1-3 |
Notes
- Student’s advisory committee sets the remainder of any needed requirements to meet the 90 hours required for the degree.
- All electives are subject to a minimum and maximum enrollment. Credit hours are subject to change. (Note: There are additional electives offered by other departments-mentor should help choose appropriate electives.)
- Cell Biology Graduate students are allowed to enroll in elective courses related to their research needs and long-term career goals subject to approval of the Mentor and Advisory Committee. These credit hours are offset by a reduction in the dissertation research credit hours that the student is enrolled in concurrently.
- When no other courses are being taken, students enroll for more dissertation hours. Graduate Research Assistants must enroll for a minimum of 6 hours in the fall and spring and 3 hours in the summer.
Admission Requirements
The department of Cell Biology is a participant in the new interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Biomedical Sciences (GPiBS), which combines the expertise of the six programs at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center: Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, Microbiology & Immunology, Neuroscience, Pathology and Physiology. Students wishing to enter the Cell Biology graduate program apply to GPiBS as described in the GPiBS section of the Bulletin. An application is filed with the Office of Admissions and is accompanied by official transcripts and results of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE, if submitting, not required), and TOEFL for foreign applicants. Three letters of recommendation, from individuals who can address the candidate’s research potential and suitability for graduate school, are also required.
Program Objectives
The graduate program is designed to prepare individuals for academic and other careers in cell biology and scientific research. Students are encouraged to obtain a broad background in the various disciplines and develop and pursue a research project in one of the areas of scientific investigation currently available in the department.