Academic Programs Catalog

The college’s graduate programs serve the need for trained medical educators and scientists. The college educates graduate students broadly in the basic subject matter pertaining to their chosen fields of study, trains them for teaching and research in specialized aspects of their field, and develops their independent and creative thinking abilities. The graduate study program for each student is arranged to suit individual needs within the general graduate regulations of the unit, college and university.

The college provides an opportunity for graduate study which emphasizes a single discipline or bridges multiple disciplines. The Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy degrees are attainable separately or together with the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree with the exception of the Master of Science Degree in Basic Medical Science. A Master of Science degree and Graduate Certificate in Global Health are also available. The college also provides opportunities for postdoctoral research training. Financial aid is available competitively for all levels of graduate study.

Disciplinary graduate degree programs are offered by the departments of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Microbiology, Genetics, and Immunology, Pharmacology and Toxicology, and Physiology. An interdisciplinary program may be arranged by combining the disciplinary graduate degree programs of two departments.  Other units in the college may provide tutelage and facilities for graduate training and arrange for a disciplinary graduate degree in cooperation with one of the departments that offer degree programs.

The four departments, listed above, offering graduate study programs are responsible to the College of Osteopathic Medicine jointly with other colleges. Whether a student's program is administratively associated with the College of Osteopathic Medicine depends on the nature of the proposed program and the career aspirations. A student accepted for admission by a given unit may apply for association with the College of Osteopathic Medicine.

The College of Osteopathic Medicine partners with the Eli Broad College of Business to offer a Master of Business Administration joint-degree program jointly administered by both colleges. For information about the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine and Master of Business Administration dual-degree program, contact the Associate Dean in either college.

The College of Osteopathic Medicine cooperates with the Colleges of Human Medicine, Nursing, and Social Science in offering the Master of Public Health in Public Health degree (M.P.H.), which is administered by the College of Human Medicine. For information about the Master of Public Health degree in Public Health, refer to the statement in the College of Human Medicine section of this catalog.

Students who are enrolled in the professional program that leads to the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree may elect specializations in Infancy and Early Childhood. For additional information, refer to the statement on Interdepartmental Graduate Specializations in Infancy and Early Childhood in the College of Social Science section of this catalog.

Master of Science

The Master of Science degree is offered by the college and the departments of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Pharmacology and Toxicology, and Physiology.

Attainment of a master's degree requires excellence in scholarly motivation and achievement. The programs for the degree emphasize a broad education and an introduction to research in a chosen field of study.

In addition to meeting the requirements of the University, students must meet the requirements specified below.

Admission

Admission to a master's degree program may be granted to a student who has a record of academic excellence and is acceptable to a unit and the college. Units may require applicants to take and submit the results of the Graduate Record Examination. An undergraduate major or its equivalent in an appropriate subject–matter field is required. Normally, a grade–point average of at least 3.00 in previous academic work is required for admission to regular status. Students with incomplete records, incomplete interpretation of available records, or minor deficiencies may be admitted to provisional status.

Requirements for the Degree

A major advisor is appointed, and a guidance committee may be appointed, with the consent of the student to help the student plan a program of study and research. A copy of the approved program is filed with the unit and the college.

The minimum number of credits required for the master's degree is 30, including 4 credits of master's thesis research for students enrolled under Plan A. A maximum of 10 credits may be authorized for thesis research. Upon the completion of the program and a report or thesis on the research, the student takes a final oral examination conducted by a faculty committee appointed by the unit chairperson. A committee report, including recommendations about further graduate study by the student, is filed with the unit chairperson and the dean.

Time Limit

The time limit for the completion of the master's degree is six calendar years from the beginning of the first semester in which credit was earned toward the degree.

Doctor of Philosophy

Attainment of the Doctor of Philosophy degree requires excellence in scholarship and comprehensive knowledge in a chosen field of study. Programs for the degree emphasize training for original research and teaching in a specialized aspect of the chosen field of study, the development of independent and creative thinking, and the completion of a dissertation that represents a new and significant contribution to knowledge. The departments of the college which offer programs leading to the Doctor of Philosophy degree are Biochemistry, Microbiology,  Pharmacology and Toxicology, and Physiology. 

In addition to meeting the requirements of the University, students must meet the requirements specified below.

The College of Natural Science administers an interdepartmental doctoral degree program in cell and molecular biology and an interdepartmental doctoral degree program in genetics.

Admission

Admission to a doctoral program may be granted to a student who has a record of academic excellence and is acceptable to a unit and the college. Units may require applicants to take and submit the results of the Graduate Record Examination. Normally, a grade–point average of at least 3.00 in previous academic work is required for admission to regular status. Students with incomplete records, incomplete interpretation of available records, or minor deficiencies may be admitted to provisional status.

A master's degree in an appropriate subject–matter field may be required for admission to a doctoral program. If a student is admitted without a master's degree, course credits equivalent to those earned for a master's degree are required as part of the doctoral program.

Guidance Committee

The guidance committee files a report with the unit. For the purpose of evaluating the final oral examination and the dissertation, the guidance committee may be supplemented by two additional faculty members appointed by the dean. A committee report, bearing the vote and signature of each member and the comments by any dissenting member, is filed with the unit and the college.