Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences

Mission Statement

The Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences provides an individualized, diverse and multidisciplinary learning environment for students to develop the knowledge, skills and creativity necessary to succeed in evolving biomedical disciplines.

Graduate Programs

The Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences  (GSBS) was established in 1972 and currently hosts doctoral programs in Biomedical Engineering, Health Sciences, Integrated Biomedical Sciences (IBMS), Nursing Science, Radiological Sciences and Translational Science. A Professional Doctorate in Medical Physics and Master’s degrees in Cell Systems and Anatomy, Clinical Investigation and Translational Science, Biomedical Engineering, Dental Hygiene, Dental Science, Immunology and Infection, Medical Health Physics, and Personalized Molecular Medicine are offered. Certificates in Biomedical Data Science, Cancer Prevention, Pre-Professional and Translational Science are also offered.  

The graduate programs leading to the Doctor of Philosophy degree in Nursing Science and the Doctor of Philosophy degree in Health Sciences are conducted by the faculty of the UT Health San Antonio's School of Nursing and School of Health Professions respectively and administered through the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences.  The Master of Science and Doctoral Programs in Biomedical Engineering are jointly offered by the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences at the UT Health San Antonio and the Graduate School at The University of Texas at San Antonio (UT-SA). The Translational Science Ph.D. (TS Ph.D.) program is a unique interdisciplinary, joint doctoral degree program involving four UT Institutions: The University of Texas at San Antonio, The University of Texas at Austin, The University of Texas School of Public Health, San Antonio Regional Campus and the UT Health San Antonio. A Master's program in Clinical Investigation and Translational Science is designed for graduate students and health care professionals interested in the design and conduct of clinical studies. Certificates in Cancer Prevention and in Translational Science are administered through the Master's program in Clinical Investigation and Translational Science. The Master's degree programs in Dental Science and Dental Hygiene are offered under the joint auspices of the university's School of Dentistry and the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences. A Pre-Professional certificate will provide opportunities for students to enhance their competitiveness when applying to medical school, and a new certificate in biomedical data science will address the ongoing explosion of biomedical data, such as Electronic Health/Medical Records, to improve our understanding of the mechanisms of disease and ultimately improve health care.

These academic programs offered by the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences are designed to provide a fundamental foundation of knowledge and scientific inquiry and enable the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences to assert its primary objective of educating students committed to the advancement of knowledge in contemporary areas of the biomedical sciences. Our educational and research faculty are housed in all six schools of UT Health San Antonio. A compelling aspect of graduate education in a health science center is the opportunity for graduate students to interface with health professionals with diverse technological and conceptual capabilities and perspectives in the biomedical sciences. These programs provide opportunities for graduate students to become competent in a specialized field, to attain excellence in the conduct of research, and to gain an understanding of the interdisciplinary nature of biomedical sciences. Our graduate programs are offered in a prominent academic health science center and provide an environment where scientific inquiry can synergize with the healing professions to guide our science in seeking solutions to even the most vexing biomedical issues plaguing mankind. Detailed information about these graduate programs is provided in this catalog.

The proof of accomplishment or enduring value of any educational process is evidenced in the demonstrated productivity and academic achievement of the graduates of the program. Without question, the doctoral and masters programs of the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences have, during the past four decades, achieved outstanding success in their educational mission of preparing professional scientists who function well in academic, industrial, and government sectors.

There is a diversity of talent, but also a unity of purpose in teaching and mentoring students in an exciting array of interdisciplinary and discipline-based fields of study and research. 

Committees on Graduate Studies (COGS)

Each program is supervised by a Committee on Graduate Studies (COGS) composed of the program director and representative members of the graduate faculty of that program. The COGS is responsible for establishing admission requirements specific to the program, recommending approval or denial of admission of applicants to the program, overseeing academic curricula, monitoring its students' academic progress in didactic and research activities, attesting eligibility for admission to candidacy for a degree, and verifying to the Graduate Faculty Council that the student has fulfilled all requirements for the awarding of the degree. Each graduate program shall have the primary responsibility for the conduct and administration of the program including the appointment of the COGS Chair, the administrative head of the program. The COGS Chair is the voting representative of the program on the Graduate Faculty Council and serves as the liaison officer between the COGS and the Graduate School Dean's Office on all matters pertaining to academic and student affairs. Once the COGS Chair is selected, the Graduate School Dean’s Office must be notified via an official memorandum of the decision within one week. 

In several graduate programs, a single graduate faculty member serves as both COGS Chair and graduate advisor. The graduate advisor serves as a counselor on academic matters and monitors the student's progress in (a) successfully completing contingencies of admission and course requirements of the program, and (b) selecting an area of research specialization. 

Graduate Faculty Council

The Graduate Faculty Council has the responsibility to establish and maintain policies and regulations on matters of graduate education common to all programs administered by the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences. These include such matters as general academic requirements for admission to graduate study and advancement to candidacy, for continuation of studies, and awarding of degrees; standards of student professional conduct; grading systems; graduate program review; and criteria for thesis and dissertation research, supervision of research, and defense of research. Each COGS is responsible for reporting program information to the Graduate Faculty Council and submits recommendations on various graduate program matters, including the submission of degrees, to the council for review and vote for approval.

The Dean of the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences is the administrative head of the graduate programs and serves as the Chair of the Graduate Faculty Council. Ex-officio nonvoting members of the council include the dean, the associate dean(s) of the Graduate School, the Assistant Dean(s) of the Graduate School, the Registrar, and one student representative elected by the Graduate Student Association. The voting members of the Council consist of the COGS chairs of each graduate program.