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William D. Strampel, DEAN
The College of Osteopathic Medicine, established by charter in 1964 as the private Michigan College of Osteopathic Medicine, became a component college of Michigan State University by action of the state legislature in 1969. The college provides a professional osteopathic physician educational program leading to the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) degree. The college offers Master of Science (M.S.) and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree programs in its basic science departments. In addition, the college has a dual degree program that allows students who wish to become medical scientists to pursue a D.O. and a Ph.D. simultaneously. The college offers its preclinical education (first two years) at three sites: the East Lansing campus, the Detroit Medical Center, and the Macomb University Center in Clinton Township.
The basic science departments of the college are Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Pharmacology and Toxicology, and Physiology. The clinical departments are Family and Community Medicine, Neurology and Ophthalmology, Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine, Osteopathic Medical Specialties, Osteopathic Surgical Specialties, Pediatrics, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Psychiatry, and Radiology.
The college is integrated with 42 Michigan community hospitals in the Statewide Campus System for pre- and postdoctoral education.
The Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine is committed to excellence in osteopathic education, research and service through the Statewide Campus System. The college fully prepares osteopathic physicians to respond to public needs in a dynamic health care environment.
Osteopathic medicine embraces the following philosophic principles.
- There exists an intimate relationship between structure and function in the human body.
- Within this unity of organization, health is a reflection of an integrity of self–regulatory and self–healing mechanisms.
- The ability of the body to maintain this integrity in spite of an ever–changing external and internal environment is mediated through an elaborate homeostatic system, of which the circulatory and neuromusculoskeletal systems are important components.
- Certain distortions within these components reflect a level of disturbed health as a part of the process of disease.
- Some manifestations of these distortions are accessible within the neuromusculoskeletal system through the clinical use of osteopathic diagnostic procedures.
- Osteopathic medicine is dedicated to the amelioration of these disturbed structure–function relationships by the clinical application of osteopathic diagnostic and therapeutic skills developed within this distinctive orientation.
The college is dedicated to assisting in the solution of the ever–growing public demand for physicians who can provide comprehensive and continuing health care to all members of the family. While the educational program of the College of Osteopathic Medicine is geared primarily to the training of primary medicine physicians, the curriculum and educational programs are designed also to meet the continuing need for medical specialists and teacher–investigators. Traditionally, osteopathic education seeks to prepare physicians who are especially concerned with maintaining continuing personal relationships with patients, their families, and their optimum interaction with the community environmental patterns. This emphasis is reflected in the nature of the curriculum and particularly reinforced during clinical clerkship rotations through a variety of clinical disciplines in both hospital and non–hospital settings.
Early clinical involvement in patient care enables the students to study the biological and behavioral sciences that are relevant to what they are seeing and doing in the clinical area. With the help of the faculties in the biological and behavioral sciences, students learn to apply current concepts and principles to the clinical problems related to patient care. The entire teaching program emphasizes this important cooperative relationship between basic sciences and clinical practice.
The concepts of medical education of the college are consistent with osteopathic philosophy and are based on the following tenets:
- The focal point of the curriculum is patient care.
- The holistic nature of osteopathic medical care of patients in their environments requires the integration and application of the biological, clinical, social, and behavioral sciences.
- The basic sciences are not necessarily preclinical topics, but subjects that become meaningful and relevant when applied to the art and science of clinical osteopathic medicine.
- The students should have early and significant patient contact, and patient responsibility should increase progressively throughout the program.
- A level of performance to criteria is expected of all students in basic and clinical sciences including the art of palpatory diagnosis and manipulative therapy.
- Students must be prepared for more than utilization of present knowledge. During their medical undergraduate and graduate education they must develop the foundation and motivation for a lifetime of learning, and the ability to apply new knowledge and skills, including the appropriate use of technology and medical informatics, as they evolve.
The professional program leading to the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree is accredited by the American Osteopathic Association.
Admission
The science and practice of osteopathic medicine require an understanding of the relationships among the physical, biological, psychological, cultural, and environmental aspects of human behavior. Thus osteopathic education requires preparation in the natural, social, and behavioral sciences and the humanities. Candidates should be able to demonstrate their ability to work and think independently and in a scholarly manner.
Applicants for admission to the first–year class in the college must meet the following minimum requirements prior to enrollment:
- Completion of a four–year high school course or its equivalent acceptable for admission in a college or university accredited by a regional accrediting commission of higher education.
- Completion of at least three years (90 semester or 135 term credits) of college training in a college or university accredited by a regional accrediting commission of higher education.
- Completion of 8 semester or 12 term credits in each of the following areas with no grade below 2.0:
Biology—including both course work and laboratory work in general biology or general zoology
Inorganic chemistry—including lecture and laboratory work
Organic chemistry—including lecture and laboratory work
Physics—including course work and laboratory work in the study of mechanics, sound, heat, magnetism, electricity, and light.
Completion of 6 semester or 9 term credits in each of the following areas with no grade below 2.0:
English—including both oral and written English, and
Psycho—social–behavioral sciences including study of individual and/or group behaviors.
Completion of 3 semester or 4.5 term credits in each of the following areas with no grades below 2.0:
Genetics—course title must include the word 'genetics'.
Biochemistry. - The Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) must be taken by September of the year application is being made. Scores can not be more than 3 years old.
- Science and overall grade–point averages must be no less than B- (2.70 on a 4.00 scale) at the time the application is filed. (Normally, the grade–point averages of students who are admitted to the program are well above 3.20.)
- Suggested science course electives include anatomy, physiology, microbiology, histology, and statistics.
- Suggested medical humanities and ethics electives include course work in philosophy, history of medicine and medical ethics.
