PREPing for SUCCESS Courses: CT-PREP Graduate Certificate 

PREP scholars are enrolled in a Graduate Certificate Program designed specifically for the UTMB PREP program, PREPing for SUCCESS.

The CT-PREP curriculum provides a variety of development experiences that include safety and responsible conduct in research, introduction to experimental design and methods used in biomedical sciences, seminars, and introduction to Graduate level courses.  

Table:  Summary of Courses Taken by PREP scholars.  Terms listed are typical terms offered but may be changed.

*Graduate level course Elective:  This is the default course, but may be changed with approval of research mentor, PREP director, and course director. 

Courses

Frontiers of Science (BBSC 6195)  |  Syllabus

This longitudinal course provides students the opportunity to hear about the latest advancements and techniques in a wide variety of biomedical sciences. Students are required to attend seminars by on- or off-campus speakers. Students choose seminars to attend on the basis of student interest and/or program recommendations. The course will begin in the Fall term and will extend over all 3 terms of the academic year. Students register for it in all 3 terms. A grade of “G” (longitudinal) will be assigned at the end of the Fall and Spring terms, and a single, 1-hour course grade will be assigned at the end of the Summer term. Grades will be satisfactory (S) or unsatisfactory (U) based on attendance and submission report forms for the designated required number of seminars each term.

• Prerequisites: Student in PREP program or consent of instructor
• Term offered: I, II, III Longitudinal
• Year offered: Annually
• Hours per week: 1
• Instructor: Toliver-Kinsky, Vargas

Introduction to the Study of Biological Systems (BBSC 6103)  |  Syllabus

This 7-week course is designed to introduce graduate students to the study of biological systems and commonly used methods used in biology. The course provides a review of basic fundaments such as nucleic acids and proteins at the molecular and cellular level and basic knowledge current methods that are used to probe questions in biomedical research. Course topics include methods for cDNA cloning, protein production and purification, in vivo gene manipulations and behavioural assays along with basic methodologies used in the laboratory to study nucleic acids and proteins, including, but not limited to, electrophoresis, Western blotting, advanced imaging, immunohistochemistry. Finally, students are introduced to methods in data handling and analysis that are becoming more prominent in the evaluation of biomedical data. The format of the course includes lectures and discussion sessions. Students are expected contribute to and in some cases lead class discussions following the completion of assigned homework, and grades will be satisfactory (S) or unsatisfactory (U) based on completion of assignments and classroom participation.

• Prerequisites: Student in CTPREP or consent of instructor
• Term offered: III
• Year offered: Annually
• Hours per week: Lecture 2
• Instructor: Dustin Green

Critical Reading of Scientific Literature (BBSC 6104)  |  Syllabus

This eight-week course is designed to introduce graduate students to critical concepts involved in understanding scientific literature. Emphasis will be placed on analyzing, comprehending, interpreting and evaluating scientific articles from peer-reviewed journals. This class is based on discussion format, and students will be expected to actively participate in classroom discussions, as well as lead one classroom discussion on an article of their choice. Grades will be based on the performance of presentation, attendance, and class participation.

• Prerequisites: None
• Term offered: II
• Year offered: Annually
• Hours per week: Lecture 1; Conference/Discussion 1
• Instructor: Vargas

Ethics in Scientific Research  BHH 6101 (in the School of Public and Population Health)  |  Course Description

This course aims at providing an introduction to the ethics of scientific research and its impacts on society. The course first looks at ethical decision-making, norms and ideals of science, and discusses why ethics should be important for science. We will learn how to apply ethical frameworks to topical issues including conflict of interest, bias, research collaboration, peer review, authorship, research on human subjects, animal research, and research misconduct. 

Small group discussions throughout the course will help students develop critical thinking skills. Using case-based analysis students will identify ethical issues, discuss applicable ethical principles and frameworks, and justify appropriate actions or outcomes. By sharing this thought process in small group settings, students will identify different systems of thought, values, and cultures. 

Graduate Level Course

The default graduate level course to be taken by PREP scholars is Cell Biology (BBSC 6302), taken by first year graduate students. However, an alternate course may be taken with approval of the PREP director, research mentor, an course director of the course.  It is recommended first year graduate courses be taken, but an elective course may be taken if it directly relates to the research path and all approvers agree it is at an appropriate level for the postbaccalaureate learner.

Cell Biology (BBSC 6302)  |  Calendar  |  Syllabus

This is a required foundation course in the Basic Biomedical Science Curriculum (BBSC). It is a sixteen-week course taught throughout the term to acquaint students with the basic principles of modern cell biology. The topics to be covered include regulation of basic cellular activities including functions of cell organelles, signaling, changes in cell numbers, interactions during development, and cellular organization into tissues. Grades will be based on the performance on in-class examinations and small-group discussion sessions.

• Prerequisites: At least one-year college-level biology and chemistry; biochemistry recommended.
• Term offered: I
• Year offered: Annually
• Hours per week: Lecture 3
• Instructor: Oberhauser

All Course of the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences can be found here.