Master's Degree in Medical Sciences
OVERVIEW
Who is this program for?
A master’s program in medical sciences is ideal for individuals interested in advancing their knowledge of health, disease, and clinical research to support medical innovations. Graduates often pursue careers as medical researchers, clinical coordinators, or laboratory managers, specializing in areas such as biomedicine, pharmacology, or epidemiology.
Program Overview
The Master’s of Science in Medical Sciences (MSMS) is a broad interdisciplinary degree program housed in the College of Medicine. Participating Departments and Centers include Behavioral Sciences; Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences; Toxicology and Cancer Biology; Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics; Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry; Neuroscience; and Physiology. The MSMS may be used as a stand-alone degree by students seeking career enhancement in fields such as basic biomedical research, the pharmaceutical industry, or the health science professions; by students seeking academic credentials in the biomedical sciences prior to applying for medical school or other health related professional degree programs; or by students seeking to enhance their knowledge base prior to choosing a career direction.
Admission Requirements
Please view the Graduate School's Admission Requirements. If there are Program Specific Requirements listed below, those will also apply.
Application Requirements
Please view the application requirements for the Graduate School. If there are Program Specific Requirements listed below, those will also apply.
Program Specific Requirements
- A baccalaureate degree from a fully accredited institution of higher learning.
- A minimum undergraduate grade point average of 2.75 and graduate GPA of 3.0.
- Three letters of recommendation
- Personal Statement
- For the best chances of gaining admission to the program, an applicant should have one year of general chemistry, one semester of organic chemistry (or one semester of organic chemistry and one semester of biochemistry) and at least one year of biology.
Application Deadlines
Domestic
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Fall
- 07/25/2025
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Spring
- 12/12/2025
International
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Fall
- 04/15/2025
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Spring
- 09/15/2025
FIND OUT EXACTLY
What You'll Learn
Students entering the MS in Medical Sciences program can choose either a thesis option (Plan A), requiring 30 hours of graduate level coursework, including six hours of research, or a non-thesis option (Plan B), also requiring 30 hours of graduate level coursework, including three hours of research. Plan A requires a defense of the master’s thesis while Plan B requires a final master’s exam. Most students enrolling in the MS in Medical Sciences as a stand-alone degree utilize the Plan B pathway.
Clinical and Translational Sciences Concentration
Students accepted into the CTS program typically consist of fellows or residents who have completed a formal professional degree program (e.g., MD, DMD, PharmD) with a rigorous basic biomedical sciences training. See curriculum requirements in the Graduate Catalog.
Degree requirements, course descriptions and academic policies for all programs are detailed in the University Catalog.
Explore Funding Options
As a graduate student, there are additional opportunities for student funding. Once you are admitted into a degree-bearing graduate program at UK, you can apply for a wide variety of financial assistance, including assistantships and fellowships. These opportunities can be tied to your program’s availability, so you should inquire with your program director about opportunities available within your program!
Tuition Rate
For residents of the states listed below, this program qualifies you to receive the University of Kentucky's in-state tuition rate through the Academic Common Marketplace.
Georgia
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