An application must be completed and all official transcripts submitted to the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine Application Service (AACOMAS), 6110 Executive Boulevard, Suite 405, Rockville, Maryland 20852: it is highly recommended that the application be submitted no later than June 1 of the application year for students who wish to begin classes the following spring. The Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine forwards to those students who pass the initial screening a secondary application which includes two evaluation forms that must be completed and returned to the college by the deadline specified. Early application is essential because the college admits its students on a rolling basis. Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine classes begin in late June. Most Admissions Committee reviews are conducted between September and March. Selection of students for the fall class and for the waiting list is completed by early April.
Students admitted to the College of Osteopathic Medicine without baccalaureate degrees but with 90 semester or 135 term credits of undergraduate work may elect to pursue a program leading to the Bachelor of Science degree. This degree may be earned by meeting the requirements of the university and completing satisfactorily the first year of the program of the College of Osteopathic Medicine.
Curriculum
The curriculum leading to the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) degree includes the preclerkship curriculum which consists of six semesters of on–campus courses, and the clinical clerkship curriculum consisting of six semesters (84 weeks) of community–based clinical courses. It is designed to meet the following educational objectives:
- To assist students in the integration of basic science, behavioral science, and clinical science concepts related to the tenets of osteopathic philosophy.
- To provide the student with comprehensive medical knowledge and skills which will serve as a foundation for a lifetime of learning.
- To produce osteopathic physicians with the skills necessary to enable them to enter graduate medical education in a primary care or a medical or surgery specialty program.
The curriculum is divided into two components: the preclerkship curriculum, presented in the first two years; and the clinical clerkship curriculum, scheduled in the third and fourth years. The first two semesters of the preclerkship curriculum focus on introductory basic science (anatomy, biochemistry, genetics, physiology, cell biology, microbiology, pathology, and pharmacology), courses. The following four semesters focus on the body systems (integumentary, neuromusculoskeletal, hematopoietic, cardiovascular, respiratory, urinary, gastrointestinal, endocrine, and reproductive) with instructional input provided by clinical, basic science, and behavioral science faculty. The core preclerkship courses are supplemented by osteopathic patient care, the young and old, and osteopathic manipulative medicine courses that are included in each semester of the preclerkship curriculum. Their learning objectives are integrated with the concurrently scheduled basic science and organ systems courses. In addition ethics, professionalism and law are covered.
The clinical clerkship curriculum includes 84 weeks of clinical training in community hospitals, clinics, and private practice offices affiliated with the college. The required clerkship courses include a 24-week primary care ambulatory curricular block that includes family medicine, internal medicine, pediatrics and surgery courses, 22 weeks of core hospital rotations (8 weeks of internal medicine, 4 weeks of general surgery, 4 weeks of obstetrics/gynecology, 4 weeks of emergency medicine, and 2 weeks of anesthesiology), and 4 weeks of psychiatry. In addition to the required courses, the student completes 14 weeks of selective medicine and surgery specialty courses with the college’s affiliated hospital network and has the opportunity to complete the remaining 20 weeks of clerkship elective courses within or outside of the college’s affiliated institutions.
Requirements for Graduation
To graduate from Michigan State University with a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) degree, a student must satisfactorily complete all required courses in the preclerkship and clerkship portions of the curriculum and pass both of the COMLEX-USA Level 2 examinations of the National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners.
In addition, each graduating student must receive the endorsement of the Committee on Student Evaluation and an affirmative vote from the faculty of the College. A copy of the Policy for Promotion, Retention and Graduation is available to each student on admission to the College of Osteopathic Medicine.
Graduate programs in the college have the objective of serving the national need for medical educators and scientists. To accomplish this objective, the college seeks to educate graduate students broadly in the basic subject matter pertaining to their chosen fields of study, train them for teaching and research in specialized aspects of their field, and develop their independent and creative thinking abilities. The graduate study program for each student is arranged to suit individual needs within the general graduate regulations of the unit, college, and university.
The college provides an opportunity for graduate study which emphasizes a single discipline or bridges multiple disciplines. The Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy degrees are attainable separately or together with the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree. The college also provides opportunities for postdoctoral research training. Financial aid is available competitively for all levels of graduate study.
Disciplinary graduate degree programs are offered by the departments of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Pharmacology and Toxicology, and Physiology. An interdisciplinary program may be arranged by combining the disciplinary graduate degree programs of two departments. Other units in the college may provide tutelage and facilities for graduate training and arrange for a disciplinary graduate degree in cooperation with one of the departments that offer degree programs.
The four departments, listed above, offering graduate study programs are responsible to the College of Osteopathic Medicine jointly with other colleges. Whether a student's program is administratively associated with the College of Osteopathic Medicine depends on the nature of the proposed program and the career aspirations. A student accepted for admission by a given unit may apply for association with the College of Osteopathic Medicine.
The College of Osteopathic Medicine cooperates in offering the Master of Arts degree in Education for the Health Professions, which is administered by the College of Education. For information about the Master of Arts degree in Education for the Health Professions, refer to the statement in the College of Education section of this catalog.
The College of Osteopathic Medicine cooperates with the Colleges of Human Medicine, Nursing, and Social Science in offering the Master of Public Health in Public Health degree (M.P.H.), which is administered by the College of Human Medicine. For information about the Master of Public Health degree in Public Health, refer to the statement in the College of Human Medicine section of this catalog.
Students who are enrolled in Master of Science degree programs in the Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics may elect a Specialization in Food Safety. For additional information, refer to the statement on the specialization in the College of Veterinary Medicine section of this catalog.
Students who are enrolled in the professional program that leads to the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree may elect specializations in Infancy and Early Childhood. For additional information, refer to the statement on Interdepartmental Graduate Specializations in Infancy and Early Childhood in the College of Social Science section of this catalog.
