Biosciences Program

  • Electives

    A key feature of the Biosciences Program study plan is its flexibility. Hence a student can tailor their choice of electives based on their interests.

    Policies & Procedures
    Fall Electives
    Spring Electives

    Recommended study plans are available for students interested in a specific department or program.

    Policies & Procedures

    The specific department or program that is chosen by the student for thesis training will determine the student’s curriculum for subsequent years (see: Graduate Training Guidelines by Department/Program). The expectation is that all required course work will be completed by the second year. There are no teaching responsibilities for Biosciences Program students during the first year, but most students will obtain teaching experience in subsequent years.

    Approved Electives - Fall Semester

    Electives that appear on this list will be accepted by all departments and programs, unless otherwise noted at Study Plans by Primary Area of Interest

    • Additional courses are accepted by individual departments and programs
    • Additional courses can be added to the list by student petition
    • Some courses require certain prerequisites and/or permission of the instructor
    • Some course offerings may change

    Enter course numbers here to view detailed information regarding the electives below:

    Course # Title Course Length
    Semester or Module
    002:131 Evolution Semester
    002:155 Cell Physiology Semester
    002:171 Molecular Genetics Semester
    004:211 Chemical Catalysis in Biology (even yrs) Semester
    061:147 Survey of Immunology Semester
    061:267 Graduate Introduction to Animal Viruses Semester
    061:270 Graduate Microbial Genetics Semester
    061:271 Graduate Microbial Genetics Lab Semester
    061:279 Bacterial Diversity (odd yrs) Semester
    061:288 Graduate Microbial Biotech Semester
    072:153 Human Physiology Semester
    077:103 Radiation Biology Semester
    099:243 Protein Structure, Stability and Dynamics Module I
    099:245 Protein Stability, Folding, and Dynamics Module II
    099:247 Binding and Macromolecular Interactions Module III
    127:150 Genetic Analysis of Biological Systems Semester
    132:180 Fundamental Neuroscience Semester
    132:240 Topics in Cognitive Neuroscience Semester
    142:210 Advanced Prokaryotic Molecular Biology Semester
    142:220 Mechanisms of Cellular Organization Semester
    156:201 Fundamentals of Gene Expression Module I
    156:203 Fundamentals of Dynamic Cell Process Module II
    156:204 Biostatistics for Biomedical Research Module III

    Approved Electives - Spring Semester

    Electives that appear on this list will be accepted by all departments and programs, unless otherwise noted at Study Plans by Primary Area of Interest

    • Additional courses are accepted by individual departments and programs
    • Additional courses can be added to the list by student petition
    • Some courses require certain prerequisites and/or permission of the instructor Some course offerings may change

    Enter course numbers here to view detailed information regarding the electives below:

    Course # Title Course Length
    Semester or Module      
    002:131 Evolution Semester
    002:168 Genes and Development Semester
    002:193 Topics in Cell Motility Semester
    002:233 Seminar Ecology Semester
    004:205 Bioinorganic Chemistry Semester
    004:228 Mechanisms of Organic Reactions Semester
    060:101 Gross Anatomy w/lab (= 2 courses) Semester
    060:234 Medical Neuroscience (same as 132:234) Semester
    061:201 Immunology I Semester
    061:259 Grad Pathogenic Bacteriology Semester
    061:260 Grad Microbial Physiology Semester
    061:268 Mol Biol Animal Viruses Semester
    069:270 Pathogenesis of Maj Human Diseases Semester
    071:136 Pharmacogenetics & Pharmacogenomics Module VI
    071:137 Neurotransmitters Module VII
    071:138 Ion Channels Module VI
    071:208 G Proteins & G Protein-coupled Receptor Module VI
    071:209 Steroid Receptor Signaling Module VII
    077:222 Free Radicals in Biology & Medicine (odd yrs) Semester
    077:288 Mol & Cell Biology of Cancer (odd yrs) Semester
    099:226 Enzyme Kinetics & Bioorganic Mechanisms Module V
    099:246 Structure and Mechanism of Membrane Proteins Module VI
    099:248 NMR of Biological Macromolecules Module VII
    127:191 Human Molecular Genetics (odd yrs) Semester
    132:181 Neurophysiology (odd yrs) Semester
    132:246 Dev Neurobiology (even yrs) Semester
    142:215 Transcription and multi-functional regulation by RNA Module V
    142:216 Chromatin structure and Disease Module VI
    142:217 Epigenetics, Cancer and Genetic Manipulations in Mice Module VII
    142:225 Growth Factor Receptor Signaling Module V
    142:226 Cell Cycle Control Module VI
    142:227 Cell Fate Decisions Module VII
    156:205 Practical Bioinformatics Module IV