Translational Science PhD Curriculum and Milestones

While there is no prescribed sequence of courses for the TS PhD program, some courses are offered only one time per year and some courses require prerequisites, so students and their academic/graduate advisors must develop the individualized degree plan accordingly to maintain an established schedule to graduation.   Additionally, the TS PhD program is multi-institutional.  As a result, each student will be required to take at least one course, if not more, at each participating institution.  The actual number of courses taken at each institution will depend on the students’ research interest and individualized degree plan. 


SAMPLE THREE-YEAR CURRICULUM (FULL-TIME STUDENT)
FOR COMPLETION OF TRANSLATIONAL SCIENCE PhD
Year 1, Fall Year 1, Spring Year1, Summer
  SCH   SCH   SCH
Translational Science (Core) 1 Research Design-Methods2 (Core) 2 Track and/or Free Electives 6
Responsible Conduct (Core) 2 Research Design-Biostatistics2 (Core) 2    
Research Design-Methods1 (Core) 2 Leadership & Team Science (Core) 3    
Research Design-Biostatistics1 (Core) 2 Track Elective 2    
Scientific Communication (Core) 2        
TOTAL SCH/SEMESTER 9   9   6
 
Year 2, Fall Year 2, Spring Year 2, Summer
Business of Translational Science (Core) 3 Cultural Proficiency (Core) 3 Track and/or Free Electives 3
Evidence-Based Policy & Implementation (Core) 2 Track and/or Free Electives 3 Research 3
Track and/or Free Electives 4 Research 3    
TOTAL SCH/SEMESTER 9   9   6
 
Year 3, Fall Year 3, Spring Year 3, Summer
Research/Dissertation 9 Research/Dissertation 9 Research/Dissertation 6
TOTAL SCH/SEMESTER 9   9   6
PRE-REQUISITE:  Master’s, Doctoral, or Professional Degree (anticipated minimum of 2 to 4 years beyond undergraduate education)
SCH: Semester Credit Hour

MILESTONES

To maintain progression toward completion of the TS PhD program in three years, as a full-time student, the following expectations and milestones should be met:

Year 1:
  • With the academic advisor or supervising professor, develop individualized curriculum plan
  • Enroll in and successfully complete selected core, track elective, and/or free elective courses
  • Identify area of research interest
  • Identify a Supervising Professor
  • If not already selected, network for purposes of identifying a Supervising Professor
  • Create a Compact and Milestone Agreement with an advisor or supervising professor (to be reviewed annually)
Year 2:
  • With the academic advisor or supervising professor, review and/or revise individualized curriculum plan
  • Enroll in and successfully complete selected core, track elective, and/or free elective courses
  • Establish a qualifying examination committee
  • Successfully complete the qualifying examination
  • File for admission to candidacy
  • Select a Supervising Professor (if not done in Year 1)
  • Form a Dissertation Committee
  • Obtain IRB or IACUC approval for research, if needed
  • Begin/continue dissertation research
  • Complete scheduled Semi-Annual Evaluations; review the Compact and Milestones Agreement
Year 3:
  • Complete the dissertation research project, including writing the dissertation, revising the dissertation, and successfully completing the final oral defense
  • Complete scheduled Semi-Annual Evaluations; review the Compact and Milestones Agreement
  • Apply for graduation during registration for semester of oral examination
  • Schedule, announce, and present the final oral examination (defense of dissertation)
Subsequent Years:
  • Completion of unfinished tasks from previous years-complete research; write/revise the dissertation; prepare/present the final oral examination; apply for graduation
  • Complete scheduled Semi-Annual Evaluations; review the Compact and Milestones Agreement

 

Institute for Integration of Medicine and Science, UT Health Science Center San AntonioUTSA The University of Texas at Austin, What Starts Here Changes the World UTHealth, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, School of Public Health