Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine

Master's Program

Certificate Program

Doctoral Program


Link to Course Descriptions for the Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine


The Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine is dedicated to the education of medical students, graduate students, physicians, biomedical scientists and other health professionals. The expert faculty of the College teaches and conducts research in the biomedical sciences to provide insight into human disease with an emphasis on therapy. Diseases of aging are of particular interest because of their emerging urgency. The College currently consists of two departments: the Department of Basic Science and the Department of Integrated Medical Science.

In spring 2011, the College was granted preliminary accreditation by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education to offer an independent medical education program that will welcome its charter medical school class in fall 2011. The College has developed an innovative curriculum, which features early and continuous community-based clinical experiences and problem-based learning with emphasis on small-group and self-directed learning. World-class faculty in the College will provide a student-centered and patient-focused approach that includes clinical experiences with local physicians, health departments and hospitals, and a state-of-the-art Clinical Skills Simulation Center. A key component of the innovative curriculum is early exposure to patients and the actual practice of medicine. To that end, the College has established relationships with several prominent area hospitals that will serve as sites for clerkships, hospital-based electives and residencies. FAU has also partnered with The Scripps Research Institute, Florida to offer a dual Doctor of Medicine/Doctor of Philosophy (M.D./Ph.D.) degree, with the medical degree conferred by FAU and the doctorate conferred by The Scripps Research Institute’s Kellogg School of Science and Technology. For more information on the medical program, visit http://med.fau.edu.

Additional graduate programs offered by the College include the Master of Science (M.S.) in Biomedical Science (with or without thesis) and the Ph.D. in Integrative Biology, the latter being a joint program with the Department of Biological Sciences in the Charles E. Schmidt College of Science. A Biomedical Science Certificate is also offered. These programs are detailed below.

Biomedical Science
Faculty:
Friedland, M. L., Dean; Azzarolo, A. M.; Blanks, R. H.; Boxen, J.; Brew, K.; Brickman, L.; Caputi, M.; Cresanta, J.; Cunningham, D.; Eisenberg, E.; Gelb, I. J.; Greenwald, R.; Guthrie, K. M.; Hennekens, C. H.; Hinkley, R.; Holland, P.; Huang, X.; Iragavarapu-Charyulu, V.; Isgor, C.; Kantorow, M.; Levitt, M.; Li, Z.; Linger, B.; Louda, D.W.; Lu, M.; Luck, G.; Markowitz, S. L.; Nichols, J. B.; Nouri-Shirazi, M.; Ouslander, J.; Paull, W. K.; Prentice, H. M.; Pritchett, J.; Robinson, P.; Rose, G. J.; Sarsekeyeva, M.; Schmidt-Kastner, R.; Servoss, J.; Shen, W.; Shibata, Y.; Tao, R.; Warren, D. W., Emeritus; Wei, J.; Weiner, S.; Wojcikiewicz, E.; Wu, J. Y.

Master of Science with Major in Biomedical Science

The Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine offers graduate programs leading to the master’s degree in Biomedical Science. Students interested in pursuing adva nced studies in biomedical science may obtain a degree of Master of Science (M.S.), taking either the thesis or nonthesis option. The thesis option is oriented toward those students interested in pursuing biomedical research or careers in academia. The nonthesis program is an option for students seeking to solidify their knowledge base in order to apply to appropriate professional schools or pursue careers in the biomedical sciences industry.

Admission Requirements
All program applicants must have an undergraduate grade point average of 3.0 in the last 60 credits and a Graduate Record Exam (GRE) Quantitative-Verbal combined score of 1000. These are minimum requirements that are necessary for consideration for admission to the program. Higher scores will increase applicants’ chances for admission. Prerequisites of the master’s degree program include one year each of biology, chemistry and physics; one semester each of biochemistry and organic chemistry; and at least two upper-division biology classes. A personal statement explaining career goals is required as well as three letters of recommendation, at least two of which must be from former professors.

Degree Requirements
NonThesis Option
This degree requires 30 credits, 6 of which may be taken as upper-division undergraduate courses at the 4000 level or higher. With their advisor’s approval, students design a course of study from the courses offered in the Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine as well as courses in related departments and colleges chosen from the following list. An exit examination is required in the final semester.

Thesis Option
This option also requires a minimum of 30 credits consisting of coursework chosen from the following list, a minimum of 6 thesis credits and two graduate seminars. Students design a course of study and research with the guidance and approval of the advisors and thesis committees. Thesis students are required to make a formal research proposal to their committees within their first year prior to enrollment in thesis credits. In addition, upon completion of their research, they must make a formal thesis presentation and defense in the semester they plan to graduate.

