ILS Curriculum

Fall Semester Coursework

Required Courses

    • GRSC 8000 (variable credit). Research Techniques (i.e. Lab Rotations)
      • Students having prior experience with a lab (i.e. REU, UGA undergrad, Summer Bridge, volunteer) may consider these labs for a thesis lab even if the experience was not associated with the Fall rotation course.
      • Three 6-week rotations with ANY of our ILS-affiliated faculty members during the Fall term
      • 30+ hours of research per week is expected
      • Summer Bridge students have the following options for their rotation schedules:
        • 1 summer rotation followed by 2 longer than normal eight-week Fall rotations for a total of 3 rotation experiences.
        • 1 summer rotation followed by 3 standard six-week Fall rotations for a total of 4 rotation experiences. Any of the Fall rotations can be in the same lab as the summer experience (e.g. summer and 1st Fall rotation can be combined for an extra long rotation; 3rd rotation can be in the same lab as the summer experience for an early start to thesis research).
      • In advance of each rotation, the student will provide the ILS graduate coordinator with a form signed by both the rotation advisor and the student.
      • At the conclusion of a rotation, the faculty member should provide a recommended letter grade to the ILS graduate coordinator.
      • ILS policy allows students to disengage from a rotation within the 1st week of a rotation as long as a substitute rotation experience can be initiated in a timely fashion. This action does not require approval of the initial rotation advisor but does require permission of the new rotation advisor and either the ILS Program Director or Graduate Coordinator. A new rotation form should be completed and submitted to ILS in accordance with existing policy. Questions about this policy should be directed to the ILS Program Director or Graduate Coordinator.
      • The recommended rotation periods are:
        • mid-August – late September
        • last week of September – early November
        • early November – mid December
    • GRSC 8010 (1 hr). Rigor, Reproducibility, and Transparency.
      • 7-week discussion-based class.
      • Taught in the 1st half of Fall semester.
    • GRSC 8020 (2 hr). Critical Reading of the Primary Scientific Literature.
      • Semester-long discussion-based class emphasizing both foundation and emerging topics.  Multiple sections.
    • GRSC 8550 (1 hr). Responsible Conduct of Research.
      • 7-week discussion-based class
      • Taught in the 2nd half of Fall semester.
    • GRSC 7001 (1 hr) GradFIRST: First-year Research and Scholarship Training Seminar
      • Professional development and transdisciplinary training for first-year graduate students.
    • LLED 7768 (1 hr)  / LLED 7769 (1 hr). Conditionally required language development seminars.
      • For students lacking English language proficiency necessary for a TA assignment
      • The course(s) taken will depend on the student’s English proficiency; see here.

Elective Courses (Encouraged to choose only one)

  • GRSC 8200 (2 hr). Communicating Science and Scholarship

    • This semester-long class is designed to help students from all disciplines communicate their research and scholarship to non-specialized audiences. Students will develop a set of skills focused on: communicating across disciplines; using social media; working with journalists; and linking scholarship and policy.
  • GRSC 8220 (2 hr). Communicating Science and Scholarship
    • This semester-long class teaches you how to design and deliver effective scientific presentations. Four overarching perspectives of presentations will be covered: structure, visual aids, speech, and delivery. Although the course focuses on using slide sets to present scientific research, the concepts covered can also be applied to posters, chalk talks, speeches, and other modes of communication.
  • Grant Writing (various course numbers)
    • These semester-long classes teach grant-writing skills with the goal of preparing a fellowship or other grant proposal for submission to an external agency as part of the class.

Spring Semester Coursework

The second semester coursework is defined by the PhD graduate program.