New York Medical College - Integrated PhD Program - Overview

General Information

Students enter the PhD program without declaring a major. During their first year, they take a common set of courses (the "core" curriculum) in the first Fall, Spring and Summer semesters, along with elective course options that may differ for each student. First-year students also rotate through three different laboratories -- one in each academic term. At the conclusion of the first year, each student declares his/her major and preferred research sponsor.

Each student must successfully complete a minimum of 29 didactic (i.e., letter-graded) credits. This total includes 16 credits in the core curriculum (see below). Each individual program may specify additional required or suggested courses (a minimum of 13 didactic credits) beyond those in the core curriculum. Each student should complete all or very nearly all required courses by the end of the second year. At the end of the second year, each student will attempt to pass a qualifying exam that tests the student's integrated knowledge of the core curriculum and the discipline-based curriculum.

During the third year, the student assembles a dissertation committee and presents a formal dissertation proposal.

Graduates receive a PhD in one of our existing disciplinary areas: biochemistry and molecular biology, cell biology, microbiology and immunology, experimental pathology, pharmacology, or physiology.