UT-ORNL Graduate School of Genome Science and Technology

1. Core Curriculum

Year 1, Fall
Life Sciences 520 (GST I) - Advanced Genetics/Genomics (4 hr)
Life Sciences 507 - Bioinformatics/Computational Biology Lab I (2 hr)
BCMB 511 - Advanced Protein Chemistry (3 hr)
Life Sciences 515 - Intro to GST ( Presentations of Research by GST Faculty ) (1 hr)
Life Sciences 505 - Research Rotation (2 hr)

Year 1, Spring
Life Sciences 521 (GST II) - Analytical Technologies (4 hr)
Life Sciences 507 - Bioinformatics/Computational Biology Lab II (2 hr)
BCMB 512 - Advanced Molecular Biology (3 hr)
Life Sciences 541 - Colloquium (Presentations of Research by GST Faculty) (1 hr)
Life Sciences 505 - Research Rotation (2 hr)

Year 1, Summer
Life Sciences 505 - Two Research Rotation (2 hr each)

2. Student Advising

Upon arrival each student shall be assigned to a First-year Student Advisory Committee. The student and committee shall review the student's background and goals and set a program for the first year. This may include background undergraduate courses if deemed advisable to participate fully in this multi-faceted program of study. In evaluating the preparedness of the new student for the GST courses, the student can be directed to appropriate tutorial sessions, web-based training, etc. After the student has chosen a laboratory and program, the student shall form a Research Committee. This committee shall aid the student in designing the remainder of the curriculum.

3. Rotation Policy

Four laboratory rotations are required of Ph.D. candidates; three of the four areas specified in the GST program (Genomics & Genetics, Structural Biology, Computational Biology & Bioinformatics, Bioanalytical Technologies) must be covered. Two laboratory rotations are required of Masters degree candidates. Each rotation is 2 credit hours; this requires at least 12 hrs per week in spring and fall semesters and at least 40 hours per week in each of the two summer sessions. There should be flexibility and imagination in planning the rotations tailored to student needs, e.g., one rotation with 2 advisors or a rotation project initiated in one lab and continued in another, bringing two kinds of techniques or approaches to bear on a single problem, etc. The First-year Student Advisory Committee will work with each student to select rotations and must approve each planned rotation. At the end of each rotation, the student must give an oral or poster presentation on the material covered to the faculty and other students of the program.

4. Overall Requirements

The overall requirements are designed to comply with regulations of the Graduate School of the University of Tennessee . The requirements for the MS degree are a minimum of 30 hrs graduate credits beyond the baccalaureate degree, of which 6 must be in 500 (Thesis). The requirements for the Ph.D. are a minimum of 24 hrs of 600 (Doctoral Research and Dissertation), plus a minimum of 48 hours of graduate course work beyond the baccalaureate degree, of which a minimum of 30 must be graded A-F and a minimum of 6 must be at the 600 level. Thus the GST program requirements are:

• Core courses: LS 520-21 GST I & IV (4, 4); LS 507, Bioinformatics & Computational Biology I & II (2,2); BCMB 511-12 (3, 3); LS 515 - Intro to GST (1); LS 541 Colloquium (1); LS 505 Research Rotation (8hr for Ph.D., 4 hr for M.S.). The same core courses apply to both MS and Ph.D. requirements.

Total hours for core = 28 for Ph.D., 24 for M.S.; of which 26 for Ph.D./22 for M.S. are graded (Intro. to GST and Colloquium are not graded).

• After completion of the first year, GST students are required to enroll in a journal club each additional semester in the GST program.

• Thesis (MS; LS 500 Thesis) or dissertation (Ph.D.; LS 600 Doctoral Research and Dissertation). After core course completion and beginning registration of dissertation/thesis hours, students must register each semester for thesis/dissertation hours until completion of degree.

• Comprehensive exam for Ph.D. students (see below, item 9)

• Hours: The core = (28/24 hrs @ 500-level (see above). In order to meet program and Graduate School requirements, the following are required in addition to the core:

MS = Core (24 hr) + 6 hrs Thesis (LS 500); total = 30 hrs

Ph.D. = Core (28hr) + 24 hrs Doctoral Research and Dissertation (LS 600) + 20 additional hrs of course work including at least 6 graded hrs at 600-level (journal club enrollment counts toward the 20 hours, but in most cases this is not graded); total = 48 hrs coursework + 24 hrs Doctoral Research and Dissertation; see item 6 below for additional courses which may apply.

5. Registration requirements

Fall and spring semesters of first year of study core curriculum = 12 semester hours.

Summer semester = 6 semester hours.

First year students in summer semester must register for 4 semester hours of research rotation (LS505) plus 2 semester hours of Registration & Use of Facilities (LS 502).

In subsequent years, GST students must be enrolled in fall and spring semesters for 9 hours. A 1 hr journal club is required each semester, and the 1 hr GST colloquium is required each spring. GST students in summer semester must be enrolled in 6 hours.

Any deviation of specified course load must be approved by GST Director.

6. Additional Courses

In addition to the core (item 1 above), Ph.D. students in GST must take an additional 20 hrs of coursework (not counting hrs for dissertation research), of which 6 or more must be graded at the 600-level.

It is required that students continue course work with at least two courses in the second year to maintain reasonable progress in the program. Recommended courses for the second year are: LS 550 Mammalian Genomics (3 hrs); LS 551 Microbial Genomics (3 hrs); BCMB 513 Advanced Cell Biology (3 hrs); LS 506 Biocomputation and Informatics (3 hrs).

To complete the course requirements, options from the following two groups of courses may be used:

a. GST courses

• LS 595-596 Special Topics in GST (1-3 hr, may be repeated)
** GST Ph.D. students are required to take a minimum of 3 hr in LS 595-596 Special Topics

• LS 695-696 Advanced Topics in GST (1-3 hr, may be repeated)
** GST Ph.D. students are required to take a minimum of 3 hr in LS 695-696 Advanced Topics

It is envisioned that LS 595-96 Special Topics in GST and LS 695-96 Advanced Topics in GST will evolve over time, and be responsive to the perceived needs of currently enrolled students. The use of the generic “topics” term allows a variety of timely subjects to be taught.

b. Courses from other departments

Other graduate courses, which must be approved by the student's committee, may constitute a part of the student's program. These courses can be from, but are not limited to, the following areas: biological sciences and agriculture, chemical sciences, computer sciences, mathematics, physical sciences and engineering.

7. Evaluation

At the end of the first year, each student will be evaluated by the whole faculty in a meeting to determine a direct track to Ph.D. or a terminal or interim track to MS. Each year thereafter, each student will be evaluated by his or her committee, with a written evaluation given to the student and forwarded to the Director.

8. Teaching Requirement

Each GST student must contribute to the teaching effort of Biology on the University of Tennessee campus. MS students are required to teach one semester, and Ph.D. students are required to teach two semesters. Normally, teaching is arranged during the student's second year in the program in consultation with the Director and the student's committee.