UT Southwestern provides opportunities to prepare for careers in the biomedical sciences through study and research leading to the Ph.D. degree through the Division of Basic Science. Over 270 faculty offer training in genomics, cancer biology, computational biology, developmental biology, molecular genetics, structural biology, cell biology, chemical biology, systems biology, pharmacology, microbiology, neurosciences and immunology. The essence of education at UT Southwestern is an exciting research experience in an active, productive and critical scientific environment.

Prospective students apply to the Division of Basic Science rather than to the individual graduate programs.  Once accepted at UT Southwestern, our first year students take an 8 month core course covering major themes in modern biology.  During that first year they also explore potential research areas by participating in three research rotations.  Toward the end of the first year each student chooses a research topic and mentor and joins one of the eight programs in which their graduate studies will be completed.  Each program offers advanced coursework, taken during the second year of study to provide more in-depth knowledge of the fundamentals of the research area.