The University of South Alabama
College of Medicine's
Ph.D.
program in the Basic Medical Sciences started in 1978 and a total of 130 Ph.D's
have been awarded since the program's inception. These
predoctoral students were selected from a large national and
international pool of applicants.
The advanced program in physiology
represents an integrated approach to graduate training that
focuses upon cardiovascular and pulmonary research. Research
in the Department of Physiology is well funded from a
number of extramural sources. Our faculty published
approximately 100 papers and abstracts per year and
have authored or edited a number of textbooks and monographs
over the last 5 years. Our faculty have international
reputation for leadership and excellence in this field, and
are routinely invited to speak at many national and
international symposia last year, many of which they
organized and chaired. In addition, several faculty serve as
officers and committee members of national and international
societies, as well as on review committees for funding
agencies such as the National Institutes of Health and the
American Heart Association.
The Curriculum
The advanced program in
Physiology provides the student with a didactic training not
only in Physiology but also in related areas. Our intent is
to equip the student with an integrated understanding of
physiology from the whole organ to the cellular and
molecular level, in order to prepare students for
research positions in academic and industry in the 21st
century.
All students are required to
satisfactorily complete the interdisciplinary
core curriculum in the Basic Medical Sciences Graduate
Program during the first year. Research and the focus on
Physiology begins in the second year. Students are
expected to attend seminars and journal clubs. The advanced
course work and dissertation research is usually completed
within five years. Our graduates have obtained outstanding
postdoctoral positions and subsequent employment in
universities and laboratories throughout the United States.
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Year 1
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Interdisciplinary
Core Curriculum
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Years 2- 3
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Required Advanced
Coursework
- Medical Physiology PHS 550, 8 cr
- Advanced Cardiovascular Physiology PHS 651,
5cr
OR
Lung Biology IDL 630, 4cr
- Advanced Signal Transduction IDL 635, 4cr
Electives
(minimum 1 course)
Research
- Directed Studies PHS 557
- Pertinent Journal Club
Qualifying
Exam
- Should be completed by the end of the third
year in the Graduate Program
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Years 4-5
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Dissertation Research
- Research / Dissertation PHS 799
- Pertinent Journal Club
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Non-didactic
Requirements
- Cell Signaling Seminar Series
- Distinguished Scientist Seminar Series
Admission
We are recruiting students trained in biology, chemistry,
mathematics, physics or related disciplines to fill
predoctoral positions beginning each August. The basic
requirements for entrance into the Graduate Program are:
1. A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or
university.
2. A grade-point average of B or better (3.0 on a 4.0
scale).
3. Satisfactory performance on the Graduate Record
Examination (Minimum 1000 composite in Verbal +
Quantitative)
4. Courses in biology, physics, organic chemistry, and
mathematics through calculus. Other courses which are
recommended include statistics, physical chemistry,
biochemistry, molecular biology, cell physiology, etc.
Financial Aid
Financial support allows students to devote their
full-time efforts toward graduate studies. Starting
Fall 2003, all students receive a stipend of $20,000 per
year. Tuition is waived
for each year of enrollment and health insurance is
provided. In addition, students enrolled in our graduate
training program will be eligible to compete for predoctoral
fellowships from various funding agencies, including the
National Institutes of Health, the National Science
Foundation, and a variety of private foundations.
