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Biomedical Sciences, Ph.D.

School of Medicine Columbia

Our research-focused curriculum will give you the mentorship and access to state-of-the-art technology you need to conduct advanced biomedical research, which you'll be encouraged to share through publications and conferences.

Your doctoral degree requirements are intimately tied to your research interests. Our goal is to make sure every student is able to find a place in a particular faculty member's lab, and there are a wide range of options as we have faculty mentors specializing in topics like cancer, genetics, immunology and neuroscience.

Program Highlights

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    Tier 1 Research

    Study at the state's longest-running top-tier research university and a Carnegie Tier 1 research facility.

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    Flexible Curriculum

    Take advantage of the degree's flexibility and breadth of options, and customize your program of study to suit your needs.

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    Expert Faculty

    Work with faculty researchers who are studying a variety of disorders in order to improve patient care.

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    Personal Attention

    Enjoy a close student-faculty relationship and all the opportunities that come with smaller class sizes.

What You’ll Study

You'll start with advanced courses in molecular biology, biochemistry and cell biology, and you'll earn at least 60 credit hours of coursework, but the exact number of hours is determined by the program with which your mentor is affiliated. You and your mentor will determine which electives you should take, depending your research interest and career goals.

Building Skills

Gain the professional and personal intelligence it takes to have a successful career.

  • Project Management

    Organizing and overseeing tasks to achieve specific goals

    Teamwork

    Working collaboratively with others to achieve a shared goal or objective

    Organizational Skills

    Planning, prioritizing and managing tasks and resources to achieve specific objectives

  • Experimental Design

    Planning and structuring scientific investigations to test hypotheses and gather empirical evidence

    Problem Solving

    Identifying, analyzing and resolving problems or challenges using creative and effective strategies

    Collaboration

    Working with others to achieve a common goal or objective

Using your degree

Make your college experience the foundation for a successful future.

Potential Careers

  • Researcher
  • Educator
  • Policy Maker

Workplace Settings

  • Medicine
  • Pharmaceuticals
  • Government
  • Education
  • Industry

Advanced Degrees

Advance your career or options with post-graduate education.

Is USC Right For You?

There are many reasons we could be your ideal university. There's the award-winning academics, the globally modeled student life, and abundance of study abroad and experiential learning options. Take a closer look at what USC could mean for you.

Degree content is provided for informational purposes only. The Academic Bulletin is the source of record for all degree information.
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