Curriculum Formulation and Degree Requirements
Course Work

The formal course work for students in Biophysics at the University of Virginia is designed to allow students a significant degree of flexibility in their studies. Students typically enter the program with very different science backgrounds. They will also engage in very different research topics to complete their Ph.D. theses. Therefore, formal course programs will be individually tailored to best suit each students needs. The list of courses below is meant to serve as a menu from which students can choose their courses. Some of these courses are offered specifically for biophysics students, whereas others are core courses that are also taken by many students of other graduate programs at the University of Virginia. There are only 3 required course (BIMS 503, BIOP 506, BIMS 812 or BIMS 811). A Biophysics Seminar Series with many national and international speakers and a student-run Biophysics Journal Club are also offered.

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Year 1 Summer    
 
MICR 
Methods of Molecular Biology (5 weeks; 10 sessions)
BIOP 997
Rotation (non-topical research)
 
Year 1 Fall    
 
BIMS 503
Macromolecular Structure & Function
4 credits
BIMS 512
Cell Structure and Function
5 credits
  or:  
BIMS 811
Gene Structure, Expression, and Regulation
4 credits
BIOP 801
Biophysics Seminar
1 credit
BIOP 805
Biophysical Literature (Journal Club)
1 credit
BIOP 995
Rotation (topical research)
x credits
Year 1 Spring    
 
BIOP 506
Molecular Physiology: From Molecular Machinesto Biological Processing 
 4 credits
BIMS 710
Research Ethics
 1 credit
BIOP 801
Biophysics Seminar
1 credit
BIOP 805
Biophysical Literature (Journal Club)
1 credit
BIOP 995
2 Rotations (topical research)
x credits
   one of the following is recommended:
BIOP 802
Advanced Protein Crystallography
3 credits
   
BIOP 800
Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy of Macromolecules
3 credits
BIOC 508
Computer Analysis of DNA Proten Sequences
3 credits
BIMS 832
Graduate Physiology
5 credits
BIOL 507
Practical Aspects of Light Microscopy in the Biological Sciences
Year 2 Summer    
BIOP 999
Non-topical research (thesis advisor selected)
 
Year 2 Fall    
BIMS 811
Gene Structure, Expression, and Regulation
4 credits
or:  
BIMS 512
Cell Structure and Function
5 credits
BIOP 801
Biophysics Seminar
1 credit
BIOP 805
Biophysical Literature (Journal Club)
1 credit
BIOP 995
Topical Research
x credits
one of the follwing is recommended:
PHY 813
Structure and Function of Biological Membranres
3 credits 
CHEM 522
Thermodynamics & Kinetics
 3 credits
 
Year 2 Spring    
 
BIOP 801
Biophysics Seminar
1 credit
BIOP 805
Biophysical Literature (Journal Club)
1 credit
BIOP 995
Topical Research
x credits
   one or more of the following are recommended:
BIOP 802
Advanced Protein Crystallography
3 credits
BIOP 800
Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy of Macromolecules
3 credits
BIOC 508
Computer Anal. of DNA & Protein Sequences
3 credits
BIMS 832
Graduate Physiology
5 credits
BIOL 507
Practical Aspects of Light Microscopy in the Biological Sciences
       
Year 3+      
 
BIOP 999
Non-topical research (thesis advisor selected)
 further courses may be audited as approved by the thesis advisor