Master of Science Degree (non thesis option)

Accepting Students for the Fall 2009 Semester 

This program is designed for students who plan a career in medicine and want additional academic and research experience to strengthen their credentials. At least one and a half years of graduate study are necessary for the completion of the required course work, laboratory research rotation and preparation of a research report and a seminar. There are no departmental stipends for support of students in the M.S. program. However, research funds provided by faculty mentors may be available to support graduate students in this program while they are doing research. The program requires completion of a minimum of 30 credits hour of coursework.

Outline of Course Curriculum by Semester

Courses taught concurrent with those in the medical curriculum (*). 

Semester I, Year 1

Gross Anatomy I*
Microanatomy*
Scientific Communication and Ethics I
Seminar
Introduction to Research

First year students meet as a group with individual members of the graduate research faculty. This experience is designed to introduce students to the research being conducted in the department and to facilitate selection of a faculty research mentor. In addition, students are expected to attend departmental seminars.

Semester II, Year 1

Gross Anatomy II*
Medical Neuroscience*
Scientific Communication and Ethics II
Seminar
Research

Students are expected to select a topic for research in consultation with their research mentor and initiate their research project during this rotation.

Summer semester, Year 1

Research

Students are expected to continue their research project during this semester.

Comprehensive Examination
The University requires that a comprehensive examination be passed in order to obtain an M.S. degree. The Department requires that this examination be scheduled during the first year subsequent to successful completion of the required coursework. This written examination tests for the mastery of the knowledge obtained in the required courses and the ability to integrate that information.

Semester I, Year 2

Biometrical Methods

Research

Students continue working on their research projects during the first 10 weeks of the semester. In the remainder of the semester, students prepare a written research report (15 page minimum double-spaced not including figures or reference citations) that summarizes their research experience.

Seminar

Students present an oral summary of their research experience to the departmental faculty near the end of this semester that is evaluated by the faculty.