Integrated Biomedical Sciences: MS Program Progression
Year 1: Classes
The goal of course work in the first year is to expose students to the biomedical sciences in a logical progression and to provide the students with tools for approaching their future research experience. This broad-based approach to disease is the core of the Integrated Biomedical Sciences program.
Year 1: Adviser and Research Area Selection
During the first year, students will typically have one lab rotation. The laboratory rotation will expose students to a diverse research environment and allow them to assess how they fit into a particular laboratory or mentor situation. The rotation should be undertaken with a mentor who holds a faculty appointment in Rush Medical College. Students are expected to think critically, learn techniques and be fully engaged in the mentor’s lab. Based on this rotation, students will submit the name of a potential adviser to the program director for approval. Specific research projects will be determined by the thesis adviser after adviser-student discussions. If a student cannot choose a thesis adviser based on the first laboratory rotation, a second rotation must be approved by the program director and may be taken in the spring.
Year 2: Research Experience
Year two will be determined by the research. The student’s assessment at this time is related to the following learning outcomes:
- Acquisition of research skills, collection of data and data analysis, as well as interpretation of results related to research addressing original research question.
- Capable of independent critical thinking and writing, as well as proposing, performing and effectively presenting their research.
- Working collaboratively with other scientists, physicians and health care professionals, to provide and obtain feedback concerning the approach to research problems, data analysis and implications of research.
The student is encouraged to create an individual development plan (IDP) to better define their areas of interests, skills and values and discuss this plan with program director, adviser and thesis committee members.
Minimal Credit Hours Required for the Integrated Biomedical Sciences MS Degree
The program is designed to be completed in five consecutive terms and requires completion of at least 37 credits. These include 15 credits of core courses and the laboratory rotation, a research area-specific course and a minimum of twenty credits of Thesis Research.
The core curriculum focuses on developing knowledge and skills in research theories and methodology, data analysis and statistics, laboratory applications and skills, and the molecular and cellular sciences basic to health and disease. Students will each have a research project, write a thesis and give a thesis presentation at project completion.
The core curriculum, which is common to all students, builds knowledge and skills in research theories and methodology, data analysis and statistics, laboratory applications and skills, and the molecular and cellular sciences basic to health and disease. These courses will provide systematic exposure to the contemporary process of scientific discovery and will serve as the basis for the remainder of the curriculum.
Research Adviser Selection
During the first year, the student will select and complete one laboratory rotation. Based on this rotation, the student will identify an area of interest and submit the name of a potential adviser to the program director for approval.
Master’s Thesis Research Committee
After the student selects a research adviser and begins to collect preliminary data, the student and adviser will select a thesis committee. The research adviser and committee members must hold a faculty appointment in Rush Medical College. This committee will advise the students and evaluate their proposal and thesis documents.
The committee will consist of the adviser and two additional Rush Medical College faculty members. Committee members should be familiar with either the research area or crucial technical aspects of the student’s project. Committee members are intended to be a resource for the student and their adviser to enhance didactic and technical knowledge toward the completion of the student’s project.
The thesis committee will strive for consensus in all its actions; however, a majority vote of the committee’s membership is sufficient for all activities except the final approval of the thesis, in which case all voting members must agree with the final decision. The first committee meeting should take place within six months of its selection and approval.
The student is expected to write a thesis (format approved by the Center for Academic Excellence) and they present the work in a public forum attended by the thesis committee, university faculty and students. The thesis defense includes a deliberation to assess student knowledge in area. The chair of the thesis committee shall act as the moderator of the final examination, where each committee member is afforded the opportunity to ask questions of the students. After the examination is completed, the committee will then meet with the student in a closed session to address any additional questions and to deliberate on approval of the thesis.
All students will be required to submit the thesis to ProQuest to be eligible for graduation. Specific formatting guidelines are required as set forth by the Center for Academic Excellence. All students are encouraged to formulate their original research into a scientific journal article and submit the manuscript as a publication in a peer-reviewed journal.
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