Frederic C. Bartter
General Clinical Research Center (GCRC)
Master's of
Science Degree in Clinical Investigation (MSCI)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
2. Do I have to be a Physician to apply?
3. How long will it take to earn the MSCI Degree?
4. Who are the contacts for the MSCI Program?
5. How do I apply to the MSCI Program?
6. Can I enroll in individual MSCI classes?
7. How do I apply as a “Special Student”?
8. Where do I send my application materials?
9. What is the deadline for submitting my application to the MSCI Program?
10. How much does the program cost?
11. How do you register for classes?
12. Where can I find Registration Information?
13. Where can I find the current semester schedule?
15. Are all classes going to be scheduled during the normal workweek?
16. Where can I find the current Academic Calendar?
17. How many credit hours are needed to earn the MSCI Degree?
19. What if I have a J-1 or H-1B visa?
The MSCI Program is available to all fellows, faculty, and staff in all UTHSCSA Schools and affiliated programs. While originally designed for persons in fellowships interested in a clinical research career, the MSCI is open to anyone with an interest in clinical investigation.
[Top]2. Do I have to be a Physician to apply?
NO!!
[Top]3. How long will it take to earn the MSCI Degree?
It will take full-time student two years to earn their MSCI degree. Students doing part-time study can expect to complete the MSCI Program in three to four years.
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4. Who are the contacts for the MSCI Program?
Program Director: Administrator:
Michael J. Lichtenstein, M.D., M.Sc.
210-567-4631 210-567-4631
lichtenstei@uthscsa.edu
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5. How do I apply to the MSCI Program?
Fill out the Application
Contact the Academic Coordinator, 210-567-4631 with any questions. The office for the Academic Coordinator is located in the VA Hospital in room E702.
Paths for application:
A. Full Time – Submit the full application materials to the MSCI program with a mentored research project and identified mentor.
B. Part Time – Submit the full application materials to MSCI program without a mentored research project. When a research project is available or identified it is reviewed by the Committee of Graduate Studies.
C. Special Student – Submit the online application. You will apply to the graduate school on a part-time basis and take one to three courses/semester. At some point you will have to enroll in the MSCI Program. All courses you have taken as a special student will count towards your MSCI degree. More information on the “Special Student” below. You cannot earn the MSCI degree by only being a Special Student
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6. Can I enroll in individual MSCI classes?
Yes, but you will have to apply as a “Special Student” through the Graduate School of Biomedical Science.
[Top]7. How do I apply as a “Special Student”?
Students who do not have a current research project and/or a mentor can apply as a “Special Student” and start taking one to three courses a semester. At the time the student identifies a mentor and/or research project they can then formally apply to the MSCI Program. You cannot complete the MSCI Program as a Special Student.
Before you are allowed to register for the first time you must have submitted your Immunization and State Residence forms to the UTHSCSA Registrar’s office. You may not register as a “Special Student” for more than four consecutive semesters. All courses taken as a special student will count towards the MSCI degree. Contact the Academic Coordinator, 210-567-4631 to pick up a “Special Student” application pack. The office of the Academic Coordinator is located in the VA Hospital in room E702.
[Top]8. Where do I send my application materials?
UTHSCSA
Mail Code 7702
Graduate Admissions
7703 Floyd Curl Drive
San Antonio, TX 78229-3900What ever you submit to the Graduate School, please submit a copy to the MSCI Office so we know what’s coming and can facilitate the admissions process for you.
[Top]9. What is the deadline for submitting my application to the MSCI Program?
Fall semester: June 1st
Spring semester: October 1st
Summer semester: March 1st
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10. How much does the program cost?
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11. How do you register for classes?
You may register for classes only after you have been admitted as a student in the MSCI Program. To register for classes you must fill out a “course card,” get the necessary signatures and turn it in to the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences office.
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12. Where can I find Registration Information?
Click here for the registration information for the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences (GSBS):
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13. Where can I find the current semester schedule?
Click here for the current Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences (GSBS) schedule: (http://studentservices.uthscsa.edu/academicinfo/roomsch.html).
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The MSCI Program actively discourages auditing for three reasons:
A. Persons who audit take up space that may be used by enrolled students.
B. Our experience with auditors is that they show up for 1-2 seminars and then are never seen or heard from again for the rest of the semester. If you are really serious about wanting to take a course, enroll!
C. Formula funding for the UTHSCSA from the Texas State Legislature depends on how many officially registered students are enrolled. It is to the GSBS advantage to have as many students officially on the books as possible.
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15. Are all classes going to be scheduled during the normal workweek?
All MSCI classes are scheduled during the week, Monday through Friday. Class times are subject to change. Typically, seminars are held from 3:00-5:00 p.m. so as not to break up the work day.
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16. Where can I find the current Academic Calendar?
Click here for the current GSBS Academic Calendar with important dates for the semester. (http://studentservices.uthscsa.edu/academicinfo/academcal.html)
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17. How many credit hours are needed to earn the MSCI Degree?
A total of 30 semester credit hours are required to obtain the Masters Degree in Clinical Investigation. See the timeline and structure for more information.
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The GRE is the Graduate Record Exam. More information can be found at their website (http://www.gre.org/). The GRE will be waived for applicants holding an earned post-graduate degree; e.g., D.D.S., R.N., M.D., M.Sc.
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19. What if I have a J-1 or H-1B visa?
Enrollment principles for persons with J-1 or H-1B visa status.
1. They may be enrolled in the MSCI program, but enrollment in classes must be incidental to their primary activities for which they came to the UTHSCSA.
2. Part-time enrollment: Persons with J-1 or H-1B visas may enroll in up to four credit hours of didactic course work per semester. These four credits will be in formal lecture and seminar courses which are ‘incident to’ the purpose of the visa. Four credit hours is less than half of the semester credit hours considered to constitute full time enrollment in the UTHSCSA Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences.
3. They may enroll in research credits under the supervision of their research mentors. This credit is directly relevant to and obtained from the work these individuals are conducting in the United States. Enrollment for research credit is based upon the discussion and discretion of the MSCI Committee on Graduate Studies, Program Director, and the individual’s Research Mentor. The number of research credits allowed per semester will be determined on a case-by-case basis, based on the individual circumstances of the student.
4. At no time, will participation in the MSCI program interfere with the timely completion of the duties and responsibilities for which the visa status was granted to the individual for admission to the United States.
These principles assure that the Federal Rules and Regulations for the visa process are upheld while creating a pathway by which foreign nationals may participate in clinical research education at UTHSCSA.
Foreign nationals who seek admission to the MSCI Program as full time students may do so under an F-2 Student Visa.
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The MSCI program does require each student to have an Intel-based laptop computer with the capacity to connect to the Internet via a wireless connection. Also required are Microsoft Office Suite (can be purchased at UTHSCSA bookstore with student ID) and Intercooled Stata 10.0 (http://www.stata.com/order/new/edu/gradplans/gp-campus.html)
All wireless laptops not purchased through UTHSCSA must be have current anti-virus software installed.
If you do not, you will be blocked out of the network.
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Overview of MSCI program
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Date page last modified: 12/11/07 01:10 PM
