Degree Detail
GSBS/SPH Dual Degree Program |
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Application for this degree program is available through the campus office.
This program combines the educational and research strengths of the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences (GSBS) with those of the School of Public Health (SPH) in a program that provides students with a strong knowledge of contemporary research methods and scientific foundations in both the biomedical sciences and public health. GOALS OF THE PROGRAMThe proposed program accomplishes several desirable goals for students interested in careers in biomedical science, clinical medicine and dentistry or public health. Many students who follow a program in basic biomedical science find themselves drawn to a career in the pharmaceutical, academic or public policy areas that involve public health issues. Similarly, some students who gain a degree in public health discover that they have inadequate preparation in the basic biomedical sciences. This dual degree program allows students to gain expertise in the fields of biomedical science and public health and thus produces graduates able to solve problems common to both fields and communicate effectively with the respective professional workforces. Examples of the potential value of this program include public health workers who understand the molecular biology of a pathogen who will be in a better position to analyze effective measures to help control the pathogen. Likewise, basic research scientists, working in an academic, pharmaceutical or biotech environment who understand the epidemiology of a pathogen will be in a better position to design experiments to critically assess ways of immobilizing or destroying the pathogen. Public health officials trained in this program will be academically grounded in biomedical science and will be better prepared to address the complex problems facing the public health workforce in New Jersey and in the nation. The program also benefits students interested in clinical careers by simultaneously preparing them for professional school while broadening their knowledge in public health, with the desired outcome of producing clinicians who are well trained in public health. It also allows students unsure of their career goals to explore their strengths and interests in basic science research and public health as they plan their professional paths. TARGET STUDENT POPULATIONThis combined degree program is directed towards individuals holding a baccalaureate degree in any discipline of study and who express an interest in public health. Applicants must have a background in biology, chemistry and physics. Undergraduate courses in biochemistry and molecular biology also would be useful, but will not be required. Some students may use the program as a terminal degree while others may use it as preparation to pursue the MD, DMD, PhD, or DrPH degrees. Positions that would find such a dual degree of benefit include:
PROGRAM DESCRIPTIONIndividually, the Master of Public Health degree program requires 45 credits and the Master of Biomedical Sciences degree program requires 30 credits. With approximately a 20% overlap of courses acceptable to each program, completion of the dual-degree program will require a minimum of 57 credits. To complete this proposed combined degree, the Master of Public Health portion will require completion of 15 credits of a public health core curriculum and 15 credits of specialization in Quantitative Methods. This program will accept 9 elective credits in biomedical sciences from GSBS, which have direct relevance to public health. The Master of Biomedical Sciences part of the program will require 21 credits in the biomedical sciences, composed of two 3-credit mandatory ﾓFundamentalsﾔ courses Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and Cellular Biology; 1 credit of seminar and 2 credits of laboratory rotation; and four 3-credit elective courses in biomedical sciences, at least one of which has direct public health relevance; and the program will accept 9 credits of coursework from the SPH. An interdisciplinary research/practice fieldwork project of 6 credits will be required of all students in the program. A table is attached that displays the course requirements for the dual degrees. The program will be offered to students who are enrolled either full-time or part-time. All courses included in this proposed program will be taken from courses currently offered by GSBS and SPH. In general, required courses will be completed in the first two semesters and the remaining coursework will be taken during the subsequent semesters. The anticipated length of the program is five semesters of fulltime study. The SPH offers core and QM courses in the evening during the spring, fall and summer semesters. Students who are available to take courses during the summer are encouraged to do so if they wish to speed the completion of the program. Those who wish to begin taking SPH courses after acceptance into the dual degree program, but before matriculation in August, may take SPH course by contacting the Newark Campus SPH office and completing a ﾓquickﾔ admit application form. The specific courses of specialization at GSBS will depend upon individual studentﾒs interests and background. Currently, students may use elective credits to focus their study in Pharmacological Sciences, Stem Cell Biology and Molecular Medicine, Biodefense or Bioinformatics. For the Master of Public Health degree program, students will major in Quantitative Methods, emphasizing Biostatistics, Epidemiology, Injury or Infectious Diseases. Other majors leading to the Master of Public Health degree may also be considered. PROGRAM BENEFITSThe dual-degree program has specific benefits:
ADMISSION TO THE PROGRAMApplicants apply for the dual-degree program to both the Master of Biomedical Sciences (at the GSBS) and Master of Public Health in Quantitative Methods (at the Newark Campus of the SPH) programs. Students will submit separate applications for the dual degree programs to each school; the GSBS and the SPH will share parts of the application (e.g. the studentﾒs official transcript and letters of recommendation) whenever possible. Each school will determine the suitability of the application to the dual degree program. Students may apply to each school simultaneously. Alternatively, some students will already be matriculated at one of the schools and then decide to pursue the dual degree. Students in either school may apply to the other school for the dual degree at any time prior to the completion of their penultimate semester in the degree program for which they were originally admitted. Admission into the dual Master of Biomedical Sciences/Master of Public Health program requires a strong score on the Verbal and Quantitative portions of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) and a superior undergraduate academic record of achievement. GSBS also requires that applicants have a basic background in biology and chemistry. REQUIREMENTSThe program requires a total of 57 credits with an overall ﾓBﾔ average and a research/public health practice project acceptable to both programs. The research/public health practice advisory committee will usually be composed of three members with representatives from both programs. The Biomedical Sciences program requires 21 credits (6 credits in two 3-credit mandatory ﾓFundamentalﾔ courses: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and Cell Biology; 1 credit in seminar and 2 credits in a lab rotation; and four 3 credit elective courses in biomedical sciences). The Public Health program requires 30 credits including 15 for core courses and 15 credits of specialization. Six credits of interdisciplinary fieldwork are also required. A list of available courses at the GSBS or SPH can be obtained at their respective web sites. The web address for the GSBS is: http://www.umdnj.edu/gsbsnweb and the web address of the SPH is http://sph.umdnj.edu. To download a copy of this narrative & schedule, click here. |