Master of Science
The Master of Science degree is offered by the departments of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Pharmacology and Toxicology, and Physiology.
Attainment of a master's degree requires excellence in scholarly motivation and achievement. The programs for the degree emphasize a broad education and an introduction to research in a chosen field of study.
In addition to meeting the requirements of the University, students must meet the requirements specified below.
Admission
Admission to a master's degree program may be granted to a student who has a record of academic excellence and is acceptable to a unit and the college. Units may require applicants to take and submit the results of the Graduate Record Examination. An undergraduate major or its equivalent in an appropriate subject–matter field is required. Normally, a grade–point average of at least 3.00 in previous academic work is required for admission to regular status. Students with incomplete records, incomplete interpretation of available records, or minor deficiencies may be admitted to provisional status.
Requirements for the Degree
A major advisor is appointed, and a guidance committee may be appointed, with the consent of the student to help the student plan a program of study and research. A copy of the approved program is filed with the unit and the college.
The minimum number of credits required for the master's degree is 30, including 4 credits of master's thesis research for students enrolled under Plan A. A maximum of 10 credits may be authorized for thesis research. Upon the completion of the program and a report or thesis on the research, the student takes a final oral examination conducted by a faculty committee appointed by the unit chairperson. A committee report, including recommendations about further graduate study by the student, is filed with the unit chairperson and the dean.
Time Limit
The time limit for the completion of the master's degree is six calendar years from the beginning of the first semester in which credit was earned toward the degree.
Doctor of Philosophy
Attainment of the Doctor of Philosophy degree requires excellence in scholarship and comprehensive knowledge in a chosen field of study. Programs for the degree emphasize training for original research and teaching in a specialized aspect of the chosen field of study, the development of independent and creative thinking, and the completion of a dissertation that represents a new and significant contribution to knowledge. The departments of the college which offer programs leading to the Doctor of Philosophy degree are Biochemistry, Microbiology, Pharmacology and Toxicology, and Physiology.
In addition to meeting the requirements of the University, students must meet the requirements specified below.
The College of Natural Science administers an interdepartmental doctoral degree program in cell and molecular biology and an interdepartmental doctoral degree program in genetics.
Admission
Admission to a doctoral program may be granted to a student who has a record of academic excellence and is acceptable to a unit and the college. Units may require applicants to take and submit the results of the Graduate Record Examination. Normally, a grade–point average of at least 3.00 in previous academic work is required for admission to regular status. Students with incomplete records, incomplete interpretation of available records, or minor deficiencies may be admitted to provisional status.
A master's degree in an appropriate subject–matter field may be required for admission to a doctoral program. If a student is admitted without a master's degree, course credits equivalent to those earned for a master's degree are required as part of the doctoral program.
Guidance Committee
The guidance committee files a report with the unit. For the purpose of evaluating the final oral examination and the dissertation, the guidance committee may be supplemented by two additional faculty members appointed by the dean. A committee report, bearing the vote and signature of each member and the comments by any dissenting member, is filed with the unit and the college.
The Dual Degree Medical Scientist Training Program is a special program for students who want to earn both a professional medical doctoral degree (Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine) and a graduate research doctoral degree (Doctor of Philosophy). The program seeks to meet a national need for physicians who are proficient in research as well as in medicine, and who will pursue careers as faculty members in medical schools and institutes.
The program is designed to select, educate, and train highly motivated students having outstanding research and academic qualifications. Trainees pursue medical and graduate studies in parallel, meet regularly with peers in seminars, and engage in medical and graduate level courses and clerkships, as well as in research with highly qualified mentors.
A student who is interested in this program should contact the office of the associate dean for research and advanced study in the College of Osteopathic Medicine.
For additional information, refer to the statement on Special Programs in the Graduate Education section of this catalog.
Postdoctoral training increasingly is necessary for students who want to pursue careers in biomedical research. The college offers individualized programs for such advanced graduate study in most of its units. Postdoctoral training is normally obtained with a faculty member who is established and productive in a particular area of research. Application, acceptance, and program are arranged by the student and the faculty member with the concurrence of the unit chairperson. Students who hold either the Ph.D or the D.O. degree are encouraged to consider further training in research, which may provide an alternative to a second doctoral degree as preparation for a career as a medical educator and scientist. Substantive financial aid is available competitively through fellowships and traineeships awarded to the student directly and associateships provided by the faculty member from a grant or contract. Usually, postdoctoral research training requires two years or more, and accomplishment is evidenced in the publication of articles in refereed scientific journals.
In addition to its disciplinary departments and interdisciplinary programs, the College provides certain specialized facilities such as the Carcinogenesis Laboratory, and the Department of Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine. Students who are pursuing Doctor of Philosophy degrees may make arrangements through their major departments to study in these facilities. Postdoctoral study in these facilities may be arranged with an appropriate faculty member.
A graduate study advisory committee represents the College faculty and provides advice and recommendations to the Dean on graduate study in the college.
The Institute for Research and Advanced Study serves to promote and foster research and graduate and postdoctoral study in the college. This Institute provides general information about predoctoral and postdoctoral study and refers interested persons to appropriate units or facilities for more specific information. This Institute also offers assistance in applying for extramural grants, contracts, and fellowships.
The Office for Graduate Medical Education and the Office of Continuing Medical Education, respectively, provide for medical postdoctoral clinical training and for continuing medical education customarily associated with professional certification and licensing requirements.
Thomas D. Sharkey, Chairperson
GRADUATE STUDY
The Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology is administered jointly by the colleges of Osteopathic Medicine, Human Medicine, and Natural Science. These colleges offer Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy degree programs with majors in biochemistry and molecular biology. In addition, the College of Natural Science offers a Doctor of Philosophy degree program with a major in biochemistry and molecular biology—environmental toxicology along with options for dual majors in a variety of disciplines. For additional information about the department and its graduate degree programs, refer to the statement on the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology in the College of Natural Science section of this catalog.
