Doctor of Medicine / Doctor of Philosophy in Anatomy and Neurobiology

Medical students who are interested in pursuing a combined MD/PhD degree usually begin the doctoral part of their program after completing two years of the BU Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine curriculum. Thus, they have already completed many of the courses required for the PhD in Anatomy & Neurobiology. After completing the doctoral program, they return to the Chobanian & Avedisian SOM curriculum and receive the combined degree when their entire program is completed. The PhD portion of the combined degree consists of 24 units of required courses plus 4 units of seminar courses and electives. Typically, the program is completed in three to five years. Enrollment into the program is on a full-time basis only. Most students start the PhD portion in the fall, but spring enrollment can be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Learning Outcomes
The goals of the PhD in Anatomy & Neurobiology program are to provide trainees with the knowledge base and skills to become proficient in biomedical research and to develop outstanding pedagogic skills. Successful completion of these goals enables our students to pursue further studies in the biomedical sciences including teaching, research, and healthcare. At the conclusion of the program, students will be able to:

Demonstrate an understanding of the anatomical systems of the body, neuroscience, statistics, and other graduate-level anatomical sciences and neuroscience topics through successful completion of our core curriculum.
Demonstrate proficiency in pedagogical skills in the context of the Teaching in Biomedical Sciences course and through teaching fellowships in core medical and graduate student courses (as listed above).
Demonstrate proficiency in scientific data acquisition and analysis through mentored research in one of the department's research labs.
Describe and interpret scientific findings of their laboratory research study through the development of a written, publication-quality thesis.
Demonstrate an understanding of the professional skills (including an ability to read and interpret scientific literature) required of biomedical scientists and educators.

Applicants are expected to earn a bachelor's degree from a four-year college or university that is located in and accredited in the U.S. or Canada. Applicants who have not graduated from an accredited U.S. or Canadian institution, but who completed a minimum of two (2) years in such an institution, including all of the prerequisites, may be considered to be eligible and should bring the details of their record to the attention of the Committee on Admissions.
Those applicants who attend, or who have recently graduated from, an undergraduate institution or a post-baccalaureate premedical program which offers a Health Professions Advisory Committee letter should submit a letter from this committee.
Accepted students are required to request final official transcripts from all universities from which a degree was earned be sent to Boston University School of Medicine.
TOEFL iBT - 90 (With a Minimum 20 in each section)
A total/overall score of 7 or higher on IELTS will also satisfy BU's English Language proficiency requirement for all programs.