Program Overview

Medical Physiology, MS

Overview

The Master of Science Program in Medical Physiology is designed for students with at least a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution who wish to move on to professional programs in health care fields including but not limited to medical school, dental school, physician assistant, occupational and physical therapy, anesthesia assistant, optometry, and podiatry programs.

Program Requirements

The program is flexible in duration. It can take as little as 1 year (3 semesters including summer) to complete the required 32 credit hours of coursework. However, students who wish to decompress the program can take 22 months or more to complete the requirements. Core courses and flexible electives allow students to focus their work in key areas of medical physiology. Graduates of the Medical Physiology MS Program also can pursue careers in basic and clinical research, research administration, teaching or management in academia, the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries, private research institutions, government science or regulatory agencies, or medicine and health care.

Course List

• Required Courses:
  • PHOL 481A: Medical Physiology (3 credit hours)
  • PHOL 481B: Medical Physiology (3 credit hours)
  • PHOL 481C: Medical Physiology (3 credit hours)
  • PHOL 481D: Medical Physiology (3 credit hours)
  • PHOL 483: Translational Physiology I (3 credit hours)
  • PHOL 484: Translational Physiology II (3 credit hours)
  • PHOL 498C: Physiology and Biophysics Department Seminar for Medical Physiology Students (1 credit hour)
  • PHOL 498D: Physiology MSMP Seminar B (Spring Semester) (1 credit hour)
  • PHOL 651: Thesis M.S. (12 credit hours)
• Electives:
  • PHOL 402A: Physiological Basis for Disease (3 credit hours)
  • PHOL 402B: Physiological Basis for Disease (3 credit hours)
  • PHOL 410: Basic Oxygen & Physiological Function (3 credit hours)
  • PHOL 421: Introduction to Aerospace Physiology I (3 credit hours)
  • PHOL 422: Introduction to Aerospace Physiology II (3 credit hours)
  • PHOL 423: Lab Research Rotation: Aerospace Physiology (3 credit hours)
  • PHOL 479: Clinical Reasoning: Applied Medical Physiology (3 credit hours)
  • PHOL 485: Comparative and Evolutionary Physiology (3 credit hours)
  • PHOL 486: Physiology of Movement: An Introduction to Exercise Physiology (3 credit hours)
  • PHOL 487: Exercise Physiology for Health and Disease (3 credit hours)
  • PHOL 492: Clinical Reasoning II (3 credit hours)
  • PHOL 614: Sleep Physiology - Neurobiology of Sleep/Wake (3 credit hours)
  • PHOL 620A: Clinical Observer: Neurology Service (2 credit hours)
  • PHOL 620B: Clinical Observer: Stroke Service (2 credit hours)
  • PHOL 620C: Clinical Observer: Epilepsy Service (2 credit hours)
  • PHOL 620D: Clinical Observer: Neurology (Neuromuscular) (2 credit hours)

Sample Plans of Study

Non-Thesis Option

• First Year:
  • Fall: PHOL 481A, PHOL 481B, PHOL 483, PHOL 498C (10 credit hours)
  • Spring: PHOL 481C, PHOL 481D, PHOL 484, PHOL 498D (10 credit hours)
• Second Year:
  • Fall: PHOL Electives (6 credit hours)
  • Spring: PHOL Electives (6 credit hours)
• Total Credit Hours: 32

Thesis Option

• First Year:
  • Fall: PHOL 481A, PHOL 481B, PHOL 483, PHOL 498C (10 credit hours)
  • Spring: PHOL 481C, PHOL 481D, PHOL 484, PHOL 498D (10 credit hours)
• Second Year:
  • Fall: PHOL 651 (6 credit hours)
  • Spring: PHOL 651 (6 credit hours)
• Total Credit Hours: 32

Dual Degree Options

• Business Administration, MBA/Medical Physiology, MS