Curriculum & Roadmap

Incoming graduate students should have strong foundational knowledge in biology, chemistry, mathematics, and physics. Recommended prerequisite coursework includes:

• Two semesters of Biochemistry (equivalent to BICH 410/411)
• One semester of Physical Chemistry (equivalent to CHEM 328)
• One semester of Molecular Genetics (equivalent to BICH/GENE 431)
• Two semesters of Organic Chemistry (equivalent to CHEM 227/228)
• One semester of Physics
• One semester of Calculus

All incoming graduate students are required to attend orientation week, which is typically held the week before the first day of Fall classes. During orientation, you will learn about TAMU policies, BCBP procedures, student resources, safety requirements, and the terms/conditions of your employment.

You will take four courses and participate in three 5-week laboratory rotations. Procedures and recommendations for selecting your laboratory rotations will be discussed during Orientation Week. You will regularly meet with the Advisory Committee (see the Handbook for more information).

You will take our modular course series. Designed with flexibility in mind, you will select six 5-week courses to create a course schedule tailored to your research interests. You will select a research group to host your pre-candidacy term by January. All first-year graduate students serve as Teaching Assistants this semester.

You will continue your lab work throughout the Summer.

All graduate students are required to serve as Teaching Assistants (TAs) for two semesters, generally in the spring of their first year and the fall of their second year. To be a TA, students must be certified through the Center for Teaching Excellence (CTE) Teaching Assistant Institute (TAI) program – Details are sent before the start of each semester. BCBP graduate students are usually assigned to undergraduate lab courses or recitation sections.

Prior to joining a research group, you will participate in three laboratory rotations during your first semester. These rotations are designed to be mutually beneficial to both you and the faculty member. For you, this is an opportunity to learn about a broad array of research topics and determine your preferred subdiscipline. You should also use this time to evaluate the lab environment and PI mentorship style – Can you confidently commit to completing your PhD in the group? At the same time, the PI will be assessing your motivation, technical skills, and intellectual abilities. Finally, you should consider each rotation an opportunity to contribute substantively to a research project (perhaps even gaining authorship on publications!) and cultivate relationships with faculty who may eventually provide letters of recommendation on your behalf. 

The Advisory Committee is comprised of three faculty members whose goal is to guide you through the pre-candidacy period of your Ph.D. studies. They will help orient you to the program and assist you in developing a curriculum that strengthens your weaknesses, buttresses your strength, and introduces you to the possibilities for advanced study and research in biochemistry and biophysics.

You will take six elective course credits during the Fall of your second year. You will also begin Journal Club and complete your final required semester of Teaching Assistantship.

In the Spring, you will continue to take Journal Club and Research credits. In preparation for your upcoming Preliminary Examination, you will enroll in Oral and Written Scientific Communication courses. All Preliminary Examinations will be held in April. Immediately after your Preliminary Examination, you will submit your formal Degree Plan and select a Thesis Committee.

All students will sit the Preliminary Examination in April. The examination is comprised of a written research proposal and an oral presentation. More information can be found in the Graduate Program Handbook.

Once all core coursework is complete, you will continue to enroll in Journal Club and Research credits.

You may petition your Thesis Committee for permission begin composing your dissertation at any time following advancement to candidacy.