Program: Medical Sciences, M.S.M.S. - University of South Florida

Apr 01, 2025

2024-2025 Graduate Catalog

Morsani College of Medicine
Department: Medical Sciences

Major Contacts, Deadlines, and Delivery Information

Concentrations:

Aging and Neuroscience
Anatomy
Health Science
Interdisciplinary Medical Sciences
Molecular Medicine
Research
Women’s Health

This program is offered online. (Note: Only the Health Science Concentration is offered 100% online)

The major is designed to provide students with advanced training in either Anatomy, Biochemistry, Medical Microbiology, or Pharmacology. Students successfully completing the major will have a foundation that will prepare them for a professional degree in biomedical science such as a M.D. or Ph.D. or qualify them to work as teachers or research assistants in academia or in the private sector. The major will provide a solid core of training in the latest findings, concepts, and experimental techniques. Students will be allowed to individualize their training through elective courses and will have the opportunity to conduct laboratory research. The major is intended for students who wish training beyond a baccalaureate degree but do not wish to commit to a Ph.D. major or do not meet the qualifications required for admissions into a M.D. or Ph.D. major.

Admission Information

Must meet University Admission and English Proficiency requirements, as well as requirements for admission to the major, listed below.

Completed pre-requisites in:
- General biology (1 year)
- General chemistry (1 year)
- General physics (1 year)
- Organic chemistry (1 year)
- Mathematics
MCAT or GRE or DAT preferred - contact biomed@usf.edu for more information
Application Procedures: https://health.usf.edu/medicine/graduatestudies/masters

Curriculum Requirements

Total Minimum hours - 31

Core Requirements - 5 Credit hours
Pre-Professional Track or Concentration - 26 Credit hours minimum

Core Requirements (5 Hours)

GMS 6871 Health Sciences Ethics Credit Hours: 2
GMS 6604 Human Structure and Function Credit Hours: 3

Select Pre-professional Track or Concentration

Students select either the Pre-Professional Track or one of the Concentrations:

Pre-Professional Track (27 hours)

Select from the following, in consultation with the advisor:

GMS 6605 Basic Medical Anatomy Credit Hours: 3
GMS 6630 Basic Medical Histology Credit Hours: 3
GMS 6201 Basic Medical Biochemistry Credit Hours: 3
GMS 6706 Basic Medical Neuroscience Credit Hours: 3
GMS 6012 Basic Medical Genetics Credit Hours: 3
GMS 6141 Basic Medical Immunology and Microbiology Credit Hours: 3
GMS 6440 Basic Medical Physiology Credit Hours: 3
GMS 6111 Basic Medical Pathology Credit Hours: 3
GMS 6505 Basic Medical Pharmacology Credit Hours: 3
GMS 6000 Medical Science Success Skills Credit Hours: 1-3
GMS 6671 A Brief History of Medical Sciences Credit Hours: 2

Aging and Neuroscience (27 hours)

Complete the following:

GMS 6771 Aging and Neuroscience Credit Hours: 3
GMS 6708 Neuroimmunology Credit Hours: 3
GMS 6706 Basic Medical Neuroscience Credit Hours: 3
GMS 7939 Graduate Seminar Credit Hours: 1 (Neurosurgery)
GMS 7910 Directed Research Credit Hours: 1-19 (Aging and Neuroscience - neurosurgery) - 5 credit hours
GMS 6773 Stem Cells and Brain Repair Credit Hours: 3 (Neurosurgery)
And select three courses from the following:
GMS 6091 Responsible Conduct in Research Credit Hours: 1
GMS 6067 Current Topics in Molecular Medicine Credit Hours: 1
GMS 6610 Advanced Neuroanatomy Credit Hours: 3-6
(4 credit hours)
GMS 6735 Neuropharmacology Credit Hours: 3

Anatomy (27 hours)

Complete the following:

GMS 6605 Basic Medical Anatomy Credit Hours: 3
GMS 6630 Basic Medical Histology Credit Hours: 3
GMS 6323 Pathology Case Studies 1 Credit Hours: 3
GMS 6610 Advanced Neuroanatomy Credit Hours: 3-6 (3 credit hours)
GMS 6326 Pathology Case Studies 4 Credit Hours: 3
GMS 6352 Forensic Pathology Credit Hours: 3
GMS 6609C Advanced Human Gross Anatomy Credit Hours: 3-6 (4 credit hours)
GMS 6612 Supervised Teaching in Human Anatomy Credit Hours: 1-3 (1 credit hour)
GMS 6324 Pathology Case Studies 2 Credit Hours: 2
OR
GMS 6601 Introduction to Laboratory Medicine and Diagnosis Credit Hours: 2
And select one course from the following:
GMS 6908 Medical Sciences Independent Study Credit Hours: 1-3 (2 credit hours)
GMS 6325 Pathology Case Studies 3 Credit Hours: 2
GMS 6671 A Brief History of Medical Sciences Credit Hours: 2
GMS 6950 Biomedical Science Communication and Instructional Skills Credit Hours: 2

Health Science (27 hours)

Complete the following:

