Course Work
Core course requirement: Students will have the option to choose from either the 2 semester Biochemistry course at UMBC (CHEM 437, 638; 8 credits) or the GPILS core course (GPLS 601; 8 credits). The decision regarding the core course(s) for a student will be based upon their previous Biochemistry courses as an undergrad (received a 'B' or better in such course) and/or the score on the ACS placement exam taken in August. If a student places out of the core course requirement, then an advanced course would be taken in place of the core course.
All program students will be required to take the following courses in addition to the Biochemistry core course requirement:
- Advanced Biochemistry (GPLS 709; Spring)
- Advanced Molecular Biology (GPLS 701; Fall)
- 2 semesters of Student Seminars (GPLS 713; Spring in Years 1 and 2)
- 2 advanced courses (at least 1 at UMBC; i.e. with CHEM numbering)
- Lab rotations (GPLS 609 or CHEM 602)
- 2 semesters of Biochemistry Seminar (GPLS 608 or CHEM 713)
- 1 semester of Research Ethics (CIPP 907; Spring Year 2)
Courses Listed by Year of Study
| YEAR 1 - Fall Semester | |
|---|---|
| GPILS CORE CREDITS | BIOCHEMISTRY CORE CREDITS |
| GPLS 601 Mechanisms in Biomedical Science (8 credits) | CHEM 437 Biochem I (4 credits) |
| GPLS 609 Lab Rotation (1 - 2 credits) or CHEM 602 Intro to Lab Research (1 - 2 credits) |
GPLS 609 Lab Rotation (1 - 2 credits) or CHEM 602 Intro to Lab Research (1 - 2 credits) |
| YEAR 1 - Spring Semester | |
|---|---|
| GPILS CORE CREDITS | BIOCHEMISTRY CORE CREDITS |
| GPLS 709 Adv Biochem (3) | CHEM 638 Biochem II (4) |
| Advanced course #1 (UMBC or UMB)* | GPLS 709 Adv Biochem (3) |
| GPLS 713 Adv Topics in Biochem (2) | GPLS 713 Adv Topics in Biochem (2) |
| GPLS 608 or CHEM 713 Biochemistry Seminars (1) | |
| YEAR 2 - Fall Semester | |
|---|---|
| GPILS CORE CREDITS | BIOCHEMISTRY CORE CREDITS |
| GPLS 701 Adv Molecular Biology (3) | GPLS 701 Adv Molecular Biology (3) |
| Advanced course #2 (UMBC or UMB)* | Advanced course #1 (UMBC or UMB)* |
| GPLS 608 or CHEM 713 Biochemistry Seminar (1) | GPLS 608 or CHEM 713 Biochemistry Seminar (1) |
| YEAR 2 - Spring Semester | |
|---|---|
| GPILS CORE CREDITS | BIOCHEMISTRY CORE CREDITS |
| GPLS 713 Adv Topics in Biochem (2) | GPLS 713 Adv Topcs in Biochem (2) |
| CIPP 907 Research Ethics (1) |
CIPP 907 Research Ethics (1) |
|
Advanced course #2 (UMBC or UMB)* |
|
| YEAR 3 and Beyond | |
|---|---|
| GPILS & BIOCHEMISTRY CORE CREDITS | |
|
GPLS 899 or CHEM 899 Doctoral Research (12 total credits) Attend Weekly Seminars and Dissertation Defenses |
* see advanced course list below
Advanced Courses
Note: Pick 2; at least one CHEM designation must be chosen. This is not a comprehensive list.
- CHEM 601 Special Topics in Chemistry (i.e. NMR, X-ray, subject varies) (3 credits)
- CHEM 631 Chemistry of Proteins (3 credits)
- CHEM 633 Biochemistry of Nucleic Acids (3 credits)
- CHEM 635 Biochemistry of Complex Carbohydrates (3 credits)
- CHEM 640 Special Topics: Molecular Structure (3 credits)
- CHEM 642 Physical Biochemistry (3 credits)
- CHEM 644 Molecular Modeling in Biochemistry (3 credits)
- CHEM 672 Enzyme Reaction Mechanisms (3 credits)
- CHEM 684 Special Topics in Chemistry (subject varies) (3 credits)
- GPLS 616 Molecular Mechanisms of Signal Transduction (3)
- GPLS 625 Fundamentals of Membrane Transport Ion Channels (3 credits)
- GPLS 626 Fundamentals of Membrane Transport & Carrier Mechanisms (3 credits)
- GPLS 635 Bacterial Genetics (4 credits)
- GPLS 714 Muscle: Contractility & Excitation Contraction Coupling (3 credits)
- GPLS 715 Muscle Cell Biology and Development (3 credits)
- GPLS 720 Fluorescence Spectroscopy (2 credits)
- GPLS 730 Protein Lipid Interactions (3 credits)