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20260412890The PhD Program in Physiology, offered by the Faculty of Medicine at King Abdulaziz University, is an advanced academic program designed to qualify highly capable scientific and research cadres. The program aims to meet national and international needs by preparing distinguished lecturers and researchers with a competitive edge in the job market. It equips students with advanced knowledge of physiological principles, technical research skills, and critical thinking. Furthermore, the program is committed to delivering high-quality education, fostering scientific research and innovation, and driving meaningful community engagement, in alignment with quality standards and Saudi Vision 2030.
Excellence in education, scientific research, and community service in the field of physiology
The Department of Physiology is committed to providing a high-quality PhD program, promoting scientific research, and serving the community.
Last Modified Date: 29/07/2026 - 7:43 PM Saudi Arabia Time
| Course Code | Course | Credits | Prerequisites |
|---|---|---|---|
| PHYM900 | physiology 1 | 3 | - |
| Description | The "Physiology 1" course (PHYM 900) for PhD students provides in-depth learning on the normal structure and function of the human cardiorespiratory system and compares it with pathophysiological states. It enables students to evaluate how cardiorespiratory functions are altered in common diseases, establishing a strong foundation for understanding clinical disorders. Furthermore, the course emphasizes developing advanced research skills to synthesize updated literature on disease mechanisms, diagnosis, and management while adhering to ethical and scientific standards. | ||
| PHYM901 | physiology 2 | 3 | - |
| Description | The "Physiology 2" course (PHYM901) for PhD students provides an in-depth understanding of nervous system physiology as the primary control system of body and brain functions. It delivers up-to-date knowledge on core neurophysiological concepts and relevant clinical neuropathology. The course enables students to comprehend common neurological conditions and their underlying pathophysiological mechanisms. Additionally, it involves reviewing and discussing recent scientific publications within the field of neurophysiology. | ||
| PHYM902 | Physiology 3 | 4 | - |
| Description | The "Physiology III" course (PHYM 902) for PhD students focuses on the scientific study of body systems coordination during stressful conditions, such as acute infection, inflammation, and dehydration, to maintain proper homeostasis. It investigates novel mechanisms contributing to physiological stasis, including cellular and molecular biomarkers at pre-pathological stages for disorder prevention. Furthermore, students utilize advanced research methodologies—such as questionnaires, systematic reviews, or pilot studies—to achieve the course aims. | ||
| PHYM920 | Tutorials in Physiology | 2 | Physiology I - PHYM 900 and Physiology II - PHYM 901 |
| Description | The "Tutorials in Physiology" course (PHYM 920) provides PhD students with the opportunity to explore their thesis area of interest by reviewing prior research and relevant literature to build on their strengths. Students are encouraged to utilize advanced research methodologies—including systematic reviews, questionnaires, and pilot studies—to achieve the primary objectives of the course and support their dissertation plan. | ||
| PHYM930 | Updates in Physiology | 2 | - |
| Description | The "Updates in Physiology" course (PHYM 930) provides PhD candidates with the opportunity to explore, review, and present the most recent global advances in their specific area of interest. It offers students adequate time to critically appraise international publications relevant to their planned thesis topic. This process enhances their understanding of the theoretical framework, familiarizes them with commonly used research techniques, and helps them anticipate potential methodological challenges in their practical research. | ||
| PHYM940 | Cellular and Molecular Physiology | 2 | - |
| Description | The "Cellular and Molecular Physiology" course (PHYM 940) is offered during the first year of the PhD in Human Physiology program. It focuses on the functional aspects of cellular organelles, as understanding these processes has crucial implications for the management and treatment of chronic degenerative diseases, cancer, obesity, diabetes, autoimmune conditions, and genetic disorders. By the end of the course, students are expected to correlate cellular and molecular architecture with the overall functional integrity of the cell and body. | ||
| PHYM950 | Exercise Physiology | 2 | - |
| Description | The "Physiology of Exercise" course (PHYM950) for PhD students explores the physiological responses and adaptations of the human body to physical exercise. It covers core definitions, exercise classification (aerobic vs. non-aerobic), and the metabolic, biochemical, hormonal, neural, and cardiopulmonary responses to physical exertion. Additionally, the course outlines essential laboratory techniques used to assess system capacity during exercise and demonstrates the clinical applications of tailored exercise programs in managing chronic conditions such as cardiovascular diseases, metabolic syndrome, and diabetes. | ||
| PHYM960 | Geriatric Physiology | 2 | - |
