Program Overview

---

Introduction to the Cellular and Molecular Pathology, PhD Program

The Cellular and Molecular Pathology, PhD program is a member of the Interdisciplinary Biological and Health Sciences Consortium (IBHSC), fostering a collaborative environment for research and study in the biological and health sciences. This graduate program is a joint venture of the UWMadison Department of Pathology and the School of Medicine and Public Health (SMPH), offering an interdisciplinary training environment with a high level of intellectual stimulation for predoctoral training.

Admissions

• The program has a two-step admissions process between academic programs and the Graduate School.
• Applicants must meet the minimum requirements of the Graduate School as well as the program's requirements.
• Key admissions requirements include:
  • Fall Deadline: December 1
  • Spring Deadline: The program does not admit in the spring.
  • Summer Deadline: The program does not admit in the summer.
  • GRE (Graduate Record Examinations): Not required.
  • English Proficiency Test: Required for applicants whose native language is not English or whose undergraduate instruction was not exclusively in English.
  • Other Test(s) (e.g., GMAT, MCAT): Not applicable.
  • Letters of Recommendation Required: 3

Funding

Graduate School Resources

The Bursars Office provides information about tuition and fees associated with being a graduate student. Resources to help afford graduate study might include assistantships, fellowships, traineeships, and financial aid.

Program Resources

• All students in the program receive competitive stipends to cover living expenses, tuition, and fees from Graduate School fellowships, NIH training grants, or research assistantships funded through the program or the primary investigator.
• To receive the stipend, the student must maintain full-time status.
• Health insurance costs are partially covered by the university and provide the same coverage as for faculty and staff.

Requirements

Mode of Instruction

• Mode of Instruction: Face to Face
• Definitions:
  • Accelerated: Programs offered at a fast pace, condensing the time to completion.
  • Evening/Weekend: Courses meet on the UWMadison campus only in evenings and/or on weekends.
  • Face-to-Face: Courses typically meet during weekdays on the UW-Madison Campus.
  • Hybrid: Programs combining face-to-face and online learning formats.
  • Online: Programs offered 100% online.

Curricular Requirements

• Minimum Credit Requirement: 51 credits
• Minimum Residence Credit Requirement: 32 credits
• Minimum Graduate Coursework Requirement: 26 credits must be graduate-level coursework.
• Overall Graduate GPA Requirement: 3.00 GPA required.
• Other Grade Requirements: Not applicable.
• Assessments and Examinations: Students must pass their Prelim B exam after their second year of graduate school and defend their PhD thesis within five years of completion of Prelim Exam B.
• Language Requirements: No language requirements.
• Graduate School Breadth Requirement: No minor or graduate/professional certificate is required, but the program requires annual engagement in professional development and an elective course.

Required Courses

• Continuous Enrollment: At least 34-35 credits
  • PATH 900: Seminar (every semester enrolled)
  • PATH 901: Student Seminar / Journal Club (every semester enrolled)
  • PATH 990: Research (every semester enrolled)
• Coursework:
  • PATH 750: Cellular and Molecular Biology/Pathology (spring semester, first year in program)
  • PATH 752: Cellular and Molecular Biology/Pathology Seminar (spring semester, first year in program)
  • PATH 802: Histopathology for Translational Scientists (fall semester, first year in program)
  • PATH 803: Pathogenesis of Major Human Diseases (fall semester, second year in program)
  • PATH 809: Molecular Mechanisms of Disease (spring semester, second year in program)
• Ethics:
  • PATH 755: Responsible Conduct in Research: Research Ethics, Rigor, Reproducibility and Transparency
  • OBS&GYN 956: Advanced Responsible Conduct of Research for Biomedical Students
• Electives: 2-3 credits, with options including PATH 751, PATH 807, or an equivalent course approved by the PhD thesis committee.

Policies

Prior Coursework

• Graduate Credits Earned at Other Institutions: With program approval, students are allowed to transfer no more than 7 credits of graduate coursework from other institutions.
• Undergraduate Credits Earned at Other Institutions or UW-Madison: Refers to the Graduate School: Transfer Credits for Prior Coursework policy.
• Credits Earned as a Professional Student at UW-Madison: Refers to the Graduate School: Transfer Credits for Prior Coursework policy.
• Credits Earned as a University Special Student at UWMadison: With program approval, students are allowed to transfer no more than 7 credits of coursework numbered 300 or above taken as UWMadison University Special students.

Probation

• Refers to the Graduate School: Probation policy.

Advisor / Committee

• On an annual basis, all students are required to conduct a yearly progress report meeting with their advisor.

Credits Per Term Allowed

• 15 credits

Time Limits

• Refers to the Graduate School: Time Limits policy.

Grievances and Appeals

• The program has a grievance policy for addressing student concerns, with procedures outlined for informal and formal grievances, including the role of a grievance advisor and the process for appealing decisions.

Professional Development

Graduate School Resources

• The Graduate School offers professional development resources to build skills, thrive academically, and launch careers.

Program Information

• All CMP students are required to engage in a minimum of two professional development activities annually.

Learning Outcomes

1. Gain a better understanding of the basic mechanisms of disease at the level of cell, organ, and body, as well as the morphologic expression patterns of selected common specific disease processes.
2. Articulate research problems, potentials, and limits with respect to theory, knowledge, and practice within the field of study.
3. Formulate ideas, concepts, designs, and techniques beyond the current boundaries of knowledge within the chosen field of study.
4. Create research and scholarship that makes a substantive contribution.
5. Demonstrate breadth within their learning experiences.
6. Advance contributions of the field of study to society.
7. Communicate complex ideas in a clear and understandable manner.
8. Commit to increasing professional growth and knowledge, attending educational programs, and personally contributing expertise to meetings and journals.
9. Foster ethical and professional conduct.