Admission Requirements

In addition to the Graduate College minimum requirements, applicants must meet the following program requirements:

• Students must meet the admissions criteria of both programs and are admitted separately to each through their respective applications. All students should contact the MS Program Coordinator who will explain the application process for MS CTS admissions.
• For students applying to both programs simultaneously, MS CTS admission will be contingent upon both admission to the MD program and the support of the College of Medicine dean of educational affairs. Prior to admitting students into the MS CTS degree, HPA will check with COM to determine whether the student has been accepted into the MD program.
• Admission to the MS CTS program will be determined based on the support of the College of Medicine dean of educational affairs, previous academic achievement, research potential, and commitment to CTS as evidenced by prior participation in clinical research.
• In addition to other application materials, joint degree applicants are also expected to submit the following:
• Letters of Recommendation Two required, one of which must be from a suitable clinical researcher who can attest to the applicant’s research abilities. Both letters of recommendation should address the following:
  1. the applicant’s previous achievements in research and/or academics;
  2. the applicant’s potential for successfully completing a clinical/translational research project;
  3. analysis of the applicant’s career plans and commitment to research, and
  4. how the joint degree would advance these plans.
• Personal Statement Applicants will also submit a personal statement detailing accomplishments to date, and career goals and plans. Specifically, applicants should address background information relevant to their interest in clinical and translational research, and how additional training through the MD/MS CTS Program would help achieve these goals. The applicant should provide any prior or ongoing research experience and explain how this might interface with the joint degree program.

Degree Requirements

In addition to the Graduate College minimum requirements, students must meet the following program requirements:

• Students in the program must satisfy the requirements of the MS CTS, a 48 semester hour program, and satisfy four years of the required medical degree program.
• For the MS CTS, students must adhere to all relevant Graduate College policies, including minimum GPA and limits on transfer credit.
• Minimum Semester Hours Required School of Public Health: MS CTS 48 semester hours. College of Medicine All Campuses: Specific course titles vary from campus to campus. This summary of hours by year is for the Chicago program:
  • M1 Year—42 credit hours, plus MS CTS workshops and seminars;
  • M2 Year—52 credit hours, plus MS CTS workshops and seminars;
  • M3 Year—50 credit hours, plus MS CTS workshops and seminars;
  • M4 Year—39 credit hours, with opportunity for shared hours, and attendance at MS CTS workshops and seminars.
• A maximum of 8 hours of credit of the required 16 hours mentored research (IPHS 598) may be applied as a research elective in M4 elective requirement. With proper planning and prior approval by the dean of educational affairs at the College of Medicine, joint degree students may receive additional credit toward the M4 electives by taking an advanced-level Public Health course.
• No more than 12 total hours will be allowed for shared course work.
• Course Work

• Joint degree students take HPA 590, which focuses on developing an answerable question, conducting a literature review, drafting specific aims, and understanding the components of a grant application. A draft NIH Small Research Grant (R03) will be the product of the course.
• Electives: 11 semester hours. With proper planning and prior approval by the School of Public Health, joint degree students may receive additional credit toward the MS CTS elective requirement by taking an approved nonclinical medical elective.
• Mentored Research Component 16 semester hours of required mentored research (IPHS 598), producing a paper that is a scholarly contribution to the field in the form of a journal article, pilot data for a grant application, and a thesis-defense of the paper/research and data. A maximum of 8 hours of the required 16 hours of mentored research (IPHS 598) may be applied as a research elective in M4 elective requirement.
• No more than 12 total hours will consist of shared course work.
• All students in the MD/MS CTS program pursue the joint degree at a full-time pace.