The admission requirements for each of the M.Sc. program areas in Medicine are described under Programs of Study.

1. The program of study for the M.Sc. in Medicine Degree is the responsibility of the Supervisory Committee composed of a Supervisor and at least two other faculty members.

2. It is the responsibility of the supervisory committee to meet regularly (at least annually) with the student and to provide guidance at all stages of the student's program. An annual report prepared by the Supervisor and signed by the student and all members of the committee is required to be submitted to the Assistant Dean of Research and Graduate Studies (Medicine).

3. Course requirements are set by each of the program areas and are described under Programs of Study.

4. In addition to courses and research, graduate students are expected to participate in Faculty of Medicine seminars and journal clubs.

5. The M.Sc. in Medicine requires the successful completion of a research project and a written thesis.

The Applied Health Services Research program is jointly offered by the University of New Brunswick (UNB), Memorial University of Newfoundland (MUN), Saint Mary’s University (SMU), and the University of Prince Edward Island (UPEI). Students will be educated in an interdisciplinary environment and will develop a substantive understanding of: the Canadian health system, the conduct of ethical research, critical appraisal, appropriateness of research design for particular policy questions and determinants of health models. They will also learn how to conduct research through completion of a thesis. Access to specific computer software and high-speed Internet is required and will be the responsibility of each student.

1. Administration

   1. An Advisory Board, consisting of the Deans of Graduate Studies, the Principals from each site, plus student representation as well as health care decision makers and stakeholders from the Atlantic Region will oversee the academic program across the Universities and ensure program integrity.

   2. A Program Management Committee, consisting of the Principals from UNB, Memorial University of Newfoundland, SMU, and UPEI will oversee the operation of the program.

   3. At Memorial University of Newfoundland, the program shall be administered through the Office of Research and Graduate Studies (Faculty of Medicine) by a Principal who shall be appointed by the Dean of Graduate Studies on the recommendation of the Dean, Faculty of Medicine.

2. Qualifications for Admission

   1. Admission is limited and competitive. To be considered for admission to the program, an applicant shall normally have a bachelor's degree with a minimum 75% average (or equivalent) from an institution recognized by the Senate. Normally, students should have completed an undergraduate course in statistics.

   2. Students are normally admitted to the Fall semester (September). The deadline for receipt of applications is March 1. Late applications will only be considered if admissions decisions have not yet been made.

3. Program Requirements

   1. There are two routes to completing the MSM (MED) Applied Health Services Research: a research (thesis) route and a course-based (professional) route. Students in the research route are required to complete three required courses, two elective courses, a two-day interactive workshop and a thesis. Students in the course-based route are required to complete three required courses, five elective courses, a two-day interactive workshop and a practicum or capstone project. All students are required to participate in monthly seminars throughout the fall and winter semesters.

   2. Prior to submission of the thesis to the School of Graduate Studies for examination (see General Regulation Theses and Reports), students in the thesis stream shall present an open seminar.

   3. The outline of programs of study are as follows:

The graduate program in Bioscience of Health and Disease offers study in fundamental cell and molecular biological areas including cancer biology and genomics, cellular growth and differentiation mechanisms, developmental biology, skeletal biology, stem cell biology, visual science, and biomedical imaging and spectroscopy.

1. Qualifications for Admission

   The admission requirements are as given under the General Regulations governing Master's degrees. All courses in the program have as a prerequisite, successful completion of an undergraduate degree.

2. Program Requirements

   All students are required to attend, for credit, and participate in the Bioscience of Health and Disease Seminar Series (MED 6400, 6401, 6402, and 6403). One other graduate course chosen from MED 6578, 6579, 6580, 6590, or 6591 is required for M.Sc. Medicine students although other courses may also be required in individual cases.

The graduate program in Cardiovascular and Renal Sciences enables students to pursue research and academic studies in selected topics including hypertension and stroke, neural and endothelial control of vasculature and blood pressure as well as physiological mechanisms promoting heart failure.

1. Qualifications for Admission

   The admission requirements are as given under the General Regulations governing Master's degrees.

2. Program Requirements

   Students will be required to take a minimum of two graduate courses. Basic Cardiovascular and Renal Physiology (MED 6140) is required and must be taken within 1.5 years after entry into the program. Students will chose a second course from MED 6141, 6142, 6143, 6144, or 6194 or any other graduate course approved by the student’s supervisory committee.

The program in Clinical Epidemiology is aimed at university graduates intending a career in health services, faculty members seeking advanced training in clinical epidemiology, medical doctors and other health care professionals interested in health research.

1. Qualifications for Admission

   The admission requirements are as given under the General Regulations governing Master's degrees. In exceptional circumstances, a professional equivalent qualification will be considered for admission.

