Graduation requires the completion of a minimum of 29 units, of which a minimum of 15 units are didactic course credits taken in the first year (including summer sessions).

The remaining units are directed to: 

• PM 590 Directed Research (1–12 units )
• PM 594a Master’s Thesis, PM 594b Master’s Thesis (4 units) taken in the second year.

The equivalent of one year of full-time effort must be devoted to research leading to a master’s thesis. The thesis provides a structure for the development of a plan to address a research problem and a suitable approach to the analysis and presentation of the results.

Because the background and interests of applicants varies widely, one of the co-directors will consult with each student prior to the first year in order to design an individualized schedule of recommended courses, or this may be negotiated with a student’s faculty sponsor. At the end of the first year, the trainee must submit a final program plan to the co-directors. This will summarize the courses taken, the proposed thesis title, and the names and credentials of the MS thesis committee. One of the members of the MS thesis committee will be the trainee’s research adviser and will serve as the chair of the committee. At least one member of the thesis committee must be from outside the student’s department. For faculty, at least two members of the thesis committee must be from outside the student’s department.

Students are expected to attend the three-day workshop on NIH proposal development if offered by Thomas Ogden, MD, PhD, and a workshop on the principles of scientific manuscript preparation.