Students are encouraged to apply for admission to the Ph.D. program through the BioMolecular Science Gateway – First Year, where students choose a doctoral major from any of six Ph.D. programs: biochemistry and molecular biology, cell and molecular biology, genetics, microbiology and molecular genetics, pharmacology and toxicology, or physiology. For additional information refer to the College of Natural Science section of this catalog.
Carol Lynn Monson, Acting Chairperson
Family medicine is medical care provided by a primary care physician who becomes a partner with all family members to help them understand the ways to achieve comprehensive and continuing health care. This approach to medical practice embraces the concept of, and concern for, the whole patient and the impact of the patient’s environment upon health. This practitioner stresses health maintenance, diagnoses illness, undertakes treatment, institutes short-term and long-term follow-up care, and makes appropriate referrals to other health care providers.
The goal of family medicine is to develop a competent practitioner who can provide total medical care. The curriculum is built on the philosophy of early and continued exposure to clinical as well as didactic aspects of medicine through reinforcement and integration of classroom learning with clinical practices. Student physicians are introduced to a variety of health care settings through clinical training programs designed to provide them with a broad base of skills required to function in the field of family medicine.
The department, a unit within the College of Osteopathic Medicine, with the support of its Division of Research, is committed to conducting research in both clinical and medical education settings. Departmental research is broad-based and support for student research is an integral part of the departmental mission.
Walter Esselman, Chairperson
GRADUATE STUDY
The Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics is administered jointly by the colleges of Osteopathic Medicine, Human Medicine, Natural Science, and Veterinary Medicine. All four of these colleges offer a Master of Science degree in microbiology and molecular genetics and a Doctor of Philosophy degree in microbiology and molecular genetics. In addition, the College of Veterinary Medicine offers a Doctor of Philosophy degree program with a major in microbiology—environmental toxicology. For additional information about the department and its graduate degree programs, refer to the statement on the Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics in the College of Natural Science section of this catalog.
Students who are enrolled in Master of Science degree programs in the Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics may elect a Specialization in Food Safety. For additional information, refer to the statement on the specialization in the College of Veterinary Medicine section of this catalog.
David Kaufman, Chairperson
The Department of Neurology and Ophthalmology, established July 1, 2000, is an outgrowth of the former neuro-ophthalmology unit that has existed on campus since 1986. The department lead is through the College of Osteopathic Medicine. It offers dually accredited residency programs in neurology; fellowship programs in neuro-ophthalmology, stroke, neuro-intervention, neuro-physiology, and neuro-epidemiology; and clinical and research programs for medical and graduate students. The department received approval in 2002 for American Osteopathic Association (AOA) and Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) certification for the neurology residency. It also acts as Michigan State University’s Osteopathic Postgraduate Training Institution for statewide osteopathic residencies in neurology and ophthalmology.
Its broad research portfolio is supported by multiple National Institutes of Health (NIH) grants and other extramural funding. Major themes of the department’s research are to use the eye as a model for brain disease. It also has major research interest in stroke, neuro-intervention, neuro-degenerative disease, epilepsy and demyelinating disease. The department shares research and clinical faculty with affiliated clinical and research laboratories on the MSU campus and statewide. The clinical responsibilities of the department are fulfilled by on-campus neurologists, neuro-ophthalmologists, and ophthalmologists who have sub-specialty training in a number of difference disciplines of neurology. To enrich its research, clinical and educational programs, the department also collaborates with numerous clinicians statewide, nationally and internationally. MSU’s International Neurology, Psychiatry and Epidemiology Programs (INPEP) are administered through this unit and has outposts in several countries in sub-Saharan Africa.
Lisa A. DeStefano, Chairperson
The Department of Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine represents a specialty discipline within the College of Osteopathic Medicine. The primary responsibility of the department is to provide instruction to osteopathic medical students in the areas of osteopathic principles, practices and methods as part of their preparation for the practice of osteopathic medicine. This responsibility is fulfilled through the delivery of classroom, laboratory, hospital, and clinic programs that provide quality education and experience. The department also participates in the Statewide Campus System, providing clinical training at both the predoctoral and postgraduate medical education levels. In addition, the department is committed to research, high quality patient care, and continuing medical education programs to improve the quality, recognition, and delivery of osteopathic health care to the public.
Mary Jo Hughes, Chairperson
The Department of Osteopathic Medical Specialties is organized to represent general internal medicine and its major subspecialties in the College of Osteopathic Medicine. In addition, emergency medicine is housed as a section in the department. The basic responsibility of this department is to lead the education of students via a systems biology approach in the maintenance of health and in the recognition and treatment of disease, participate in the curriculum across the continuum of years 1-4 by participation and leadership in course offerings, maintainance of clinical practice venues in which to educate medical students, and participation and leadership in the education of adult learners through the continuum of graduate medical education and beyond. Department members also participate in the administration of the college and university where appropriate. The department is committed to clinical and basic science research on a local, national and international level; the development of continuing medical educational programs for the profession and the public; and to the broad mission of improved and efficient medical care.
Shirley A. Harding, Chairperson
The Department of Osteopathic Surgical Specialties focuses on anesthesiology/pain management and the surgery specialties of orthopedics, urology, obstetrics/gynecology, general surgery, cardiovascular/thoracic surgery, otorhinolaryngology, plastic and reconstructive surgery, and neurologic surgery. Students are trained in the surgical specialties through systems courses, hospital and office-based clerkships in the surgical specialties. Students are provided with a broad based surgical curriculum throughout our Statewide Campus System for postgraduate training within the multiple surgical specialties. In addition, the department is committed to developing and assisting in research programs, community health services, and continuing postgraduate education programs throughout the state. These contribute to the improvement of quality and efficiency of health services for the public.
