Programs for Graduate Students

Combined Program in the Biological and Biomedical Sciences (BBS)

The goal of the BBS program is to provide unified recruiting, admissions, and training for all bioscience graduate departments and programs on the central University campus and at the School of Medicine.  BBS recruited its first class in 1997 and annually admits approximately 75 students from a pool of 800+ applicants.  Approximately 470 students are currently pursuing doctoral degrees in one of 12 programs: Cell Biology; Cellular and Molecular Physiology; Computational Biology and Bioinformatics; Experimental Pathology; Genetics; Immunobiology; Microbiology; Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry; Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology; Neurobiology, Neuroscience and Pharmacology.

Biomedical and Translational Informatics

The interdepartmental training program in Computational Biology and Bioinformatics (CBB) offers both MS and PhD degrees through the BBS and recently admitted its fifth class of 4 students. Candidates for the PhD degree complete 3 graduate courses in computational biology and bioinformatics, 2 in the biological sciences, 2 in informatics, 2 additional courses in any of the three core areas, 3-4 research rotations, a CBB seminar series, and a one-semester seminar on research ethics. The course requirements of the terminal CBB MS degree are the same as those for the PhD, but this program omits the research rotations. This coming year, a CBB focus area in “Translational Informatics” will be inaugurated to attract students interested in the intersection of bioinformatics and disease.

Yale School of Public Health

This accredited school of public health also functions as a department (Epidemiology and Public Health [EPH]) within the School of Medicine. The School offers MPH, PhD, and MS degrees. 

The MPH program produces leaders in public health research and practice.  Students receive a broad education in public health and concentrate in one of 8 EPH divisions or programs (Biostatistics, Chronic Disease Epidemiology, Social and Behavioral Sciences, Environmental Health Sciences, Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Global Health, Health Policy, Health Management).  In 2005, 600 applicants applied for 123 positions.  A total of 250 students are currently enrolled.

MS in Epidemiology and Public Health, administered through the Graduate School, emphasizes mastery of skills in an individual specialty area within public health.  The MS program includes 2 Tracks, Biostatistics, which first admitted students in 2001, and Chronic Disease Epidemiology [CDE], which first admitted students in 2005. 

The PhD program, established in 1915 and administered through the Graduate School, provides mastery of research tools in a specialty discipline (Biostatistics, Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Health Policy and Administration, Chronic Disease Epidemiology, or Environmental Health Sciences).  The program involves 2 years of coursework and 2-3 years of dissertation research.

Yale School of Nursing

Founded in 1923, YSN is internationally known for excellence in clinical practice, teaching, and research. It currently ranks sixth in NIH funding among schools of nursing. YSN now grants the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) and Doctor of Nursing Science (DNSc) degrees; the DNSc program will become a PhD program in the fall of 2006. The MSN program offers nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist, and nurse midwifery specialties. The DNSc program prepares graduates for leadership roles in education, research, and clinical practice. Typically there are 300 applicants per year for 100 positions in the MSN and DNSc programs.