February 16, 2007
TO:
Robert Mrtek, Chair
Senate Committee on Educational Policy
FROM:
Margaret Grosch
Director, Programs and Academic Assessment
I am submitting for review and action by the Senate Committee on Educational Policy the
attached Revision of the M.S. and Ph.D. in Microbiology and Immunology (GEMS
Program).
The revision was approved by the Department of Microbiology and Immunology on
December 1, 2006 and by the Graduate College Executive Committee on February 16,
2007.
Attachment
Copy: J. Art
A. McLachlan
Revised 2/8/07
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Title:
Revision of the M.S. and Ph.D. in Microbiology and Immunology (GEMS
Program)
Sponsor:
Department of Microbiology and Immunology,
College of Medicine
Description:
Three years ago, the five basic science departments in the College of
Medicine created the GEMS, Graduate Education in the Medical Sciences,
program. The GEMS program offers students integrated training in the
biomedical sciences At its inception, there were three courses required across
all departments: GCLS 501 (Biochemistry); GCLS 502 (Molecular Biology);
and GCLS 503 (Cell and Integrative Physiology).
This year, the Department of Physiology and Biophysics has developed a
three credit physiology course, GCLS 500 (Physiology), as part of the GEMS
offering. Dean Colley, Interim Dean for Research in the COM, proposed, and
the Department Heads accepted, a slight reconfiguration of the GEMS
program so that the four Fall courses (the new course GCLS 500, as well as
the existing courses GCLS 501, 502, and 503) be designated as ‘Selectives,’,
and that in general, all incoming students would be required to take or show
proficiency in three of the four selectives during their first two years of study.
The 503 course will be renamed Cell Biology to reflect its more restricted
focus. A number of the Integrative Physiology lectures will be removed, and
the corresponding credit will be reduced from four to three hours.
In the section on required courses for the MS and PhD in Microbiology and
Immunology, it previously read: All students must take or show proficiency
in GCLS 501, 502, 503, 504, 505, 510 and 511. This has now been changed
to: All students must take or show proficiency in three of four selectives
from GCLS 500, 501, 502, 503. They must also take or show proficiency in
GCLS 504, 505, 510, and 511.
Additionally, the PhD in Microbiology and Immunology is adding GCLS 506
to list of required courses.
The total credit hours required for the MS (32) and PHD (96) remain the
same.
Justification:
Revised 2/8/07
In three years the Graduate Education in the Medical Sciences program has
grown from a common core for students in the COM basic science
departments, to a resource for the entire campus. Based on this experience
the members of the program have realized that an expansion of the program
to include a more complete Physiology course would benefit not only COM
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students, but those in other units as well. Moreover, the addition of courses
such as the new Physiology course will facilitate the development of
translational and interdisciplinary programs across campus. We anticipate
that additional courses to be developed in the future will allow students in a
variety of programs to benefit from an appropriate subset of the GEMS
program offerings. To match the courses to the specific program and the
previous training of a student, the strategic decision was made to change the
requirement that all students take the same three courses, to one in which
each student is required to take an appropriate subset of the offered core.
Currently, with the addition of the Physiology course, students will be able to
select three of four courses. Each student is expected to select an appropriate
course sequence in consultation with the Graduate Studies Committee and the
Director of Graduate Studies in their program.
GCLS 506 is being added to the PhD program because it is the mechanism by
which students rotate through labs in the GEMS program. Through this
course students conduct research experiences and settle on an advisor with
whom to do their dissertation work.
Catalog
Statement:
See attached.
Minority Impact
Statement:
None.
Budgetary and
Staff
Implications:
None.
Library Resource
Implications:
None
Space
Implications:
No change
Unit (e.g.
department)
approval date:
The changes proposed by Dean Colley were accepted unanimously by the five
Department Heads at the College of Medicine Basic Science Heads
meeting on December 1, 2006.
College
(educational
policy
committee,
faculty) approval
dates:
Revised 2/8/07
Basic science program changes are reviewed by the Graduate College without
prior review by the College of Medicine.
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Contact Person:
Jonathan Art, Ph.D.
Associate Dean of the Graduate College
Proposed Effective
Date:
Fall, 2007
Catalog Statement:
Current Format
Microbiology & Immunology
Proposed Changes
Mailing Address:
Department of Microbiology and Immunology
(MC 790)
835 South Wolcott Avenue
Chicago, IL 60612-7344
Same.
Campus Location: E-704 MSB
Same
Program Codes: 20FS1468MS (MS);
20FS1468PHD (PhD)
Same.
Telephone: (312) 996-9477
E-mail: mimi@uic.edu
Web Site:
http://www.uic.edu/depts/mcmi/index2.html
Head of the Department: Bellur Prabhakar
Same.
Director of Graduate Studies: William
Hendrickson
Director of Graduate Studies: Alan
McLachlan
The Department of Microbiology and
Immunology offers work leading to the Master
of Science and the Doctor of Philosophy
degrees and participates in the MD/PhD joint
degree program (see the MD/PhD section of the
catalog for more information). The department
carries out basic research in the areas of
immunology, virology, and microbial molecular
biology. Research leading to a graduate degree
is available in the general areas of molecular,
cellular, and tumor immunology; molecular
biology and genetics of procaryotes; and
molecular biology of eucaryotic cells and
viruses.