Joel S. Greenberg, Chairperson
The Department of Pediatrics, a unit of the College of Osteopathic Medicine, is concerned with the health care of the developing infant, child, and adolescent. The primary responsibility of the department is to educate osteopathic students, interns, residents and physicians with didactic and clinical experiences in osteopathic medicine as they relate to this age group. The Department of Pediatrics has a commitment to develop primary care physicians who are responsive to the needs of the community.
The department is involved in many phases of primary pediatric care both locally and throughout the state. It has specialists in pediatric infectious disease and genetics and pediatricians with special interests in sports medicine, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, asthma, adolescent medicine, substance abuse, and chronic diseases which have broadened the scope of the department. Faculty members are involved in scholarly and research activities which provide opportunities for students and residents to participate in these areas.
William F. Jackson, Acting Chairperson
The Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology is administered jointly by the colleges of Human Medicine, Osteopathic Medicine, and Veterinary Medicine. The College of Veterinary Medicine is the primary administrative unit. All three colleges offer a Master of Science degree program in Laboratory Research in Pharmacology and Toxicology, a Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy degree program in Pharmacology and Toxicology, and a Graduate Certificate in Safety Pharmacology. A Master of Science degree in Integrative Pharmacology is also available for professional laboratory personnel. In addition, the College of Veterinary Medicine offers a Doctor of Philosophy degree program with a major in pharmacology and toxicology—environmental toxicology.
The department is responsible for teaching the fundamental and applied aspects of pharmacology and toxicology and offers courses at the undergraduate, professional, and graduate levels.
The graduate programs in pharmacology and toxicology are primarily designed to prepare students for careers in research, teaching, and related activities. Research interests vary from the effects of drugs and chemicals on macromolecules to their actions in humans. Research strengths include neuropharmacology neurotoxicology, cardiovascular pharmacology, chemical carcinogenesis, environmental toxicology, drug receptor pharmacology, gastrointestinal pharmacology, immunopharmacology, immunotoxicology, and integrative pharmacology.
Students who are enrolled in Master of Science degree programs in the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology may elect a Specialization in Food Safety. For additional information, refer to the statement on the specialization in the College of Veterinary Medicine section of this catalog.
The Master of Science degree in Integrative Pharmacology is primarily an online program designed to train individuals in whole animal and organ systems-level pharmacology as well as to develop skills in laboratory research and business acumen. The program provides advanced science knowledge and practical skills in integrative pharmacology and is designed for individuals who seek career advancement and leadership roles in academic, government or industrial laboratories. The Master of Science degree in Integrative Pharmacology is especially suited to those individuals with some professional experience in laboratory research, but all graduates of biology or chemistry programs will benefit. Course work provides freedom to explore those physiological systems that will allow students to continue to build upon their current research endeavors, while providing skills to interface with colleagues in regulatory affairs, production, and marketing. With the exception of Pharmacology and Toxicology 832, courses are offered online in order to provide full opportunity for students regardless of their geographic location or work schedules.
Master of Science
In addition to meeting the requirements of the university and of the colleges of Osteopathic Medicine, Human Medicine, or Veterinary Medicine, students must meet the requirements specified below.
Admission
Applicants will be accepted into the program after review of application materials by an admissions committee composed of faculty from the department. A faculty member in the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology will serve as the student’s academic advisor and chairperson of their guidance committee. The guidance committee will assist the student in planning the program of study that is related to the student’s interests and professional goals, and fulfills college and university requirements.
Applicants must have completed a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university, with at least 3 credits in chemistry and 3 credits in a biological science. Preference will be given to applicants with undergraduate degrees in biology, chemistry or related sciences and who are currently employed in an academic, government or industrial laboratory. A letter of intent and two letters of recommendation are required for consideration for admission.
Applicants who do not meet all of the requirements listed above may be admitted provisionally, and permitted to enroll for collateral course work, not to count toward the degree. The course work must be approved by the program director.
Requirements for the Master of Science Degree in Integrative Pharmacology
| The student must complete at least 31 credits under Plan B (without thesis). | |||||||
| 1. | All of the following courses (12 to 15 credits): | ||||||
| PHM | 819 | Principles of Drug-Tissue Interactions | 2 | ||||
| PHM | 830 | Experimental Design and Data Analysis | 3 | ||||
| PHM | 832 | Applied Integrative Pharmacology Laboratory | 4 | ||||
| PHM | 895 | Applied Project in Integrative Pharmacology | 3 to 6 | ||||
| 2. | Science electives (12 to 15 credits): | ||||||
| BLD | 830 | Concepts in Molecular Biology | 2 | ||||
| PHM | 430 | Human Pharmacology | 3 | ||||
| PHM | 450 | Introduction to Chemical Toxicology | 3 | ||||
| PHM | 813 | Cardiovascular Pharmacology | 3 | ||||
| PHM | 817 | Neurotoxicology | 2 | ||||
| PHM | 828 | Concepts in Carcinogenesis | 2 | ||||
| PHM | 829 | Neuropharmacology | 2 | ||||
| PHM | 831 | Endocrine Pharmacology and Toxicology | 2 | ||||
| PHM | 833 | Gastro-Intestinal and Liver Pharmacology and Toxicology | 2 | ||||
| PHM | 834 | Respiratory Pharmacology | 2 | ||||
| PHM | 835 | Biopharmaceuticals: From Development to Manufacturing | 3 | ||||
| PHM | 837 | Autonomic Pharmacology | 1 | ||||
| PHM | 840 | Safety Pharmacology | 2 | ||||
| PHM | 841 | Cellular and Molecular Toxicology | 3 | ||||
| VM | 812 | Food Safety Toxicology | 3 | ||||
| 3. | Professional electives (6 to 9 credits): | ||||||
| BLD | 842 | Managing Biomedical Laboratory Operations | 2 | ||||
| PHM | 659 | Regulatory Affairs and Project Management in Clinical Research | 3 | ||||
| PHM | 850 | Communications for Biomedical Researchers | 2 | ||||
| PHM | 851 | Intellectual Property and Patent Law for Biomedical Sciences | 2 | ||||
| PHM | 854 | Leadership and Team-Building for Biomedical Research | 2 | ||||
| PHM | 855 | The Business of Biomedical Research Organizations | 2 | ||||
| PHM | 857 | Project Management | 2 | ||||
| PHM | 858 | Project Management and the Drug Development Process | 3 | ||||
| Complete a significant, on-the-job project that addresses a research, theoretical or applied problem in whole animal or organ level pharmacology culminating in a written report, suitable for publication. Projects must be pre-approved by the student’s guidance committee. Students not currently employed in a biomedical research laboratory will be expected to participate in an internship in an academic, government or industrial laboratory to satisfy this requirement. | |||||||
Academic Standards
Students enrolled in the Master of Science degree in Integrative Pharmacology are expected to maintain a minimum cumulative grade-point average of 3.0. A student who does not maintain a 3.0 grade-point average will be placed on probation. Students will be given one year of enrollment to achieve a 3.0 cumulative grade-point average, otherwise, dismissal from the program may result.