GMS 6605 Basic Medical Anatomy Credit Hours: 3
GMS 6630 Basic Medical Histology Credit Hours: 3
GMS 6201 Basic Medical Biochemistry Credit Hours: 3
GMS 6706 Basic Medical Neuroscience Credit Hours: 3
GMS 6012 Basic Medical Genetics Credit Hours: 3
GMS 6141 Basic Medical Immunology and Microbiology Credit Hours: 3
GMS 6440 Basic Medical Physiology Credit Hours: 3
GMS 6111 Basic Medical Pathology Credit Hours: 3
GMS 6505 Basic Medical Pharmacology Credit Hours: 3

Interdisciplinary Medical Sciences (26 hours)

Complete the following:

GMS 6418 Core Principles and the Musculoskeletal System Credit Hours: 3-7 (3 credit hours)
GMS 6054 Cancer Biology Credit Hours: 3
GMS 6004 Introduction to Medical Sciences Credit Hours: 1-8
GMS 6707 Medical Neuroscience Credit Hours: 3-7 (6 credit hours)
GMS 6477 Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Systems Credit Hours: 3-6 (6 credit hours)
GMS 6419 Excretory, Endocrine and Reproductive Systems Credit Hours: 3-7

Molecular Medicine (27 hours)

Complete the following:

BCH 6627 Molecular Basis of Disease Credit Hours: 4
GMS 7910 Directed Research Credit Hours: 1-19 (9 credit hours)
BCH 6135C Methods in Molecular Biology Credit Hours: 4
GMS 7939 Graduate Seminar Credit Hours: 1 (2 credit hours)
GMS 6908 Medical Sciences Independent Study Credit Hours: 1-3 (2 credit hours)
And select two courses from the following:
GMS 6101 Molecular and Cellular Immunology Credit Hours: 3-4 (3 credit hours)
BCH 6746 Structural Biology Credit Hours: 3
BCH 6886 Fundamentals of Structural Bioinformatics Credit Hours: 4
PHC 6050 Biostatistics I Credit Hours: 3
GMS 6067 Current Topics in Molecular Medicine Credit Hours: 1 (1 credit hour)
GMS 6110 Microbial Pathogenesis and Host-Parasite Interactions Credit Hours: 3
GMS 6115 Medical Parasitology and Mycology Credit Hours: 3
BSC 6436 Introduction to Biotechnology Credit Hours: 3
GMS 6103 Foundations in Medical Microbiology and Immunology Credit Hours: 4
GMS 6107 Advances in Virology Credit Hours: 2
GMS 6068 Principles of Molecular Medicine Credit Hours: 4
GMS 6114 Vaccines and Applied Immunology Credit Hours: 2
GMS 6334 Pathobiology of Human Cancer Credit Hours: 3

Research (32 hours)

This concentration is by approval only; consult the Graduate Director for information

GMS 6001 Foundation in Biomedical Sciences Credit Hours: 4-8
GMS 6002 Success Skills in Biomedical Sciences Credit Hours: 1
GMS 6091 Responsible Conduct in Research Credit Hours: 1
GMS 6094 Experimental Design and Analysis Credit Hours: 3
BCH 6935 Grant Writing and Scientific Communication Credit Hours: 2
GMS 7910 Directed Research Credit Hours: 1-19
Remaining 13 credit hours are selected in consultation with the Graduate Director.

Women’s Health (27 hours)

Complete the following:

GMS 6380 Medicine and Gender Credit Hours: 3
GMS 6505 Basic Medical Pharmacology Credit Hours: 3
GMS 6452 Clinical Nutrition Credit Hours: 3
GMS 7910 Directed Research Credit Hours: 1-19 (Women’s Health) (3 credit hours)
GMS 6182 Introduction to Clinical Research Credit Hours: 3
GMS 6807 Epidemiology of Women’s Health Credit Hours: 3
GMS 6449 Complementary and Alternative Medicine Credit Hours: 3
And select two courses from the following list:
GMS 6605 Basic Medical Anatomy Credit Hours: 3 (online)
GMS 6201 Basic Medical Biochemistry Credit Hours: 3 (online)
GMS 6111 Basic Medical Pathology Credit Hours: 3 (online)
GMS 6440 Basic Medical Physiology Credit Hours: 3 (online)
GMS 6706 Basic Medical Neuroscience Credit Hours: 3
GMS 6012 Basic Medical Genetics Credit Hours: 3 (online)
GMS 6630 Basic Medical Histology Credit Hours: 3 (online)
GMS 6671 A Brief History of Medical Sciences Credit Hours: 2 (online)
GMS 6334 Pathobiology of Human Cancer Credit Hours: 3
GMS 6141 Basic Medical Immunology and Microbiology Credit Hours: 3 (online)
GMS 6908 Medical Sciences Independent Study Credit Hours: 1-3
GMS 6101 Molecular and Cellular Immunology Credit Hours: 3-4

Non-Thesis

This is a non-thesis program.

Comprehensive Exam

The Capstone Paper completed in the core course GMS 6871 in the last semester of the program serves in lieu of a Comprehensive Exam.