Curriculum of the Postbaccalaureate Research Education Program (PREP)
A key aspect of the PREP is to expose students to, and prepare them for, the rigors of the graduate school curriculum. Therefore, all PREP students undertake a core curriculum. The pathway selected by the student determines the specific academic curriculum.
The Basic Biomedical Sciences Pathway
Students selecting the Basic Biomedical Sciences pathway undertake a core curriculum that emphasizes independent learning, critical thinking and evaluation of the primary research literature.
At the beginning of the program in July, students take an intense 3-week course, BBS748: Introduction to cellular metabolism and disease. The purpose of this course is to prepare entering Morningside Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences students to the independent learning, critical thinking and written communication skills that facilitate success in the graduate curriculum. This course consists of a combination of interactive lectures by Morningside Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences faculty and discussion of primary research literature relevant to the lecture topics.
In the spring semester, students take an advanced topics course in an area of specialization of their choosing. These courses typically consist of a combination of lectures and paper discussion sessions.
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The Population Health Sciences Pathway
PREP students selecting the Population Health Sciences Pathway have a curriculum tailored to their academic experiences and research goals. PREP students take foundation courses in Epidemiology, Research Methods, and Biostatistics. Typically, courses in the Population Health Sciences Program consist of small group lectures and discussions, student papers and presentations, and hands on exercises. Students develop skills in use of clinical and epidemiological databases. They develop their applied research skills working with a research mentor for the full year where they will contribute to the mentor’s work as well as develop an independent project.
Courses will be selected with the mentor. All PREP students must consider that some of the courses available have pre-requisites and students entering the courses must have met the prerequisites.
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