In addition to meeting the requirements of the university and of the colleges of Osteopathic Medicine, Human Medicine, or Veterinary Medicine, students must meet the requirements specified below.
Admission
The program leading to the Master of Science degree is usually restricted to those persons who have a medical doctorate or who are concurrently enrolled in a medical doctoral program.
Requirements for the Master of Science Degree in Laboratory Research in Pharmacology and Toxicology
The Master of Science in Laboratory Research in Pharmacology and Toxicology serves to broaden the scope of professional training to encompass scientific inquiry.
The student must complete 30 credits under Plan A (with thesis) as approved by the student’s guidance committee.
The program is designed to train individuals in molecular, cellular and organ systems pharmacology and provides advanced science knowledge in pharmacology for individuals who are seeking additional academic qualifications that will facilitate their advancement in their place of employment and enhance their competitiveness for admission to other advanced degree programs. Online courses provide full opportunity for students regardless of their geographic location, work schedules, or family responsibilities.
In addition to meeting the requirements of the university and of the colleges of Osteopathic Medicine, Human Medicine, or Veterinary Medicine, students must meet the requirements specified below.
Admission
Applicants will be accepted into the program after review of application materials by an admissions committee composed of faculty from the department. A faculty member in the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology will serve as the student’s academic advisor and will assist the student in planning a program of study related to the student’s interests and professional goals. In addition, the student’s guidance committee will oversee the academic progress of each student.
Applicants must:
- have completed a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution.
- have earned at least 3 credits in chemistry and 3 credits in biological science.
- submit a letter of intent outlining the student’s interests and professional goals.
- submit two letters of recommendation.
- present evidence of competency in English if English is not the first language. Competency may be assessed with the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), International English Language Testing System (IELTS), or Michigan English Language Assessment Battery (MELAB) scores.
Preference will be given to applicants with undergraduate degrees in biology, chemistry, or related sciences.
Requirements for the Master of Science Degree in Pharmacology and Toxicology
The Master of Science degree program is available only under Plan B (without thesis) and is offered entirely online. The student must complete 31 credits as approved by the student’s guidance committee. Optional concentrations are available in pharmacology and in toxicology.
The student must:
| 1. | Complete all of the following core courses (7 credits): | |||||||
| PHM | 819 | Principles of Drug-Tissue Interactions | 2 | |||||
| PHM | 830 | Experimental Design and Data Analysis | 3 | |||||
| PHM | 980 | Problems | 2 | |||||
| 2. | Complete up to 24 credits of science electives chosen from the following: | |||||||
| BLD | 830 | Concepts in Molecular Biology | 2 | |||||
| HM | 803 | Epidemiology and Public Health | 3 | |||||
| HM | 806 | Environment Factors of Health | 3 | |||||
| HM | 833 | Introduction to Pharmaceutical Counterfeiting and Public Health | 3 | |||||
| PHM | 430 | Human Pharmacology | 3 | |||||
| PHM | 431 | Pharmacology of Drug Addition | 3 | |||||
| PHM | 450 | Introduction to Chemical Toxicology | 3 | |||||
| PHM | 813 | Cardiovascular Pharmacology and Toxicology | 3 | |||||
| PHM | 817 | Neurotoxicology | 2 | |||||
| PHM | 828 | Concepts in Carcinogenesis | 2 | |||||
| PHM | 829 | Neuropharmacology | 2 | |||||
| PHM | 831 | Endocrine Pharmacology and Toxicology | 2 | |||||
| PHM | 833 | Gastro-Intestinal and Liver Pharmacology and Toxicology | 2 | |||||
| PHM | 834 | Respiratory Pharmacology | 2 | |||||
| PHM | 835 | Biopharmaceuticals: From Development to Manufacturing | 3 | |||||
| PHM | 837 | Autonomic Pharmacology | 1 | |||||
| PHM | 840 | Safety Pharmacology | 2 | |||||
| PHM | 841 | Cellular and Molecular Toxicology | 3 | |||||
| VM | 812 | Food Safety Toxicology | 3 | |||||
| 3. | Complete no more than 5 credits of professional electives: | |||||||
| BLD | 842 | Managing Biomedical Laboratory Operations | 2 | |||||
| PHM | 850 | Communications for Biomedical Researchers | 2 | |||||
| PHM | 851 | Intellectual Property and Patent Law for Biomedical Sciences | 2 | |||||
| PHM | 854 | Leadership and Team-Building for Biomedical Research | 2 | |||||
| PHM | 855 | The Business of Biomedical Research Organizations | 2 | |||||
| PHM | 857 | Project Management | 2 | |||||
