Academic Standards

Consistent with the Biomedical Sciences Handbook, students enrolled in the Cellular & Integrative Physiology Graduate Program are required to maintain at the minimum a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.00. Students in our program are expected to obtain the grade of B or better in ALL Program courses taken. Students who fulfill the above requirements will be in good standing. Students are also expected to adhere to a high standard of professional conduct, including exhibiting integrity in both their academic and scientific endeavors and maintaining the highest levels of scientific citizenship and professional interactions.

Candidacy Requirements

Admission to the Cellular and Integrative Physiology Ph.D. program, and enrollment in graduate courses, does not of itself guarantee acceptance of the student as a candidate for a Ph.D. degree. To advance to doctoral candidacy a student must satisfactorily pass a qualifying examination.

The Ph.D. curriculum is a year-round program that must be undertaken with a full-time commitment. Based on previous experience, we have found that outside employment is incompatible with timely satisfactory progress in the graduate program and is strongly discouraged.

Financial Support

For the first two years, Ph.D. students are supported financially through the Graduate Research Office. Beginning in the third year, graduate students are supported from research grants that have been awarded to faculty members. The stipend ($28,000/year) is comparable to those in most other Physiology or Pharmacology graduate programs. In addition, the successful candidate receives health insurance, and a waiver of tuition and most University fees. These stipends are considered fellowships rather than pay for work performed, allowing the students to devote all of their time to the program of study. All Ph.D. students in the biomedical sciences receive financial support during their training, provided that they remain in good academic standing. Applicants for the Ph.D. program are automatically considered for financial aid by the Department of Physiology and Pharmacology; thus a separate application for financial aid is not necessary. More information can be found at: https://health.wvu.edu/research-and-graduate-education/graduate-education/phd-programs/biomedical-sciences/financial-aid-information/

Joint M.D./Ph.D. students also receive stipends, health insurance, and tuition waivers for both medical and graduate training.

Both Ph.D. and M.S. students may be eligible for loans. Please visit the WVU Financial Aid Office for more information.