| Description | The "Geriatric Physiology" course (PHYM 960) for PhD students delivers in-depth and up-to-date knowledge on aging physiology as well as age- and lifestyle-related decline. It explores the impact of aging across major physiological systems, including the cardiovascular, respiratory, musculoskeletal, and nervous systems. Additionally, the course covers the molecular, genetic, and cellular theories of aging, the failure of homeostatic mechanisms, geriatric pharmacology and nutrition, while developing research skills to critically analyze current literature on age-related disorders. | ||
| PHYM980 | Advanced Laboratory Skills | 2 | - |
| Description | The "Advanced Laboratory Skills in Physiology" course (PHYM 980) is designed to enable PhD students to execute advanced experimental techniques within a laboratory setting. Students conduct hands-on experiments in molecular and animal biology. The course consolidates understanding of the scientific method, experimental design, hypothesis testing, and lab safety. It also emphasizes maintaining lab notebooks, data analysis and interpretation, scientific report writing following standard research formats, referencing, research ethics, and academic integrity. | ||
| PHYM995 | Seminar in Physiology | 2 | Tutorials in Physiology - PHYM 920 |
| Description | The "Research Seminar in Physiology" course (PHYM 995) is an essential hands-on research experience where students identify a research topic, conduct comprehensive literature reviews, and develop a written Research Seminar Proposal. The seminar guides students through key stages of research design—from topic selection and methodology to data analysis, drawing conclusions, and scientific synthesis. As an ongoing practical course, students complete weekly tasks that are evaluated and discussed in group settings. By the end of the course, students are required to submit a research proposal and critically analyze a scientific paper of their choice. | ||
| PHYM996 | Special Topics1 | 2 | - |
| Description | The "Special Topic 1" course (PHYM 996) is a postgraduate course designed for PhD students, focusing on different study designs, reference management, academic writing, and navigating the international publication process. It aims to develop students' advanced research skills and reference management proficiency, equipping them to successfully manage manuscript submissions, peer-review procedures, and academic citation processes in international journals. | ||
| PHYM997 | Special Topics 2(Medical Translation) | 2 | - |
| Description | The "Special Topic 2: Translation of Medical Language" course (PHYM 997) for PhD students provides a brief introduction to the history and significance of medical translation. It covers the structure and elements of medical terminology and the methods for their accurate translation. The course offers practical training in translating various medical texts, research papers, and system-specific terminology between English and Arabic. Ultimately, it aims to expand basic medical knowledge in Arabic and equip students with effective tools to explain and communicate scientific medical data to the community. | ||
| PHYM999 | Thesis | 22 | يشترط إكمال 16 ساعة معتمدة تشمل المقررات الإلزامية والمقررات الاختيارية الخاصة ببرنامج الدكتوراه |
| Description | This course enables students to practically integrate research skills acquired throughout their physiology background to identify and address a specific research problem. Key developmental areas include academic writing, literature searching, hypothesis formulation, research question generation, selecting statistical analysis methods, and applying appropriate quantitative or qualitative methodologies to address the research question, ultimately leading to the defense and presentation of their research work. | ||
University Life
University life at King Abdulaziz University in Jeddah offers a vibrant environment that contributes to building the student's personality and enhancing their academic and professional skills. Its importance lies in developing leadership and social skills through various clubs, departments, and student and athletic activities, which fosters a spirit of innovation and responsibility, preparing students confidently for the labor market and community service.
Student Rights and Duties Guide for Students of King Abdulaziz University
The Student Rights and Duties Guide at King Abdulaziz University serves as an advisory reference aimed at informing students of their university rights and duties and enhancing their awareness of relevant laws and regulations, thereby contributing to a fair and equitable educational environment. The guide addresses students’ academic, service-related, and behavioral rights, as well as their duties and responsibilities within the University and the mechanisms for handling complaints and grievances, thereby promoting the principles of justice, integrity, and discipline and supporting a balanced relationship between students and the University within the approved regulatory frameworks.
King Abdulaziz University Student Values Guide
The University Student Values Guide is a King Abdulaziz University initiative promoting positive behavior, ethics, and institutional belonging among students. It instills core values, such as Taqwa, responsibility, tolerance, and respect, while providing practical guidelines for campus and digital environments. Ultimately, the guide fosters a culture of excellence and mutual respect, aligning with Saudi Vision 2030 to build human potential.
