M.S. Program (Non-Thesis)
GENERAL PROCEDURES AND REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF SCIENCE
IN THE DEPARTMENT OF PHYSIOLOGY AND BIOPHYSICS
PROGRAM OVERVIEW AND OBJECTIVES
The Department of Physiology and Biophysics is located in the Health Sciences Center of the University of Louisville which provides our graduate students with an active and intellectually stimulating environment. Our Graduate Program offers a Master of Science Degree to provide several career options: 1) to develop competence in directed research for advanced technical positions in industry, government, and university medical research laboratories; 2) to prepare students with a good general knowledge of human physiology to enable them to communicate physiological concepts to future students; and 3) to explore the possibility of a future career as an independent scientist in medically-related research.
The typical Master of Science (M.S.) Graduate Program includes a directed research emphasis and consists of thirty (30) semester hours typically over a twelve-month (3 semester) period to include the following: 21 credit hours of basic medical sciences and at least 9 credit hours of directed physiological research.
II. ADMISSION
A. APPLICATION PROCEDURES
The University of Louisville Graduate School catalog gives a general description of admission procedures. Application information can be found on the Graduate School website (www.graduate.louisville.edu). The following application items must be submitted to the Graduate School Admissions Office at the University of Louisville.
- One official transcript of the applicant's previous course work for each college or university that has been attended,
- A completed Graduate Application Form
- A non-returnable Application Fee made Payable to the University of Louisville
- Two letters of recommendation from people who are well acquainted with the applicant=s previous academic work
- Analytical, Verbal and Quantitative scores from the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or its equivalent
- TOEFL examination scores from foreign applicants from a non-English speaking country,
- A written statement (one typed double-spaced page) stating the applicant's personal background and current career interests.
B. ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
- A cumulative undergraduate grade point average that is usually 2.80 or higher on a scale of 4.0 (A=4. B=3, etc)
- A Graduate Record Examination Score which usually averages at the 40th percentile or higher in the verbal, quantitative and analytical sections. Satisfactory MCAT scores will also be accepted in lieu of the GRE.
- 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).
C. GRADUATE ADMISSIONS COMMITTEE (GAC)
The Departmental Graduate Admissions Committee shall consist of the Director of Graduate Admissions, who is appointed by the Departmental Chair and two other Departmental faculty members who are elected by the Departmental faculty for a three-year term.
D. PROCEDURES FOR DETERMINING ADMISSIONS
The Director of GAC will obtain and summarize the applicant's credentials Form 1). The GAC will review the application items and will determine if the student's qualifications warrant a Departmental interview. If so, interviews will be arranged by the Director of Graduate Admissions. The applicant will be interviewed by: One member of the GAC, the Department Chair or the Chair=s designee and other interested faculty members. If the applicant cannot come for an interview, then consideration of the application will proceed without the interview, or in some cases, by telephone interview. The GAC will submit the applicant's credentials to the full-time Departmental faculty for a vote.
Applicants will be admitted into the Program with affirmative votes from 2/3 of the full-time, voting Departmental faculty (i.e., full time faculty with primary appointment in the Department).
When an applicant is accepted into the Master of Science Program, the Department Chair will send an official letter of acceptance. The successful applicant must submit a letter indicating their intent to enroll in the Program. If the applicant is not admitted into the Program, the Chair of the GAC will communicate those results to the applicant.
III. MINIMAL REQUIREMENTS FOR THE MASTER'S DEGREE
A. ADVISORY SYSTEM
A full-time Graduate Faculty member of our Department or an associate with mentoring privileges will be selected to be the Principal Advisor by the student, with approval of the Departmental Director of Graduate Studies and the Department Chair. The selection of a mentor must be made prior to registration for the second semester. In cases where the Principal Advisor holds a primary appointment in a department other than the Department of Physiology and Biophysics, one of the Departmental faculty members must be selected as Co-Advisor by the Principal Advisor and the student. The Principal Advisor will have responsibility for determining the required program of academic studies for the degree of Master of Science with minimal requirements as defined below.
