Courses

For successful degree completion, at least 34 graduate credit hours must be completed in approved physiology and other science-related courses.

For Coursework Track students, enrollment in a 3-credit Capstone Project is required in the Spring half-term.
For Research Track students, 6 credits of independent research are required in the Fall term, 8 credits of independent research are required in the Winter term, and enrollment in a 3-credit Research Capstone Project is required in the Spring or Summer half-term.

Students cannot elect a Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory grading scheme unless prior approval is sought and granted by the Program Directors and Advisor.

Our program’s policy is that all courses - both required and elective options - completed by a student in fulfillment of the M.S. degree must be taken for a letter grade if that option is available. Any exception to this rule must be approved (on a case-by-case basis) by the Program Directors and Advisor prior to the registration period for that semester.

For M.S. in Physiology, Coursework Track:

If you are not a current University of Michigan student or recent alumni, the following hyperlinks may not be available to you. For your convenience, we have included the information for most courses in a pdf document posted in the Dropbox folder. 

FALL SEMESTER: 

Core Courses:
  • Physiol 404 (2 cr): Human Physiology Laboratory, T OR Th 1-3pm
    or, if you have already taken Physiol 404 (or its equivalent at another institution), you will enroll in:
    Physiol 505 (2 cr): Advanced Physiology Laboratory, F 12:30-3:30pm
  • Physiol 502 (4 cr): Human Physiology, MWF 8:30-10am
    If you have successfully completed this course or its equivalent (with a grade of B- or better) at another institution, then Physiol 506 is required.
    or
    Physiol 506 (3 cr): Extreme Physiology, TTh 10-11:30am
    You may enroll in BOTH Physiol 502 and Physiol 506 if your schedule allows.
  • Physiol 605 (1 cr): Professional Development Seminar, W 3-4pm
  • Anat 403 (5 cr): Human Anatomy: Structure & Function, MWF 10am-12pm
    *Note, if you have successfully completed this course or its equivalent at another institution, you are eligible to select an elective course (see below).  
  • Biostat 521 (2 cr): Applied Biostatistics, TTh 10am-12pm
    *Note, if you have successfully completed this course or its equivalent at another institution, you are eligible to select an elective course (see below).  
  • PIBS 503 (1 cr): Research Responsibility and Ethics, 7 lectures offered at various times throughout the semester (TBA).
    Research Track students are required to enroll in PIBS 503, but Coursework Track students who have successfully completed an approved ethics course are not required to enroll in PIBS 503.
A SAMPLE OF ELECTIVE COURSE OPTIONS: Please note: 1) Not all courses listed below are offered during every Fall semester, and (2) Additional courses may be identified as elective course options):

If you have successfully completed Anat 403 (Human Anatomy: Structure & Function) and/or Biostat 521 (Applied Biostatistics), or their equivalent(s) at another institution, you are eligible to select an elective course:

Typical Fall Schedule for a Coursework Track Student:
 

WINTER SEMESTER: 

Core Courses:
Very Highly Recommended Courses:
A SAMPLE OF ELECTIVE COURSE OPTIONS: Please note: 1) Not all courses listed below are offered during every Winter semester, and (2) Additional courses may be identified as elective course options):
Typical Winter Schedule for a Coursework Track Student, Plus an Elective: 
 

SPRING SEMESTER:

  • Optional: Physiol 704 (1 cr): Peer-Facilitated Capstone Development

    This 1-credit course is graded on a satisfactory/unsatisfactory basis. Please note: This 1 credit cannot count towards one of the minimum 34 credits to graduate, but must be taken in addition to those minimum 34 credits.

    Important information for students relying on federal financial aid:

    In early 2020, the government made a policy change regarding the minimum number of credits in which a student must enroll to be eligible for federal financial aid. The Registrar’s Office determined 8 credits is minimum full-time enrollment. Since students are required to be enrolled half-time in any term to be eligible to receive federal financial aid (and sometimes private loans, as well), graduate students must be enrolled in at least 4 credits during the Sp, Su, or Sp/Su terms as well as the Fall and Winter terms to remain eligible to receive federal financial aid.

    Any student may elect to enroll in this optional, 1-credit course.

For M.S. in Physiology, Research Track

If you are not a current University of Michigan student or recent alumni, the following hyperlinks may not be available to you. For your convenience, we have included the information for most courses in a pdf document posted in the Dropbox folder.

