3.1.2 Supplemental Coursework
Each student will work closely with their Research Mentor and Academic Committee to create a customized plan of study that will enable the student to acquire the additional skills and knowledge to conduct research in their area of interest. The PhD-RS department keeps a working list of common courses taken by past students in the Student and Faculty Teams Channel as one resource. The equivalent of 9 credits (3 regular term courses) is the minimum requirement for supplemental coursework, but the actual number of courses/credits can exceed this minimum and will be determined for each individual student in consultation with their Academic Committee. Supplemental coursework may include selected courses at other institutions in the Boston area, as well as specifically designed/focused Independent Studies (RS-990, see next section) with faculty members/scientists (typically not the student’s mentor) who have expertise in the area(s) of interest. Students may apply up to 3 credits of Independent study or RS-970 mentored research experience (above and beyond the 6-credit core curriculum requirement) to the supplemental coursework plan. Independent studies and mentored research experiences together can comprise up to 3 credits of the 9 required supplemental coursework credits; at least 6 credits should be from graduate level courses at outside institutions or within the University. Approval of the Academic Committee is needed for more than 3 credits of independent study or mentored research experiences to be used toward supplemental coursework. Typical graduate level coursework from outside institutions includes upper-level statistics, research design, and methods courses with content that builds on or complements core PhD-RS coursework. An introductory scientific writing course or similar level course may not be used toward supplemental coursework. A Supplemental Coursework Plan is completed in collaboration with the Research Mentor and submitted as an initial draft to the Academic Committee for review and feedback, typically at the end of the second semester of study (Spring of Year 1; for SLP track – Spring of Year 2). All supplemental coursework can be taken for letter grade or as Pass/Fail. Revisions to the initial supplemental coursework plan draft over the first two years of study are expected to reflect plan evolution and ensure a robust training plan. A revised plan should be submitted for approval by the end of the second year of study (summer Y2; for SLP track – Summer Y3). A final Supplemental Coursework Form with Research Mentor signature should be submitted and approved prior to scheduling the Prospectus Meeting. If courses are taken outside of institutions with which the University has course sharing agreements, the cost of tuition will be the responsibility of the student (see 3.1.2.2 Transfer courses).