Same.
Admission Requirements
Revised 2/8/07
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In addition to the Graduate College minimum
requirements, applicants must meet the
following program requirements:
Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy
Baccalaureate Field No restrictions.
Applicants must have a solid background in
biology and inorganic and organic chemistry,
and at least one year of physics and
mathematics.
Other Requirements At least 2.75/4.00 for the
final 60 semester hours (90 quarter hours) of
undergraduate study. Preference is given to
those applicants who have a GPA greater than
3.00.
Tests Required GRE General. This test should
be taken prior to submission of the formal
application. Preference is given to applicants
with a combined verbal and quantitative score
above 1200, and analytical writing above 4.0.
Minimum TOEFL Score 550 (paper-based);
213 (computer-based); 80, with subscores of
Reading 19, Listening 17, Speaking 20, and
Writing 21 (new Internet-based TOEFL).
Letters of Recommendation Required.
Personal Statement Required.
Other Requirements Preference is given to
applicants with a documented record of research
accomplishment who intend to complete the
doctoral program.
Degree Requirements In addition to the
Graduate College minimum requirements,
students must meet the following program
requirements:
Master of Science
Same.
Minimum Semester Hours Required 34.
Same.
Course Work All students must take or show
proficiency GCLS 501, 502, 503, 504, 505, 510
& 511.
Course Work All students must take or show
proficiency in three of four courses from
GCLS 500, 501, 502, 503. They must also take
or show proficiency in GCLS 504, 505, 510
and 511.
Revised 2/8/07
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Comprehensive Examination None.
Same.
Thesis, Project, or Course-Work-Only
Options Thesis required. No other options are
available. Students must register in MIM 598
for 9 semester hours.
Same.
Other Requirements None.
Same.
Doctor of Philosophy
Minimum Semester Hours Required 96 from
the baccalaureate.
Same.
Course Work Required Courses: Nine hours of
MIM 455. All students must take or show
proficiency in GCLS 501, 502, 503, 504, 505,
510, and 511.
Course Work Required Courses: Nine hours
of MIM 455. All students must take or show
proficiency in three of four courses from
GCLS 500, 501, 502, 503. They must also take
or show proficiency in GCLS 504, 505, 506,
510 and 511.
In addition students must take MIM 594 for 1
hour, and 2 additional 500-level courses, MIM
551 and MIM 553 are recommended. Four
additional hours of MIM 595 and 52 semester
hours of MIM 599 are required
Same.
Preliminary Examination: required.
Same.
Dissertation Required. Students must earn at
least 52 hours in MIM 599.
Same.
Other Requirements During the second year
of graduate study, students must conduct a
satisfactory oral defense of a written research
proposal that is different from their thesis
subject. All graduate students, regardless of
their means of financial support, must
participate in the teaching programs of the
department for one semester of each academic
year. This requirement includes experiences in
laboratory instruction, lecturing, and
audiovisual presentations.
Same
Revised 2/8/07
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Course Descriptions:
GCLS 500 Physiology. 3 hours. (new course)
Lectures in human physiology. Emphasis is on an integrated approach to systems physiology.
Restricted to students enrolled in a graduate program offered through the Colleges of Medicine,
Pharmacy or Applied Health Sciences or in the Departments of Bioengineering or Biological
Sciences, or consent of the instructor. Prerequisites: mathematics, undergraduate physics, organic
chemistry, or consent of the instructor.
GCLS 501 Biochemistry
3 hours. Fundamental properties of biomacromolecules, the thermodynamics underlying basic
biochemical processes and the properties of enzymes, including the kinetics of operation, and
regulation, illustrated with important examples. Restricted to students enrolled in a graduate
program offered through the Colleges of Medicine or Pharmacy or the departments of
Bioengineering or Biological Sciences or consent of the instructor.
GCLS 502 Molecular Biology
3 hours. Core molecular biology course covering basic principles of gene expression, genome
replication and molecular interactions important to biological processes in prokaryotes and
eukaryotes. Restricted to students enrolled in a graduate program offered through the Colleges of
Medicine or Pharmacy or the departments of Bioengineering or Biological Sciences or consent of
the instructor.
GCLS 503 Cell Biology. 3 hours. (revised title, credit hours)
Advanced course on fundamental aspects of cell biology; basic concepts will be integrated with
key examples of human physiology which span gene, protein, cell, tissue, organ and whole body
function. Credit is not given for GCLS 503 if the student has credit in BCHE 561 or ANAT 585
or MIM 585 or PHYB 585. Restricted to students enrolled in a graduate program offered through
the Colleges of Medicine, Pharmacy or Applied Health Sciences, or the departments of
Bioengineering or Biological Sciences or consent of the instructor.
GCLS 506 GEMS Research Rotation
2 TO 5 hours. Research rotation course in which first year students from the GEMS program will
undertake research projects in laboratories affiliated with this program.
Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory grading only. May be repeated. Animals used in instruction.
Prerequisite(s): Open only to Ph.D. degree students.
Revised 2/8/07
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