Welcome to the University of Colorado at Denver and Health Sciences Center Biomedical Sciences Program admissions site. As members of our “umbrella” program you will have access to over 140 faculty in thirteen different PhD graduate programs. For more details, please visit the programs section of our site. When you submit your application, please select two programs in order of your preference. These selections will not limit your research choices if you are admitted as a BSP student. Rather your program selections will help us to find out more about your interests and ensure that when you interview, your visit will be as productive as possible.

The Biomedical Sciences Program (BSP) at the University of Colorado at Denver and Health Sciences Center Denver is an umbrella admissions process designed to provide incoming students with the greatest amount of flexibility in choosing a course of study. During their first year, BSP Fellows enroll in a comprehensive graduate core course, and selected electives in a discipline of their interest. BSP students also conduct three laboratory research rotations concurrent with their enrollment in the graduate core. Students may rotate with any three of the faculty that participate in the Biomedical Sciences Program.

At the end of the first year, following completion of the graduate core curriculum and a preliminary exam, BSP students will select a thesis mentor and join one of the following Ph.D. programs.

• Biochemistry & Molecular Genetics
• Computational Bioscience
• Biomolecular Structure
• Cell Biology, Stem Cells & Developmental Biology
• Cancer Biology
• Human Medical Genetics
• Immunology
• Microbiology
• Molecular Biology
• Neuroscience
• Pharmacology
• Physiology & Biophysics
• Reproductive Sciences

Required Coursework
All students are required to enroll in a comprehensive cell and molecular biology core course. Electives should be selected to fulfill the requirements of programs in which the student might be continuing their study the following year. Many electives may cover requirements for multiple programs. Please contact the programs you are interested in for information regarding their elective requirements.

Journal Club
BSP students are required to participate in a weekly journal club, guided and moderated by one or more of the BSP faculty. Each week, one student will present a brief summary review of a journal article relevant to the topic being studied each semester. The attending BSP students will participate in a guided discussion on the journal article.

Lab Rotations
Laboratory skills are necessary for successful completion of any of the participating Ph.D. programs. Three laboratory rotations are required of first-year students, running concurrently with their enrollment in the graduate core curriculum. First-year students may choose to perform laboratory rotations with any of the 140 faculty participating in the Biomedical Sciences Program. After acceptance into the program, rotations may begin during the summer semester previous to the start of the academic year. Most students, however, begin their first rotation fall semester. At the end of each rotation, students in the BSP present a short oral presentation on their work to the other students and faculty.

Thesis Research
A laboratory for thesis research is usually selected at the end of the first year from one of the three labs the students rotated with. Thesis requirements are outlined by individual programs and departments.

Preliminary and Qualifying Exams
At the end of the first year, BSP students take a preliminary exam that tests their academic progress. The graduate core curriculum provides the basis of the preliminary exam. Other sections of the preliminary exam are designed to test knowledge of elective requirements necessary for entrance into one of the thirteen Ph.D. programs. Please refer to individual programs for preliminary exam requirements. At some point during the second or third year, students must also take an oral qualifying exam in order to advance to candidacy for the Ph.D. degree.

Pre-Application Form
If you have not already done so, please fill out our Pre-Application Form. It gives us some information about who is interested in this program, and it also gives you a first chance to present some of your achievements. To fill out the form, click here.

Contact the Biomedical Sciences Program
To obtain more information about the Biomedical Sciences Program, please use the following address or telephone number:

Biomedical Sciences Program,
David Bentley, Ph.D., BSP Director
Anschutz Medical Campus
University of Colorado at Denver and Health Sciences Center Denver
Mail Stop 8112, PO Box 6511
Aurora , CO 80045

Tel: (303) 724-3278

You may also email Di Collingwood, the BSP Program Administrator, by sending an email to:
Dianna.Collingwood@uchsc.edu