Biophysics is a field that is defined by its application of physical principles and techniques to investigation of key biological problems. Optimal training for a career in molecular biophysics includes exposure to the theoretical bases for the physical properties and interactions of biological molecules, the technical approaches that are available to investigate biological systems, and the results of studies in which biophysics has contributed to an understanding of the behavior of biological systems. The Molecular Biophysics Graduate Program includes coursework in each of these areas.
The first-year core course required of all students in the Division of Basic Science offers training in the broad issues faced by contemporary biological science. This course provides 15 hours of course credit toward the minimum of 24 hours required for graduation. In the second year, physical approaches to contemporary biology are considered in a series of advanced courses. All students in the Molecular Biophysics Graduate Program are required to take Physical Biochemistry I and Molecular Biophysics: Spectroscopy which provides essential theoretical background for the field. These two together provide three hours of credit. The remaining six hours of the 24 hour minimum requirement are fulfilled by completion of Mathematical Methods (1.5 credits), three additional units chosen from the advanced Biophysics courses, plus 1.5 credits of elective courses offered by our program or other programs in the Division of Basic Sciences.
Course descriptions may be found in the Molecular Biophysics section of the Graduate School catalog or on the Courses quick link on the right.
Students who have exceptional college training in biophysics may, with approval of the Associate Dean of the Division of Basic Science, participate in these courses during their first year on campus.
The third and subsequent years should be devoted largely to research on a dissertation topic. While students may take additional courses, all required courses (the 24 credit hours as described above) must be completed by the end of the third year of graduate studies.
During each semester in their second and successive years, students must be enrolled in:
Contemporary Topics: Journal Club and Works-In-Progress (1.5 credits)
and
Units as needed to complete 6 or 9 semester hours in Research (prior to being admitted to candidacy for the Ph.D.) or Dissertation Research (while conducting their dissertation research after to being admitted to candidacy for the Ph.D.)
Enrollment and Academic Standing
Students are required to be registered for at least nine (9) credit hours for each of the Fall and Spring semesters and six (6) credit hours for the Summer term. Students must also remain in good academic standing by maintaining a grade point average of at least 3.00. See the catalog for the University of Texas Southwestern Graduate School of Biological Sciences, Molecular Biophysics section for details
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