Medical University of SC, M.S., Biomedical Sciences
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ACAP 9/17/2020 2.c PROGRAM MODIFICATION PROPOSAL FORM Name of Institution: Medical University of South Carolina Briefly state the nature of the proposed modification (e.g., adding a new concentration, extending the program to a new site, curriculum change, etc.): The modification is proposed to better align the concentrations available for the MS Biomedical Sciences degree at MUSC with the comparable PhD degrees. This alignment will allow students who are on track for transitioning to the PhD to better reflect the focus of expertise; and it will allow current PhD students who wish to stop-out with the MS Biomedical Sciences degree to reflect the expertise they have acquired. Thus, the proposal seeks to: • deactivate one concentration • add one new concentration • rename one concentration These changes (1) fill a need that benefits students and their career pursuits, (2) do not present any redundant competition with other institutions, (3) do not require additional resources at MUSC, and (4) do not present additional costs to students. MUSC confirms that the program modification is a necessary and valuable change, despite disruptions in higher education caused by COVID-19. Current Name of Program (include degree designation and all concentrations, options, and tracks): Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences, CIP=26.0102 with nine concentrations: GM.MBS.ANAT MS in Biomedical Science - Anatomy & Cell Biology GM.MBS.BIOIN MS in Biomedical Science - Biomedical Informatics GM.MBS.BIOST MS in Biomedical Science - Biostatistics GM.MBS.BMB MS in Biomedical Science - Biochemistry & Molecular Biology GM.MBS.EPI MS in Biomedical Science - Epidemiology GM.MBS.MBIM MS in Biomedical Science - Microbiology & Immunology GM.MBS.NEURO MS in Biomedical Science - Neuroscience GM.MBS.PATH MS in Biomedical Science - Experimental Pathology & Laboratory Medicine GM.MBS.PCOL MS in Biomedical Science - Cell & Molecular Pharmacology & Experimental Therapeutics ACAP 9/17/2020 2.c Proposed Name of Program (include degree designation and all concentrations, options, and tracks): Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences, CIP=26.0102 with nine concentrations: RENAME TRACK MS in Biomedical Science – Regenerative Medicine & Cell Biology AND CHANGE CODE FROM GM.MBS.ANAT TO GM.MBS.RMCB GM.MBS.BIOIN MS in Biomedical Science - Biomedical Informatics Omit this track (no students are enrolled in this track) ADD NEW TRACK MS in Biomedical Science – Molecular and Cellular Biology and Pathology (MCBP) GM.MBS.BIOST MS in Biomedical Science – Biostatistics (B) GM.MBS.BMB MS in Biomedical Science - Biochemistry & Molecular Biology (BMB) GM.MBS.EPI MS in Biomedical Science – Epidemiology (E) GM.MBS.MBIM MS in Biomedical Science - Microbiology & Immunology (MI) GM.MBS.NEURO MS in Biomedical Science – Neuroscience (N) GM.MBS.PATH MS in Biomedical Science - Experimental Pathology & Laboratory Medicine (EPLM) GM.MBS.PCOL MS in Biomedical Science - Cell & Molecular Pharmacology & Experimental Therapeutics (CMPET) Program Designation: Associate’s Degree Master’s Degree Bachelor’s Degree: 4 Year Specialist Bachelor’s Degree: 5 Year Doctoral Degree: Research/Scholarship (e.g., Ph.D. and DMA) Doctoral Degree: Professional Practice (e.g., Ed.D., D.N.P., J.D., Pharm.D., and M.D.) Does the program currently qualify for supplemental Palmetto Fellows and LIFE Scholarship awards? Yes No ACAP 9/17/2020 2.c If No, should the program be considered for supplemental Palmetto Fellows and LIFE Scholarship awards? Yes No Proposed Date of Implementation: Fall 2020 CIP Code: 26.0102 Current delivery site(s) and modes: Medical University of South Carolina, 50501 Proposed delivery site(s) and modes: No change Program Contact Information (name, title, telephone number, and email address): Paula Traktman, PhD Dean, College of Graduate Studies Hirschmann Endowed Professor, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Medical University of South Carolina (843) 876-2405 [email protected] Institutional Approvals and Dates of Approval: College of Graduate Studies Council: 04/15/2020 Education Advisory Council: 06/22/2020 Provost's Council: 07/20/2020 Background Information Provide a detailed description of the proposed modification, including target audience, centrality to institutional mission, and relation to strategic plan. The proposed modification is a change that will facilitate students’ progress in the MS Biomedical Sciences degree to the PhD (if desired and eligible) and will facilitate efficiency and clarity for PhD students at MUSC who elect (or otherwise need) to stop out (aka off-ramp) with a MS Biomedical Sciences degree. The MS Biomedical Sciences concentrations (MUSC has one MS Biomedical Sciences