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IGP Program Requirements and Course of StudyFirst Year
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| The Integrated Graduate Program in the Life Sciences (IGP) was established in 1990 to serve as an umbrella program for graduate student training in all basic science and clinical departments at Northwestern University Medical School. This innovative program provides a structure for comprehensive, interdisciplinary training in modern biomedical sciences, while allowing students maximum flexibility in choosing courses of study, research interests, and thesis advisors. The broad spectrum of research opportunities within the IGP serves all students well - not only those who enter graduate school committed to a specific research field, but also those who begin with many potential interests. Students tailor their course work and lab rotations to suit their research and academic interests. The IGP faculty and course offerings are grouped into nine curricula. The curricula conveniently allows the IGP to cluster researchers into readily identified fields of study, although the interdisciplinary nature of modern research means that many faculty are listed in multiple curricula. For the student, the curriculum choice determines an initial academic advisor and provides a suggested set of specific courses. Nevertheless, the choice of a particular curriculum does not restrict a student to any one department or to any particular set of faculty. Flexibility and ease in pursuing diverse interests are the hallmarks of graduate training in the IGP. Students are admitted only to a course of study leading to a Ph.D., and are expected to be enrolled in the University for all four quarters each year of graduate study. First YearAlthough emphasis in the IGP is on developing research skills, all students are required to take a number of courses prior to engaging in full-time research activities. Northwestern University Graduate School requires that all students take nine formal courses for which a grade is assigned. Other courses such as seminars, journal clubs, and lab rotations are taken on a pass/fail basis and for no grade. If desired and appropriate, students may take more than nine required course units. All IGP students complete the three core courses - Biochemistry and Molecular Biology in Fall quarter, Cell Biology in Winter. Students choose elective courses in consultation with the curriculum director and research advisers. Students begin research rotations during the Fall quarter of the first year and will complete three rotations within the first three quarters. Students typically select a thesis adviser at the beginning of the summer quarter of the first year, but may elect to take an additional rotation during the summer. All first-year IGP students participate in the first year Introduction to Life Science Research course designed to aid students in developing their skills in paper reading and interpretation, public presentation, and scientific proposal writing. Second YearDuring the second year of study, students continue research in their thesis labs and complete their course requirements. During the spring quarter of the second year, the student must pass a qualifying examination with both written and oral components in order to be admitted to candidacy for the Ph.D. The written portion of the exam is the student's thesis proposal. (Download Qualifying Exam PDF) Third Year and BeyondBy the beginning of the third year students are expected to have attained doctoral candidacy. Since many scientists are likely to work in teaching environments throughout their professional lives, developing teaching skills is also an important aspect of graduate training. IGP students are provided training in some aspects of teaching by serving as teaching assistants for at least one quarter during their studies. The teaching assistantship experience usually occurs in the third year of study. Completion of the doctoral program requires an average of just over 5 years. A substantial portion of this time is devoted to thesis research under the guidance of a faculty member. Following admission to candidacy, each student spends two or more years conducting research and writing and defending a thesis before earning the PhD. Satisfactory progress in thesis research is monitored by frequent lab meetings and at least one meeting per year with the student's thesis committee. During the period of full-time research, each student will make presentations at least once each year at a department seminar (or similar venue).
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