| PHM | 858 | Drug Development Process | 3 | |||||
| 4. | Completion of a final examination or evaluation. | |||||||
| Students who wish to complete a Pharmacology concentration must complete all core courses listed in item 1. above and the following: | ||||||||
| 1. | Complete 8 credits from the following: | |||||||
| HM | 833 | Introduction to Pharmaceutical Counterfeiting and Public Health | 3 | |||||
| PHM | 430 | Human Pharmacology | 3 | |||||
| PHM | 431 | Pharmacology of Drug Addition | 3 | |||||
| PHM | 829 | Neuropharmacology | 2 | |||||
| PHM | 834 | Respiratory Pharmacology | 2 | |||||
| PHM | 835 | Biopharmaceuticals: From Development to Manufacturing | 3 | |||||
| PHM | 837 | Autonomic Pharmacology | 1 | |||||
| 2. | Complete 10 credits from the following: | |||||||
| BLD | 830 | Concepts in Molecular Biology | 2 | |||||
| HM | 803 | Epidemiology and Public Health | 3 | |||||
| PHM | 813 | Cardiovascular Pharmacology and Toxicology | 3 | |||||
| PHM | 831 | Endocrine Pharmacology and Toxicology | 2 | |||||
| PHM | 833 | Gastro-Intestinal and Liver Pharmacology and Toxicology | 2 | |||||
| PHM | 840 | Safety Pharmacology | 2 | |||||
| 3. | Additional credits to total 31 credits chosen from science and professional electives noted above, with no more than 5 credits in professional electives. | |||||||
| Students who wish to complete a Toxicology concentration must complete all core courses listed in item 1. above and the following: | ||||||||
| 1. | Complete 8 credits from the following: | |||||||
| HM | 806 | Environment Factors of Health | 3 | |||||
| PHM | 450 | Introduction to Chemical Toxicology | 3 | |||||
| PHM | 817 | Neurotoxicology | 2 | |||||
| PHM | 828 | Concepts in Carcinogenesis | 2 | |||||
| PHM | 841 | Cellular and Molecular Toxicology | 3 | |||||
| VM | 812 | Food Safety Toxicology | 3 | |||||
| 2. | Complete 10 credits from the following: | |||||||
| BLD | 830 | Concepts in Molecular Biology | 2 | |||||
| HM | 803 | Epidemiology and Public Health | 3 | |||||
| PHM | 813 | Cardiovascular Pharmacology and Toxicology | 3 | |||||
| PHM | 831 | Endocrine Pharmacology and Toxicology | 2 | |||||
| PHM | 833 | Gastro-Intestinal and Liver Pharmacology and Toxicology | 2 | |||||
| PHM | 840 | Safety Pharmacology | 2 | |||||
| 3. | Additional credits to total 31 credits chosen from science and professional electives noted above, with no more than 5 credits in professional electives. | |||||||
Academic Standards
Students enrolled in the Master of Science degree in Pharmacology and Toxicology are expected to maintain a minimum cumulative grade-point average of 3.0. A student who does not maintain a 3.0 grade-point average will be placed on probation and given one year of enrollment to achieve a 3.0 cumulative grade-point average, or dismissal from the program may result.
In addition to meeting the requirements of the university and of the colleges of Osteopathic Medicine, Human Medicine, or Veterinary Medicine, students must meet the requirements specified below.
Admission
An applicant for admission to the doctoral program must hold a bachelor's degree from an accredited four–year university or college and have a grade–point average of approximately 3.40 for the last two years of undergraduate study. Persons holding a master's degree also may apply for admission to the program.
All applicants must take the Graduate Record Examination General Test. A Subject Test is not required. All test scores must be submitted to the department.
Requirements for the Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Pharmacology and Toxicology
During the first two years of the program, the primary objective is to provide students with a firm foundation and a broad background from which they may specialize in a more sharply delineated aspect of the discipline. This objective is accomplished in two ways: (1) specific course requirements including biometry, physiology, biochemistry, and pharmacology and (2) laboratory rotations with two different faculty members during the first year.
The comprehensive preliminary examination is given by the end of the second year. It consists of a written examination and an oral presentation of the dissertation proposal to the student's dissertation committee.
The potential areas of specialization for dissertation research are limited to those areas which are afforded by the research interests of the faculty.
Approximately four and one–half calendar years of study beyond the bachelor's degree are needed to meet the requirements.
Academic Standards
A candidate must maintain at least a 3.00 grade–point average in all academic work and may not receive more than three grades below 3.0.
Admission
To be considered for admission to the Graduate Certificate in Safety Pharmacology, students must:
- Have a bachelor’s degree with at least one course in biology and one course in chemistry.
- Write a reflective essay about why this certificate program would be well-suited for their future work.
