Curriculum

The Graduate School does not set course requirements; these are set by the Field of Biophysics and your Special Committee (see Course Enrollment).  You should talk to the Director of Graduate Studies (DGS) and/or your Special Committee about the courses that you should take. Dates for course enrollment are set by the University Registrar (https://registrar.cornell.edu/).  Make sure that you register in accordance with the published dates.  NOTE:  The Graduate School will only consider Course Enrollment Petitions in extremely extenuating circumstances.

Federal regulations require that all students enroll in at least 12 credit hours/semester.  You should not feel obligated to enroll in 12 credit hours of actual coursework unless your DGS/Special Committee consider(s) it necessary.  Enroll only in the courses that you need/want to take.  In the fall and spring semesters, the Graduate School will enroll students in their Graduate Dissertation Research course in order to ensure that your record reflects 12 credit hours.  

Summer Enrollment:  All graduate students are required to enroll in the Graduate Dissertation Research (via Student Center) for the summer; the deadline for this is the end of May.  This is necessary if you are receiving a stipend or plan to use university facilities such as libraries, computer centers, and the Gannett Health Center.  (Please note:  If you register after May 31, FICA taxes will be withdrawn from your paycheck.)

Time Away From the University:  The graduate student schedule/calendar does NOT follow the undergraduate schedule. Graduate students are paid on a 12-month stipend and are expected to be present and actively working on their academics and research project unless the university itself is officially closed.  If you plan on being gone for a significant period of time, you must have the approval of your advisor and notify the Graduate Field Assistant of your intentions.

Courses should be taken for letter grade with a minimum grade of B-. Option of S/U for one course is allowed. Audits are not acceptable. Subject or Course Subject Complete 1.

Grade Expectations: For courses with a letter grade, students are expected to receive a “B” (3.0) or better in order to remain in good standing in the program.  If a student receives a C+ or lower grade in any core Biophysics course, no credit is given for that course, implying that the course must be retaken if it is a required course.  

SKILL DEVELOPMENT CORE

  • Fall each year: BIOMG 6312 Frontiers in Biophysics
  • Fall second year: BIOMG 7940 Current Topics in BMCB (Grant writing)
  • Spring second year: BIOMG 7510 Ethical Issues & Professional Responsibilities

BIOPHYSICS CORE (List of relevant courses can be found on Grad Student Intranet (log-in required)

  • One math course
  • One physics course
  • Two biology courses
  • One advanced biophysics course