FALL SEMESTER: 

Core Courses:
  • Physiol 404 (2 cr): Human Physiology Laboratory, T OR Th 1-3pm
    or, if you have already taken Physiol 404 (or its equivalent at another institution), you will enroll in:
    Physiol 505 (2 cr): Advanced Physiology Laboratory, F 12:30-3:30pm
  • Physiol 502 (4 cr): Human Physiology, MWF 8:30-10am
    If you have successfully completed Physiol 502 or its equivalent (with a grade of B- or better) at another institution, then Physiol 506 is required.
    or
    Physiol 506 (3 cr): Extreme Physiology, TTh 10-11:30am
    You may enroll in BOTH Physiol 502 and Physiol 506 if your schedule allows.
  • Physiol 605 (1 cr): Professional Development Seminar, W 3-4pm
  • Physiol 702 (6 cr): Physiology Masters Research Project
  • PIBS 503 (1 cr): Research Responsibility and Ethics, 7 lectures offered at various times throughout the semester (TBA).
    Research Track students are required to enroll in PIBS 503, but Coursework Track students who have successfully completed an approved ethics course are not required to enroll in PIBS 503. 
Very Highly Recommended Course:
Elective Course Options:

*Note, if you have not successfully completed an appropriate statistics course, you will be encouraged to take Biostat 521 (Applied Biostatistics). 

Typical Fall Schedule for a Research Track Student: 
 

WINTER SEMESTER: 

Core Courses:
Very Highly Recommended Course:
Elective Course Options:
Typical Winter Schedule for a Research Track Student: 
 

 SPRING SEMESTER*:

  • Although you do not register for any courses (and therefore do not pay tuition), you are expected to continue to develop your research project and work in your research laboratory. Research students must complete a minimum of 10-11 months in a laboratory (with typically 1 additional month to write and present the final project) to be awarded the M.S. degree. 

    *If a student arranges to start in their laboratory prior to the Fall term, they may be able to finish the program earlier by enrolling in Physiology 703 in the Spring semester (see below). Examples of early start dates for research are July 1 (may then be finished by mid-June and would register for Spring half-term) or August 1 (may then be finished by mid-July and would register for Summer half-term).

    If eligible: Physiology 703 (3 cr, Spring half-term): Physiology Masters Research Project 

  • Optional: Physiol 704: Peer-Facilitated Capstone Development

    Course Description:

    Students will participate in peer-facilitated, instructional activities which might include, but are not limited to: a) discussions of written capstone materials-in-development and b) critiques of oral capstone presentations-in-development for students enrolled in either Physiol 700 or Physiol 703.

    This 1-credit course is graded on a satisfactory/unsatisfactory basis. Please note: This 1 credit cannot count towards one of the minimum 34 credits to graduate, but must be taken in addition to those minimum 34 credits.

    Important information for students relying on federal financial aid:

    In early 2020, the government made a policy change regarding the minimum number of credits in which a student must enroll to be eligible for federal financial aid. The Registrar’s Office determined 8 credits is minimum full-time enrollment. Since students are required to be enrolled half-time in any term to be eligible to receive federal financial aid (and sometimes private loans, as well), graduate students must be enrolled in at least 4 credits during the Sp, Su, or Sp/Su terms as well as the Fall and Winter terms to remain eligible to receive federal financial aid.

    Any student may elect to enroll in this optional, 1-credit course.

SUMMER SEMESTER*:

  • Physiology 703 (3 cr, Summer half-term): Physiology Masters Research Project
  • Optional: Physiol 704 (1 cr): Peer-Facilitated Capstone Development

    Course Description:

    Students will participate in peer-facilitated, instructional activities which might include, but are not limited to: a) discussions of written capstone materials-in-development and b) critiques of oral capstone presentations-in-development for students enrolled in either Physiol 700 or Physiol 703.

    This 1-credit course is graded on a satisfactory/unsatisfactory basis. Please note: This 1 credit cannot count towards one of the minimum 34 credits to graduate, but must be taken in addition to those minimum 34 credits. 

    Important information for students relying on federal financial aid:

    In early 2020, the government made a policy change regarding the minimum number of credits in which a student must enroll to be eligible for federal financial aid. The Registrar’s Office determined 8 credits is minimum full-time enrollment. Since students are required to be enrolled half-time in any term to be eligible to receive federal financial aid (and sometimes private loans, as well), graduate students must be enrolled in at least 4 credits during the Sp, Su, or Sp/Su terms as well as the Fall and Winter terms to remain eligible to receive federal financial aid.

    Any student may elect to enroll in this optional, 1-credit course.