VII. Course Requirements

  • 11 total credits of coursework are required (this does not include 990 research credits)
  • 10 of these credits must be from the Core Curriculum (Cell Biology and Molecular Biology) or Additional Course list
  • The remaining one credit must be an ethics course
  • A grade of "B" or better must be achieved in each course for it to count towards the CMB Course Requirements

A. Core Curriculum Course Requirements (10 credits required)

Students are expected to gain a breadth of knowledge in both Cell Biology and Molecular Biology

  • Seven credits must be from the CMB Core Curriculum (Cell Biology AND Molecular Biology)
  • Three credits may be from either the Core Curriculum OR from the Additional Course list
  • These credits cannot be a seminar course

B. Ethics Course Requirement (1 credit required)

  • Starting with the fall 2008 incoming class, all CMB students need to fulfill a 1-credit ethics course requirement
  • This requirement needs to be completed by the end of the student's second year
  • The CMB Program recommends Medical History and Bioethics 999, "Advanced Independent Study, Special Topics: Research Ethics"
  • Although this class is recommended, students may choose from a larger list of ethics courses to satisfy the CMB requirement. The full list of ethics courses, along with course details can be found below as well as in the Course Descriptions handbook section.



Course Department & Number
 Course Name
 Instructors Credits/Semester
Medical History and Bioethics 999/Horticulture 875
 Advanced Independent Study, Special Topics: Research Ethics Sara Patterson, James Coors, Robert Streiffer 1/Spring
This course objective is to enable students to understand the policies regulating research at land grant universities and the moral principles on which these policies are based.
Medical History & Bioethics 545 Ethical and Regulatory Issues in Clinical Investigation Norman Fost 1/Fall
This course will explore and examine the ethical issues central to clinical research, regulations governing clinical investigation, and the role of good clinical practice for clinical trials.
Surgical Sciences 812 Research Ethics and Career Development Dale Bjorling, James Tracy 2/Fall
Agronomy/Medical History and Bioethics 565 The Ethics of Modern Biotechnology Robert Streiffer 3/Spring
Study of ethical issues arising from the application of modern biotechnology to microorganisms, crops, and non-human animals. Readings cover moral theory, technology studies, political philosophy, the science used in biotechnology, and current regulations governing its use.
Medical History and Bioethics 558 Ethical Problems Raised by Biomedical Technology Norman Fost, Robert Streiffer, Julie Fagan 3/Spring
Ethical issues apparently created by new biomedical technologies, such as genetic screening, prenatal diagnosis, prolongation of life, treatment of severe birth defects, in vitro fertilization, behavior modification, psychosurgery, and transplantation.
Oncology 675 Advanced or Special Topics in Cancer Research: Appropriate Conduct in Science Janet Mertz, Michael Gould, Sally Leong 1/Spring
A review and discussion of the fundamentals of good scientific communication and ethical issues in science.
Nursing 802 Ethics and the Responsible Conduct of Research Susan Heidrich 1/Spring
Ethical issues in the design, conduct and reporting of research are examined in the context of the nature of the scientific endeavor, the structure of the research community, and professional and federal guidelines for supporting scientific integrity and controlling misconduct.

C. Area of Expertise

  • Each student is expected to attain a depth of knowledge in their area of expertise

  • Each student is expected to work with their Thesis Committee to identify the courses that will provide the desired depth of knowledge in their area of expertise

  • This may involve taking 2-3 upper level (500 level or above) graduate courses in addition to courses that satisfy the CMB Course Requirements


D. Graduate School Academic Guidelines

http://www.wisc.edu/grad/education/acadpolicy/index.html

In order for a PhD to be awarded the Graduate School requires:

  • A minimum of 32 credits taken in graduate level courses

    • 11 of the 32 credits must satisfy the CMB Course Requirements, the remaining can be 990 research credits

    • Courses must be at least 500 level and above

  • A grade point average of 3.0 or above

  • Grades of “BC,” “C” or lower are considered unsatisfactory, but may be offset by grades of “AB” and “A,” respectively, in regular courses or seminars

  • The offsetting grades must be matched in hours of credit and the grades must be obtained before dissertation status is achieved

  • Courses with grades of “P” or Progress count toward the credit requirement only if they are research courses

  • Courses taken pass/fail, audited, or with grades of “D” or “F” will not be counted toward graduate school credits, or the CMB course requirements


E. Inadequate Academic Progress

  • The Graduate School requires an average grade of “B” or better in all work (excluding research credits) taken as a graduate student, unless conditions for probationary status require higher grades

  • Grades of “Incomplete” are considered unsatisfactory if they are not removed during the next semester of residence

  • In special cases, the Graduate School permits a student who does not meet this standard to continue on probation upon recommendation of the Thesis Advisor

  • See the Graduate School Academic Guidelines: Probation
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