There are eight program areas in the Faculty of Medicine: Applied Health Services Research, Cancer Research, Cardiovascular and Renal Science, Clinical Epidemiology, Community Health and Humanities, Human Genetics, Immunology and Infectious Diseases, and Neurosciences. Each program area has a Co-ordinator who is responsible to communicate the interests of the programs to the Faculty of Medicine Graduate Studies Committee and participates in the admission of graduate students into the program in Medicine.

The degree of Master of Science in Medicine (in all of the programs excluding the Applied Health Services Research Program) is offered in the Faculty of Medicine to full-time and part-time students. The Applied Health Services Research program is offered by full-time study only. The graduate diploma programs in Community Health and Humanities and Clinical Epidemiology are offered by part-time study only.

The following regulations will apply in conjunction with the General Regulations of the School of Graduate Studies.

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 candidate'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. In addition, all students will be required to complete GRAD 9991 (Graduate Research Integrity Program).

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

1. Applied Health Services Research

   The Applied Health Services Research program is jointly offered by the University of New Brunswick (UNB), Memorial University of Newfoundland (MUN), Dalhousie University (Dal), 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 gain first-hand exposure in a decision-making/policy environment and learn how to conduct research through completion of a thesis. Access to specific computer software and the 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 and Site Co-ordinators from UNB, Memorial University of Newfoundland, Dal 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. All students will be required to complete eight core courses, the Graduate Research Integrity Program, a four-month residency placement and a thesis. In addition, candidates must participate in five conference workshops each of one week duration.

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

      3. Outline of program of study:

      Semester 1 - Fall	Semester 2 - Winter	Semester 3 - Spring	Semester 4 - Fall	Semester 5 and 6 - Winter and Spring
      Workshop 1 Theme: Orientation to first year MED 6282 MED 6284 MED 6286 GRAD 9991 Workshop 2 Theme: Research Issues and Critical Appraisal	MED 6288 MED 6290 MED 6292 Workshop 3 Theme: Policy and Decision Making	Residency Placement: All candidates are required to complete a 16-week residency placement. The residency placement is negotiated by the Principal in consultation with the student and governed by the agreements outlined in the Atlantic Regional Training Centre residency manual. Workshop 4 Theme: Orientation to second year	MED 6293 MED 6294 or MED 6295 Workshop 5 Theme: Communication and Dissemination	Thesis, including public presentation

2. Cancer Research

   The graduate program in cancer research offers study in fundamental cell and molecular biological areas including viral oncogenesis, growth factors and oncogenes in developmental models, programmed cell death and drug resistance.

   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 advanced, upper-level biochemistry, biology or medical course, with an emphasis on molecular biology or medicine.

   2. Program Requirements

      1. All students are required to attend, for credit, and participate in the Cancer Research Journal Club (Cancer Seminars, MED 6400-6403) for a minimum of four semesters. One other graduate course (chosen from MED 6580, 6590, 6591, 6340, 6341 or 6342) is required for M.Sc. Medicine students although other courses may be required in individual cases.

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

3. Cardiovascular and Renal Science

   The graduate program in cardiovascular and renal science enables students to pursue research and academic studies in selected topics including hypertension and stroke, neural control of vasculature, heart and blood pressure. The faculty participating in the program consist of basic cardiovascular scientists and renal clinicians. Teaching within the program is integrated with the M.D. program.

   1. Qualifications for Admission

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

   2. Program Requirements

      1. 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 in the first year of the program. Students will chose a second course from MED 6141, 6142, 6143 or 6144.

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

4. Clinical Epidemiology

   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 health care professionals interested in health care delivery 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 four courses: Biostatistics I (MED 6200), Basic Clinical Epidemiology (MED 6250), Clinical Research Design (MED 6255) and Applied Data Analysis for Clinical Epidemiology (MED 6260). In addition students are required to attend scheduled epidemiology seminars.

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

5. Community Health and Humanities

   The graduate program in community health and humanities enables students to pursue research and academic studies in selected topics including community health and humanities, 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

      1. Students are required to take three core courses: Introduction to Community Health (MED 6220), Epidemiology I (MED 6270) and Community Health Research Methods (MED 6280); 2 core stream courses: either the quantitative stream, consisting of Biostatistics I (MED 6200) and Epidemiology II (MED 6275) or the qualitative stream, consisting of Advanced Qualitative Methods and Advanced Theory of Social Science and Health; and 1 elective; and to attend, for credit, and participate in four semester-length seminar courses (MED 6400-6403).

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

6. Human Genetics

   The graduate program in human genetics will enable students to pursue academic studies and research in a number of areas of genetics including cancer genetics, genetic epidemiology, gene mapping, medical genetics, birth defects and population genetics. Faculty members from all three divisions of the Faculty of Medicine (Basic Sciences, Community Health and Clinical Sciences) 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) 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), Molecular Biology I (MED 6590) and Molecular Biology II (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 are expected to participate in the activities of the genetics group. These include the weekly Journal Club/Research Discussion Group and the Genetics Seminar Series.

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

7. Immunology and Infectious Diseases

   The immunology and infectious diseases group has an interdisciplinary character and consists of faculty from biomedical science, clinical sciences and oncology research. The graduate programs are designed to provide individualized training oriented towards basic research and a solid 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

      1. Students in the program are required to take three core courses: Immunology I (MED 6127), Immunology II (MED 6128) and Advanced Immunological Methods (MED 6130). Some students may be required to take additional courses depending upon their thesis topic. The immunology course for pharmacy students (PHAR 4105) is a required course for students who have not previously taken an undergraduate immunology course. All students are required to attend, for credit, and participate in the Immunology Journal Club (MED 6400-6403) for a minimum of three semesters.

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

8. Neurosciences

   The Neuroscience Program offers graduate studies in an interdisciplinary setting including faculty from biomedical science within the Faculty of Medicine and Department of Psychology in the Faculty of Science. 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 and membrane physiology. The Neuroscience Program is a Chapter of the Society for Neuroscience.

   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 two core courses in Neuroscience: Cellular Neuroscience (MED 6197) and Systems Neuroscience (MED 6196). Some students may be required to take additional course work depending on their background qualifications.

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

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