2. Program Requirements

   1. Students are required to take: MED 6262, MED 6250, MED 6255, or MED 6260, plus a minimum of one elective. Electives are normally chosen from MED 6095, MED 6263 and MED 6265 as recommended by the supervisory committee and approved by the Coordinator. In addition students are required to take the Seminar Series (MED 6400, 6401, 6402 and 6403). MED 6250 and MED 6262 are normally completed in the Fall semester. MED 6255 and MED 6260 are normally completed in the Winter semester.

   2. Students are expected to give an oral presentation or course lecture in each year of their program.

The graduate program in Community Health enables students to pursue research and academic studies in selected topics including community health, epidemiology, socio-behavioural health, biostatistics, health services utilization, health policy, and health promotion.

1. Qualifications for Admission

   The admission requirements are as given under the General Regulations governing Master's degrees. In exceptional circumstances, a professional equivalent qualification will be considered. Students are expected to have successfully completed at least one basic university-level statistics course.

2. Program Requirements

   Students are required to take three core courses: MED 6220, MED 6270, and MED 6280; 2 core stream courses: either the quantitative stream, consisting of MED 6200 and MED 6275 or the qualitative stream, consisting of MED 6294 and MED 6102; and 1 elective; and to attend, for credit, and participate in four semester-length seminar courses (MED 6400-6403).

Graduate students of the Division of Community Health and Humanities may be required to participate in education experiences which occur outside of the St. John’s metropolitan area. Students may be responsible for their own associated transportation and accommodation.

The graduate program in Human Genetics & Genomics provides opportunities to pursue academic studies and research in a number of key areas including Mendelian and complex traits with a variety of approaches including molecular genetics, genomics and other omics applications, animal models, bioinformatics, genetic epidemiology, and population genetics. Our research is interdisciplinary with unique opportunities to apply skills to work with regional genetic isolates, as well as other populations, to explore the genetic and non-genetic determinants of health and diseases of global significance. Faculty members from all three divisions of the Faculty of Medicine (BioMedical Sciences, Community Health and Humanities, and the Clinical Disciplines) participate in the program.

1. Qualifications for Admission

   The admission requirements are as given under the General Regulations governing Master's degrees. Applicants with backgrounds in the fields of genetics, biochemistry and biology are preferred.

2. Program Requirements

   1. Students will be required to complete a minimum of two graduate courses. Within the Human Genetics program the following courses are offered: Human Molecular Genetics (MED 6393), Human Population Genetics (MED 6390), Applied Human Genetics (MED 6392), Cancer Genetics (MED 6394), Genetic Epidemiology (MED 6395) and Selected Topics in Human Genetics (MED 6391). In addition, there are a number of courses in other graduate programs which could be suitable for some students in this program, including Epidemiology I (MED 6270), Molecular Biology of Cancer (MED 6580), and Current Approaches to Biomedical Research (MED 6591). Course selection for each student is determined by the supervisory committee in consultation with the student and is based on the area of study and past course credits.

   2. Students must also participate in the Genetics Seminar Series (MED 6400, 6401, 6402, 6403) and are expected to participate in other Discipline of Genetics activities including an annual graduate student research forum.

The Immunology and Infectious Diseases group has an interdisciplinary character and consists of faculty from biomedical science. The graduate programs are designed to provide individualized training oriented towards basic research and a solid and scientific background in the discipline of immunology and infectious diseases.

1. Qualifications for Admission

   The admission requirements are as given under the General Regulations governing Master's degrees. A Bachelor of Science Degree or equivalent is required.

2. Program Requirements

   Students in the program are required to take a minimum of two courses. Students will choose from: MED 6114, MED 6119, MED 6127, MED 6128, MED 6580 or any other graduate course approved by the student’s supervisory committee. Some students may be required to take additional courses depending upon their thesis topic. All students are required to attend, for credit, and participate in the Immunology and Infectious Diseases Seminar Series (MED 6400-6403).

The Neuroscience Program offers graduate studies in an interdisciplinary setting including faculty from biomedical science within the Faculty of Medicine. Graduate students may pursue research in a number of specialty areas including the physiological basis of learning and memory, stroke and neuroplasticity, neuroregeneration, signal transduction mechanisms, neuronal circuitry, neuroimmunology, and membrane physiology.

1. Qualifications for Admission

   The admission requirements are as given under the General Regulations governing Master's degrees. It is expected that the students will have had courses in biochemistry, biology and/or psychology with some exposure to basic university-level statistics.

2. Program Requirements

   1. Students in the program are required to take Systems Neuroscience (MED 6196) and one other graduate level course. Additional courses may be required based on the recommendation of the supervisory committee.

   2. Students are expected to attend and participate in the activities of the neuroscience group including the weekly seminar and journal club.