Program Overview

M.S. in Skin Biology and Dermatological Sciences

The M.S. in Skin Biology and Dermatological Sciences program is designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of skin biology and dermatological sciences. The program offers a Hybrid Thesis Track, which requires an oral defense and a written paper evaluated and approved by the thesis committee.

Program Overview

The Hybrid Thesis Track is a 24-month program that includes 33 credit lecture courses in the first year, a minimum of 7 research credits, and the oral defense and written thesis paper in the second year. Students must reach out to the Program Director, Dr. Jie Li, before the first Fall semester to discuss plans.

Curriculum

The curriculum for the Hybrid Thesis Track is as follows:

First Summer Semester

• Course: DER600
  • Description: Cutaneous Biochemistry, Cell Biology and Genetics
  • Credits: 3 credits

First Fall Semester

• Course: DER 601
  • Description: Introduction to Dermatology
  • Credits: 1 credit
• Course: DER 603
  • Description: Skin Biology and Pathophysiology
  • Credits: 3 credits
• Course: DER 605
  • Description: Skin Microbiology and Immunology
  • Credits: 3 credits
• Course: DER 606
  • Description: Dermato-epidemiology
  • Credits: 2 credits
• Course: DER 631
  • Description: Advances in Dermatology
  • Credits: 1 credit
• Course: DER 641
  • Description: Frontiers in Sciences
  • Credits: 1 credit
• Course: DER 808
  • Description: Research Thesis
  • Credits: 1 credit

First Spring Semester

• Course: DER 607
  • Description: Dermatopharmacology
  • Credits: 2 credits
• Course: DER 608
  • Description: Photobiology and Photomedicine
  • Credits: 1 credit
• Course: DER 609
  • Description: Skin Carcinogenesis
  • Credits: 2 credits
• Course: DER 610
  • Description: Clinical Skin Diseases
  • Credits: 2 credits
• Course: DER 613
  • Description: Techniques in Skin Research
  • Credits: 1 credit
• Course: DER 622
  • Description: Introduction to Dermatopathology
  • Credits: 1 credit
• Course: DER 632
  • Description: Advances in Dermatology
  • Credits: 1 credit
• Course: DER 642
  • Description: Frontiers in Sciences
  • Credits: 1 credit
• Course: DER 808
  • Description: Research Thesis
  • Credits: 1 credit

Second Summer Semester

• Course: DER 611
  • Description: Visualizing the Skin
  • Credits: 2 credits
• Course: DER 612
  • Description: Grant Writing
  • Credits: 1 credit
• Course: DER 623
  • Description: Techniques in Skin Research-II
  • Credits: 1 credit
• Course: DER 614
  • Description: Innovation in Dermatology
  • Credits: 1 credit
• Course: DER 615
  • Description: Dermatology Health Care Delivery
  • Credits: 1 credit
• Course: DER 633
  • Description: Advances in Dermatology
  • Credits: 1 credit
• Course: DER 643
  • Description: Frontiers in Sciences
  • Credits: 1 credit
• Course: DER 663
  • Description: Research Rotation (optional)
  • Credits: 1 credit
• Course: DER 808
  • Description: Research Thesis
  • Credits: 1 credit

Second Fall Semester

• Course: DER 808
  • Description: Research Thesis
  • Credits: 1 credit

Second Spring Semester

• Course: DER 808
  • Description: Research Thesis
  • Credits: 1 credit

Third Summer Semester

• Course: DER 808
  • Description: Research Thesis
  • Credits: 1 credit

Thesis Requirements

A thesis requires an oral defense and a written paper evaluated and approved by the thesis committee. The student should distribute the written thesis paper to the thesis committee for preliminary approval at least 10 days prior to the oral defense. The oral defense is open to the university community and the public. The written paper should be of quality for peer-review publication as a first author or a co-author.