PhD Minors

All PhD students at Indiana University School of Medicine must select a minor. The requirement provides additional breadth and depth to the graduate curriculum. The minor consists of courses outside of the major department and may be in one of the other basic medical science departments or from one of a number of interdisciplinary minors, including diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular sciences and bioinformatics. Most minors require 12 credit hours of course work. In cases where less than 12 credit hours are required, students take additional elective courses from the department of focus.

Bioinformatics

A bioinformatics minor through the School of Informatics and Computing provides interdisciplinary training for doctoral students to conduct cutting-edge research in biomedical disciplines. The minor imparts knowledge of bioinformatics methods for solving genomic, proteomic and other biomedical and health-related problems.
Biomedical and Life Science Teaching and Learning

This interdisciplinary minor is designed to provide PhD students engaged in basic and translational biomedical research and associated studies an essential foundation related to teaching, curriculum, and pedagogy with a focus on inclusive teaching rooted in practices of scientific research.
Biostatistics

Enhancing analytic and data-based management skills, the biostatistics minor addresses the growing discipline of biostatistics.
Cancer/Cancer Biology

The Cancer/Cancer Biology minor is available through the IU Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center and joins credits outside a student’s major department.
Cardiovascular Sciences

Giving students with a comprehensive background in integrative cardiac, vascular, renal and pulmonary (patho)biology, the Cardiovascular Sciences PhD minor is offered by the Department of Cellular and Integrative Physiology.
Clinical Research

Providing students with an overview of clinical research by introducing them to core research concepts and skills, the Clinical Research PhD minor is offered by the Indiana CTSI.
Communicating Science

Connecting scientists and health professionals to policy makers, funders, students, professionals and the public, the Communicating Science PhD minor is a program of the IUPUI Department of Communication Studies.
Diabetes and Obesity

The Diabetes and Obesity PhD minor was developed to increase the number of scientists conducting basic research relevant to diabetes and obesity in order to address the severe and growing impact of diabetes in the United States. This education program is offered by the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.
Health Informatics

The Health Informatics PhD minor is offered through the School of Informatics and Computing to enable doctoral students in other disciplines to learn and use health informatics approaches to solve problems that arise in their academic careers.
Life Sciences

The Life Sciences PhD minor requires 12 credits of advanced graduate-level courses taken outside a student’s major department; six of these credits must be in a single department. Interested students should speak with advisory committee for information on this minor.
Medical and Molecular Genetics

The Genetics PhD minor involves completing 12 credit hours across a variety of courses focused on aspects of medical and molecular genetics. The required Basic Human Genetics course for this minor will cover basic genetic concepts with the student expanding their knowledge in either a life science path or informatics path.
Medical Neuroscience

The Medical Neuroscience PhD minor is designed for IUSM/IUPUI students in other PhD degree programs who are working on neuroscience-related research projects. The minor is offered by the Medical Neuroscience Graduate Program, and provides knowledge in both basic neuroscience concepts and specialty topics.
Microbiology and Immunology

Microbiology and Immunology are at the core of human health and disease, from emerging infectious diseases and the human microbiome to immunotherapy and personalized medicine. This minor will provide students with a background in Microbiology and Immunology, with an emphasis on the human immune system and microbial pathogens causing human disease.
Policy Analysis for Biomedical Sciences

This minor is designed to explore the fundamentals of policy analysis for those pursuing a career in science policy. The program blends classroom learning and a practicum. View the Policy Analysis for Biomedical Sciences description sheet for information on this minor and how to apply.
Therapeutic Development and Translation

The Therapeutic Development and Translation Doctoral Minor in the Department of Medicine, Division of Clinical Pharmacology prepares students for careers in biomedical science through learning about how new medicines are discovered, developed and approved for human use.