Carnegie Mellon University

CPCB Timeline

Year 1
Fall
Spring
  • Computational Genomics
  • Cell & Systems Modeling
  • Lab Methods
  • Seminar
Summer (between year 1 and 2)
  • Ethics
  • Writing Workshop
  • CPCB Course (Writing)
Year 2
Fall
  • CPCB Course (Journal Club)
  • Seminar
  • Life Science Elective (e.g. Applied Cell and Molecular Biology) or Machine Learning
Spring
Year 3
Fall
  • Seminar
Spring
  • Seminar
  • Open Elective or Life Science Elective
Year 4 through graduation
Fall
  • Seminar
  • CPCB Course (Job Search – 4th year only)
Spring
  • Seminar

Elective Courses: 

Students are required to take three elective courses over the course of their training.  This example shows a student who finishes all coursework at the end of the their 6th semester, which is ideal, but not required.  The elective courses will be selected by the student, dependent upon their chosen specialization track.

Expected Course Scheduling for Incoming Students

We anticipate two types of course schedules for students in the program. The default will be to take 3 courses in each of the first two semesters (50-75% time) and spend the remaining time on research. Such students would normally take the 5 core courses in the first year along with one additional course. The third and fourth semesters would be split between taking electives and doing research.

Students who enter with some biology or computer science or physical science background but not with sufficient background to take all of the core courses would take a mix of missing prerequisites and core courses in each of the first two semesters (approx. 90% time) and spend 10% time on research. These students would then take a mix of remaining core courses and electives in the third and fourth semesters (along with 30% research) and finish electives in the fifth and/or sixth semesters.

Other Requirements

Each student will further be required to enroll in CPCB Course (CMU 02-701/MSCBIO/CMPBIO 2060)  for years 1 and 2 of the program, attend the program Seminar Series (CMU 02-702/MSCBIO/CMPBIO 2010) throughout his or her studies, take one scientific/medical ethics class, and serve as a teaching assistant (TA) for one term.

PhD Proposal Exam

Each student will be required to propose a thesis and later produce and defend a dissertation:

Ph.D. Proposal Exam Procedures