degree with multiple concentrations) were developed historically separate from the individual PhD degree programs the university offers in biomedical sciences fields. With improved organization, communication, and accountability that has occurred to support students’ timely progress in their degree programs, it was revealed that those efforts would be facilitated by better aligning the concentrations of the MS Biomedical Sciences degree with the specific PhD degrees the university offers. Track to be changed Rationale GM.MBS.ANAT Regenerative Medicine & Cell Biology This track name change simply reflects the current (RMCB) name of the department which offers it, so that they (RENAME TRACK) are consistent to avoid confusion. GM.MBS.BIOIN Biomedical Informatics Deactivate No students have pursued this concentration. For students enrolled in the Joint PhD MUSC/Clemson Biomedical Data Science Informatics program who elect to stop out, they may apply for the MS BDSI program offered by Clemson University. We elect NOT to offer this as a concentration at MUSC since it would unnecessarily compete with the degree that Clemson offers. NEW TRACK Molecular and Cellular Biology and This new track creates an MS track option for the Pathology (MCBP) largest MUSC PhD program, Molecular and Cellular Biology and Pathology. It will utilize the same faculty as the PhD program, and MS students will attend related existing seminar courses. This track will also allow PhD students in this program who opt to earn a terminal MS degree to do so without changing tracks. Additional information about these changes is provided below Biomedical Informatics Track • Cumulative credit hour changes=0 • Existing courses for this track and credit hours=The core courses (15 credit hours) indicated on p 6 of the proposal and described below are unchanged (that is, they are still offered to students in the MSBS major)— the reason the Biomedical Informatics track is to no longer be offered is because it unnecessarily competes with Clemson University’s MS in Biomedical Data Sciences. Thus, we propose to eliminate this track as an option (and the retiring of this track reflects that the experimental portion of the education, appx 15 hours, 4 which is conducted in a specific laboratory, is no longer offered). No students are presently in this track, so no teach out is needed. • New courses for this track and credit hours=0 CGS*765. Proteins:Dynam Struct & Funct. This is the first module in the integrated curriculum "Biomolecular, Genetic and Cellular Essentials". 3 s.h. CGS*766. Genes: Inheritance/Expression. This is the second module in the new integrated curriculum "Biomolecular, Genetic and Cellular Essentials". 4 s.h. CGS*767. Cells:Organization/Communicat. This is the third module in the integrated curriculum "Biomolecular, Genetic and Cellular Essentials". 3 s.h. CGS*768. Techniques & Experimental Design. This course highlights essential tools and approaches required to achieve a high level of competency in biomedical research. Students will be exposed to the practical 'nuts and bolts' of a wide variety of molecular biology approaches spanning established basics, and timely new techniques. Course material will complement and align with scientific concepts covered in the Core Curriculum. This training is expected to provide students with foundational knowledge and an invaluable toolkit that will robustly enhance their ability to achieve scientific success. This course is for all incoming first year graduate and MS students in the Biomedical Sciences Program. 2 s.h. CGS*770. Principles Practices & Prof. This semester long course introduces graduate students to essential concepts in the practice of biomedical science, such as critical thinking, responsible conduct of research, reproducibility, transparency and rigor in science, and professional development. The course utilizes didactic lectures, group activities based on hypothesis development, student discussion of relevant literature, analysis of most appropriate funding mechanisms, and a range of skills focused on optimal development of career options.2 s.h. CGS*762. Scientific Writing for MBS. This course will assist Master's in Biomedical Sciences students in writing their research proposal and/or thesis in the summer between their first and second year. The course is designed to synthesize the knowledge and skills developed in research courses and apply them to the masters thesis process. Students learn about all aspects of the process of developing and carrying out masters thesis, and they gain an understanding of standards and expectations that students need to meet to be successful in completing the thesis writing process. Throughout the course, students are required to work closely with their major advisors, and committee as appropriate. The course will be taught in