The Department of Physiology and Biophysics offers advanced training which leads to the degree of Masters of Science in Physiology and Biophysics.  The department provides each student with a wide selection of possible research and graduate education opportunities to give broad-based knowledge and experience in Physiology.

Successful completion of our departmental Masters of Science gaduate program can provide several career options:

• to develop competence in directed research and to develop a good general knowledge of physiology.
• to prepare for advanced technical positions in industry, government and university research laboratories.
• to explore the possibility of a future career as an independent scientist in medically-related research.

Admission Requirements

The requirements for admission are :

1. B.A., B.S. or an equivalent degree.
2. An overall grade point average of 2.8 or higher on a scale of 4.0 (A=4, B=3, etc.).
3. Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores which average at the 50th percentile or higher in verbal, quantitative and analytical sections.  Acceptance may be granted on the basis of the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT) scores or equivalent.
4. In the case of a foreign applicant from a non-English speaking country, the applicant must achieve a TOEFL examination score of 550 (paper) or 213 (computerized).

Submit all components directly to:

Office of Graduate Admissions
University of Louisville
Houchens Building, Suite 105
Louisville, KY 40292

Courses

The Department offers a variety of graduate courses including two semesters of systemic human physiology as well as an exciting seminar series and special topics courses.

Tuition

Tuition information is provided by the Bursar and is found at:  http://louisville.edu/vpf/bursar/student/tuition.htm.

Financial Aid

No departmental financial aid is available for M.S. students .

Financial Aid information in the form of loans provided by the University can be found within the finanacial aid website located at:  http://www.louisville.edu/student/services/fin-aid/.

Research Facilities

All faculty members have excellent research facilities equipped with state-of-the-art equipment.  Major items of available research equipment include intravital and fluorescent microscopes, computer data acquisition systems, image enhancement systems, cellular and molecular core facilities and a state-of-the-art instrumentation laboratory.  In addition, within the Health Science Center complex, the department has access to cold rooms, constant temperature rooms, liquid scintillation counters, a photography laboratory, a machine shop, and a state-of-the-art laboratory animal research facility that is AALAC approved.  The Kornhauser Library located on the Health Science Center campus contains the most current physiology and medical journals as well as an extensive collection of current books and monographs.

The University of Louisville dates back to 1798 and the Medical School is one of the oldest in the United States.  The Health Sciences Center includes  Schools of Medicine, Dentistry, Nursing and Public Health, the University Hospital, Regional Cancer Center,  the Ambulatory Care Center and the Eye Research Institute.  A number of nearby hospitals are also affiliated with the Health Sciences Center.

The Department of Physiology and Biophysics is located in a 14-story high-rise building which is devoted to basic science research and teaching.  The Department has modern, well equipped laboratories specifically designed for physiological research.  There are currently 21 faculty in the Department.  In addition, the department has many joint, associate and adjunct faculty who regularly contribute in the research and teaching endeavors of the department.

At least 30 semester hours beyond the baccalaureate degree are required for the degree of Masters of Science and at least 24 credit hours must have been earned at the University of Louisville.  A maximum of 12 semester hours of this requirement may be credited from post-baccalaureate work in other professional or graduate degree programs by a special request.

Minimum course requirements include:

• Systemic Physiology I and II (PHZB 605 and 606) or equivalent
• Graduate Biochemistry (BIOC 645 and 647) or equivalent
• Physiological Methods (PHZB 625)
• Seminars in Physiology (PHZB 617)
• Research (PHZB 619)

A typical Master's Program would be:

First Semester (Fall)

• Systemic Physiology I (PHZB 605, 4 cr)
• Graduate Biochemistry I (BIOC 645, 4 cr)
• Seminars in Physiology (PHZB 617.01, 2 cr)
• Physiological Methods (PHZB 625, 3 cr)
• Research (PHZB 619, 1 cr)
   

Second Semester (Spring)

• Systemic Physiology II (PHZB 606, 4 cr)
• Graduate Biochemistry II (BIOC 647, 4 cr)
• Seminars in Physiology (PHZB 617.01, 1 cr)
• Research (PHZB 619, 1 cr)
   

Third Semester (2nd Fall)

• Research (7 cr)
   

Fourth Semester (2nd Spring)

• Research (MAST)
• Degree Completion
• M.S. Final Exam (Formal Presentation)