Date Effective: May 12, 1998

POLICY & PROCEDURE MEMORANDUM ACADEMIC PROGRAMS - 16

SUBJECT:   Master of Health Science Degree - Interdivisional Program in Clinical Investigation

INTRODUCTION

The Master of Health Science degree, with a subspecialty in clinical investigation, is an extension of the current cooperative graduate training program with the School of Medicine. The MHS degree will have the same curriculum requirements as the existing Sc.M. degree (PPM 14) but will not include the requirement for supervised research. While the degree is awarded through the Bloomberg School of Public Health, the program is directed and administered by an inter-school Advisory Council and a Program Director appointed by the Deans of both Schools.

This memorandum contains the following information concerning minimal requirements for the Master of Health Science in Clinical Investigation degree:

        I.            Administrative Requirements

                             A.            Academic prerequisites

                             B.            Curriculum

                             C.            Time limit for completion

2. Certifications by the Faculty
1. Comprehensive written examination

        I.            Administrative Requirements

                             A.            Academic prerequisites

Policy

Candidates must have a Doctoral degree.

Procedure

Administrative clearance: acceptance is by approval of the Program's Advisory Council after review by the Council's Committee on Candidate Selection. The Admissions Office will be responsible for receiving and filing admission materials and credentials.

2. Curriculum

Policy

                                                                              1.            At least 70 credit hours of course work is required, as specified in the catalogue. This will ordinarily be accomplished in a summer quarter and four contiguous academic quarters in the same year. In special circumstances with the approval of the program's Advisory Council, the course work may be completed over two or more years if deemed to be in the best interest of the student's career development.

                                                                              2.            At the completion of the course work and year of residence, the student must be in good academic standing. A student not in good standing will be placed on probation. The decision to permit continued enrollment of a student on academic probation will be made by the Program Director with the concurrence of the program's Advisory Council and the SHPH Committee on Academic Standards.

Procedure

                                                                              3.            Official records of all course work taken to fulfill this degree (including course work taken in the School of Medicine) will be maintained by the SHPH Registrar.

                                                                              4.            Exemption from certain required courses, based on previous training, experience or by examination, may be requested from the course instructor after approval by the Program Director. For credit units exempted from a required course, the student must elect an equivalent number of units in formal courses and/or special studies.

                                                                              5.            To remain in good academic standing, all of the following achievements are required: (a) a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.5; (b) no grade of "F" in any required course; (c) no more than two grades of "F" combined in any courses; (d) no more than six credits of "incomplete" work at any one time.

                                                                              6.            No more than one retake of a required course in which a student receives a grade of "F" will be permitted.

3. Time limit for completion

Not more than four years may elapse between the date of matriculation and the fulfillment of all requirements for this degree.

2. Certifications by the Faculty

                             A.            Comprehensive written examination

Policy

A written comprehensive examination is required of all degree candidates. This examination constitutes a comprehensive inquiry into the student's grasp of the subject matter underlying the degree. It should explore the student's understanding of scientific principles and methods, as well as his substantive knowledge of the major disciplines and related areas involved.

Procedure

                                                      1.            The Curriculum Committee of the program's Advisory Council arranges for, administers, and evaluates the result of this examination.

2. Timing. The examination should normally be given at the completion of the required course work.
3. Results. The outcome of the examination is determined by the program's Curriculum Committee with review and approval by the program's Advisory Council. An evaluation of the student's performance on this examination is to be submitted to the Registrar for transmittal to the Committee on Academic Standards.
4. If a student's performance is unsatisfactory, only one re-examination is permitted.