B. MINIMUM PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS
At least 30 semester hours beyond the Baccalaureate Degree are required for the degree of Master of Science. A maximum of 6 semester credit hours may be credited from post-baccalaureate work in other professional or graduate degree programs.
C. MINIMUM COURSE REQUIREMENTS
The typical M.S. Program must include the following courses taken on a grade basis:
Systemic Physiology I and II (PHZB 605 and 606) 8 CH
Biochemistry (BIOC 645, 647) or equivalent 8 CH
Research (PHZB 619) 9 CH
Seminar (PHZB 617- first fall and spring semesters) 2 CH
Experimental Physiology Laboratory (PHZB 625) 3 CH
ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE
A student must have at least a 3.0 accumulated GPA exclusive of research credit to be graduated with a degree of Master of Science in Physiology and Biophysics. In general, a student with a GPA less than 3.0 at the end of the second semester will require a 2/3 majority vote of the Departmental faculty to continue in the Program.
FINAL EXAMINATION
The M.S. student will take a Final Examination during the last semester of the M.S. Program. The Final Examination shall consist of a written and/or oral presentation of accomplished research. This exam may take the form of an oral presentation of a manuscript, or a detailed review of a selected topic.
A positive recommendation for the Master of Science Degree shall require a majority vote of the Final Examination Committee (consisting of at least the Principal Advisor who will serve as Chair and two additional members of the Graduate Faculty, one of whom is from outside the Department). The Committee must have been approved by Director of Graduate Studies, the Department Chair, and the Dean of the Graduate School prior to the Final Examination. This recommendation shall be made to the Dean of the Graduate School at least one week before graduation.
In the event of an unfavorable vote of the Final Examination Committee, the student may be considered for re-examination only by a recommendation of a 2/3 majority of the Departmental faculty.
APPLICATION PROCEDURES
APPLICATIONS ARE REQUESTED TO BE COMPLETE BY: July 1st (of each calendar year)
Submit all components directly to:
Office of Graduate Admissions
Houchens Building, Suite 105
University of Louisville
Louisville, KY 40292
Please be sure to include: your name, address, telephone(s) (FAX), e-mail, undergraduate institution/degree and UofL degree sought! YOU MUST PLACE THE CODE: PHZBGAC IN THE SUBJECT LINE!
- The applicant should send a letter or email of intent to the Graduate School which includes the applicant's name, address, telephone, e-mail, undergraduate institution with degree earned or anticipated and the Departmental Degree Program Sought.
- Master's degree applicants are required to have submitted a COMPLETED applicationto the Department prior to July 1st to allow processing time for program entry in the Fall.
- One official transcript of the applicant's previous coursework is required for each college or university that has been attended.Two letters of recommendation from people who are well acquainted with the applicant's previous academic work. (Forms are on Graduate School website)
- Scores of the GRE or MCAT forwarded directly to the Department.
- TOEFL Examination scores from foreign applicants from non-English speaking countries.
- A non-returnable application fee of $50 made payable to the University of Louisville.
- A written statement (one typed double-spaced page) stating the applicant's personal background, motivations and current career interests.
GENERAL INFORMATION
COURSES
The Department offers a variety of graduate courses including 2 semesters of 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://www.louisville.edu/vpf/bursar/student/tuition.htm
FINANCIAL AID
Students admitted to the Department of Physiology and Biophysics Ph.D. program are supported by financial aid with a fellowship or an assistantship. These students are given a stipend and full tuition remission for up to five years. Stipends are becoming more competitive with the 2001 estimated to be nearly $18,000! 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.
UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE
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 the 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
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.
LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY
The City of Louisville is located on the banks of the Ohio River and is the center of the largest metropolitan area in Kentucky. The city includes a mixture of elegant older homes, modern high-rise architecture and peaceful small suburbs. The rural areas of Kentucky and southern Indiana are easily accessible from the city and contain a number of state and national parks. Culturally, Louisville combines the advantages of a large city and a university town.