Students wishing to change their admission from the thesis track to the nonthesis track must submit to the Graduate Program Committee a letter of request that states the justification for the change and a letter from the thesis advisor in support of the request. An interview with the Graduate Program Committee may be required. A maximum of 6 credits from the thesis-track career can be applied toward the nonthesis career upon approval by the Graduate Program Committee. PCB 6974 and PCB 6971 credits are nontransferable.

Graduate-Level Courses
Biomedical Science (minimum of 15 credits required)
Integrated Morphology 1	BMS 6102C	4
Integrated Morphology 2	BMS 6104C	4
Autonomic Function and Diseases	BMS 6523	3
Fundamentals of General Pathology	BMS 6601	2
Brain Diseases: Mechanism and Therapy	BMS 6736	3
Introduction to Radiation Biology	BSC 6834	3
Molecular Genetics of the Cell	GMS 6220	3
Macromolecules and Human Disease	GMS 6301	3
Molecular Basis of Disease and Therapy	GMS 6302	3
Molecular Neuropsychopharmacology	GMS 6735	3
Host Defense and Inflammation	MCB 6208	3
Advanced Cell Physiology	PCB 6207	3
Molecular Basis of Human Cancer	PCB 6235	3
Problem-Based Immunology	PCB 6238	3
Tumor Immunology	PCB 6239	3
RNA Biology and Diseases	PCB 6525	3
Molecular Biology of the Cardiovascular System and Cardiac Disease	PCB 6705	3
Reproductive Endocrinology	PCB 6804	3
Adult Neurogenesis	PCB 6848	3
Physiology of the Heart	PCB 6885	3
Directed Independent Study	PCB 6905	1-3
Special Topics	PCB 6933	1-8
Graduate Seminars	PCB 6934	1-2
Thesis-Related Research	PCB 6974	2-3
Developmental Neurobiology	PSB 6515	3
Biology
Bioinformatics	BSC 6458C	4
Advanced Virology	MCB 6506	3
Advanced Immunology	PCB 6236	3
Chemistry
Advanced Biochemistry	BCH 6740	3
Complex Systems & Brain Sciences
Cognitive Neuroscience	ISC 5465	3
Psychology
Principles of Neuroscience	PSB 6037	3
Neuroscience 1	PSB 6345	3
Neuroscience 2	PSB 6346	3
Philosophy
Special Topics (Biomedical Ethics)	PHI 6930	3
Undergraduate Level Courses (6 credits may be taken)
Biology
Biology of Cancer	BSC 4806	3
Medical Bacteriology	MCB 4203	3
Virology	MCB 4503	3
Molecular and Cell Biology	PCB 4023	3
Immunology	PCB 4233	3
Molecular Genetics	PCB 4522	4
Philosophy
Biomedical Ethics	PHI 4633	4
Psychology
Psychopharmacology	PSB 4444	3

Biomedical Science Certificate

Biomedical Science is a broad and interdisciplinary field focused on understanding and improving human health. It incorporates diverse areas of specialized investigation that share this common goal, including anatomy, biochemistry, genetics, immunology, microbiology, pharmacology and others. The Biomedical Science Certificate is offered to provide master's and Ph.D. students an integrated background in the biomedical sciences. To achieve this aim, the 14-credit program is designed with flexibility. Although the program is centered on the Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, faculty from other colleges and institutions contribute to the program's success, and students are welcomed from many departments, centers and colleges throughout the University.

Admission Requirements
Admission to and completion of this program is organized by the Graduate Program Office in the College of Medicine. For admission, the applicant must satisfy the following criteria:

1. Enrollment in an FAU master's or Ph.D. training program in any of the following: Biomedical Science, Biological Sciences, Chemistry and Biochemistry, Complex Systems and Brain Sciences, Integrative Biology and Psychology.

Students must have approval of their graduate program to enroll and must remain in good standing with their graduate program to continue in this certificate program.

2. Demonstrate competency in life science, mathematics and other courses related to the certificate program, such as by achieving at least a "B" in these courses.

3. Interview with the certificate director or graduate committee chair to discuss program goals and requirements and obtain permission to enroll.



Program Requirements
The certificate curriculum provides students opportunities to survey different areas of the biomedical sciences and to focus on areas of particular interest. Program requirements are designed to be tailored to the individual student with previous coursework and future goals in mind.

1. Students must achieve a minimum grade of "B" in four of the courses below for a total of 12 credits:

2. Students must take PCB 6934, Graduate Seminars (1 credit), two times and achieve a grade of satisfactory each time.

3. Students must participate in the College of Medicine Research Day each year showcasing graduate student research in the College.

Doctoral Degree Program Information
The Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine offers a doctoral program leading to the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree in Integrative Biology. This is a joint program with the Department of Biological Sciences of the Charles E. Schmidt College of Science in which students can pursue interests across a number of fields, including marine science, biomedical science, biotechnology and biology.
For complete program details, click here.

Link to Course Descriptions for the Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine