Most of the requirements of this program must be fulfilled in English. Therefore, a very good knowledge of the English language is required.

General Information

The Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine offers graduate programs leading to the degrees of master of science (MSc) and doctor of philosophy (PhD) in cellular and molecular medicine (CMM). The focus of the graduate programs is in three main research areas: physiology, pharmacology, and growth and development. The programs are governed by the general regulations of the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies (FGPS). Requirements specific to cellular and molecular medicine are outlined below.

Students enrolled in graduate programs in other departments may take any of the graduate courses in the department, subject to space and facility limitations.

Students are admitted under the general regulations of the FGPS. The CMM program is appropriate to students with a background in biology, biochemistry, human kinetics, pharmacology, physiology or biopharmaceutical sciences; students with a background in chemistry or physics will be considered. The minimum requirement to be considered for admission to the master's program is an honours bachelor's degree or its equivalent with a minimum of 70 percent (B) average. The minimum requirement to be considered for admission to the doctoral program is a master's degree or its equivalent with a minimum 75 percent (B+) average. Applicants who have studied beyond the honours bachelor's degree, but who do not hold a master's degree, will be considered for admission to the master's program, and can request transfer to the doctoral program after one year provided they meet the conditions outlined below. Courses beyond the minimum listed below for the master's and the doctorate may be specified at admission to ensure acquisition of the skills needed to pursue graduate work in cellular and molecular medicine.

Financial Support

Research stipends are available from individual investigators and the department offers some teaching fellowships and travel awards to attend conferences. Scholarships are also available from the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies (FGPS) for exceptional students. External funding is available from the Medical Research Council, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council and the Ontario Graduate Scholarship Program; Quebec residents are also eligible to apply for FCAR and FRSQ scholarships; external funding may be supplemented by the FGPS. Details are available from the Graduate Awards Office.

Transfer from the Master's to the Doctoral Program

Students performing well in the master's program may be recommended for transfer to the doctoral program without being required to write a master's thesis.

The conditions to be met are as follows:

- Successful completion of the seminar and courses required for the master's program;
- Satisfactory progress in the research program;
- Recommendation by the advisory committee;
- Approval by the graduate studies committee.

Following transfer, all of the requirements of the doctoral program must be met: Doctoral Seminar (CMM 8325, 3 credits), six credits of course work, the comprehensive exam, presentation of the thesis research in the departmental seminar series and the thesis.

Master's Program Requirements:

• A minimum of three sessions (one year) on a full-time basis must be spent on a supervised research project;
• One seminar course (CMM 8324S; 3 credits);
• Six credits of course work, at least 3 credits of which must be selected from CMM courses;
• Thesis (CMM 7999).