Requirements for the Graduate Certificate in Safety Pharmacology
Students must complete a minimum of 11 credits from the following courses (11 credits):
| 1. | All of the following courses (7 credits): | ||||||
| PHM | 819 | Principles of Drug-Tissue Interactions | 2 | ||||
| PHM | 858 | Drug Development Process | 3 | ||||
| PHM | 840 | Safety Pharmacology | 2 | ||||
| 2. | At least 4 credits chosen from the following courses (4 credits): | ||||||
| PHM | 431 | Pharmacology of Drug Addiction | 3 | ||||
| PHM | 450 | Introduction to Chemical Toxicology | 3 | ||||
| PHM | 813 | Cardiovascular Pharmacology and Toxicology | 3 | ||||
| PHM | 817 | Neurotoxicology | 2 | ||||
| PHM | 829 | Neuropharmacology | 2 | ||||
| PHM | 830 | Experimental Design and Data Analysis | 3 | ||||
| PHM | 831 | Endocrine Pharmacology and Toxicology | 2 | ||||
| PHM | 833 | Gastro-Intestinal and Liver Pharmacology and Toxicology | 2 | ||||
| PHM | 834 | Respiratory Pharmacology | 2 | ||||
| PHM | 835 | Biopharmaceuticals: From Development to Manufacturing | 3 | ||||
| PHM | 841 | Cellular and Molecular Toxicology | 3 | ||||
| PHM | 857 | Project Management | 2 | ||||
Students are encouraged to apply for admission to the Ph.D. program through the BioMolecular Science Gateway – First Year, where students choose a doctoral major from any of six Ph.D. programs: biochemistry and molecular biology, cell and molecular biology, genetics, microbiology and molecular genetics, pharmacology and toxicology, or physiology. For additional information refer to the College of Natural Science section of this catalog.
Doctor of Philosophy
For information about the Doctor of Philosophy degree program in pharmacology and toxicology—environmental toxicology, refer to the statement on Doctoral Program in Environmental and Integrative Toxicological Sciences in the Graduate Education section of this catalog.
James R. Sylvain, Chairperson
Specialists in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) have a mission to provide for the functional restoration of individuals impaired by trauma, disease or congenital malformation. The goal of PM&R physicians (physiatrists) is to help all persons with disability achieve the highest level of function that can be realized for themselves, their families and for society at large.
The faculty, allied health professionals and staff in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation are involved in the education of medical students in the colleges of Osteopathic Medicine and Human Medicine. They provide local, statewide and national education and service programs for osteopathic physiatrists and related health professionals including on-line courses and community education programs on disability and rehabilitation.
Services provided through the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation include acute and sub acute inpatient rehabilitation and consults and outpatient clinics for acute and chronic back pain, traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, stroke, electrodiagnosis, spasticity, medical acupuncture, muscular dystrophy, manual medicine and pain management.
The Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation conducts research for the advancement of knowledge and the development of neuromusculoskeletal diagnostics and treatment. Current research includes description of sports injuries in achondroplastic dwarfs, peripheral nerve diagnosis and cervical spine biomechanics as applied to osteopathic manipulative treatment of neck pain.
The department also conducts a dually (AOA and AMA) accredited graduate medical education residency program in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and a post-residency fellowship in electrodiagnosis and interventional pain management.
David L. Kreulen, Acting Chairperson
GRADUATE STUDY
The Department of Physiology is administered jointly by the colleges of Osteopathic Medicine, Human Medicine, Natural Science, and Veterinary Medicine. All four of these colleges offer Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy degree programs with majors in physiology. In addition, the College of Veterinary Medicine offers a Doctor of Philosophy degree program with a major in physiology—environmental toxicology. For additional information about the department and its graduate degree programs, refer to the statement on the Department of Physiology in the College of Natural Science section of this catalog.
The Division of Human Pathology is administered by the Department of Physiology.
Students are encouraged to apply for admission to the Ph.D. program through the BioMolecular Science Gateway – First Year, where students choose a doctoral major from any of six Ph.D. programs: biochemistry and molecular biology, cell and molecular biology, genetics, microbiology and molecular genetics, pharmacology and toxicology, or physiology. For additional information refer to the College of Natural Science section of this catalog.
Jed Gary Magen, Chairperson
The Department of Psychiatry is administered jointly by the colleges of Human Medicine and Osteopathic Medicine. The College of Human Medicine is the primary administrative unit. The department plays a major role in integrating the behavioral sciences with the biological sciences and with clinical science elements of the professional programs of these colleges. The department’s responsibilities include: preclinical and clinical medical student teaching, psychiatry residency training, professional continuing medical education, patient care, and research. Areas of research emphasis include: health services and policy research, geriatric psychiatry, child psychiatry and functional neuroimaging, neurocognitive dysfunctions secondary to malaria and AIDS; collaborating in graduate medical and psychiatric education with affiliated institutions; developing programs on continuing education for physicians and contributing to continuing education programs for other mental health care disciplines; and developing research programs including some in collaboration with other clinical departments, and others with basic behavioral science departments.
Thomas G. Cooper, Acting Chairperson
The Department of Radiology is jointly administered by the Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine and Human Medicine. The Department provides basic and clinical education in anatomy and diagnostic imaging including radiology, ultrasound, magnetic resonance, and nuclear medicine. Department faculty have special skills and interests in management, health policy, and medical decision-making. In the College of Human Medicine, faculty participate in RAD 553 Introduction to Radiology, required of all students in the professional program, and a variety of other medical courses. In the College of Osteopathic Medicine, faculty participate in the Systems sequence, deliver RAD 553 as a required course, and provide radiology and anatomy content for several statewide campus system residency courses. Other electives are offered in both colleges, including clerkships in radiology and nuclear medicine at affiliated hospitals. The department sponsors a visiting professor program for residents, interns and medical students. The department directs an osteopathic residency program through a consortium of hospitals in Garden City, Pontiac, and Wyandotte, Michigan and offers an allopathic residency program based in Flint, Michigan. Research interests include imaging physics and engineering, technology assessment and efficacy studies, radiologist performance, and magnetic resonance imaging and spectroscopy, as well as psychometric and morphological studies of brain function with magnetic resonance imaging.
The Division of Anatomy and Structural Biology is administered by the Department of Radiology.
MSU is an affirmative-action, equal-opportunity employer.
