Master of Science in Medical Sciences (MSMS)

• Admission Requirements
• General Requirements
• Curriculum

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Program Description

The Master of Science in Medical Sciences (MSMS) is an integrated, multidisciplinary interdepartmental program in the basic medical sciences that is designed to provide trainees with a broad-based one-year core curriculum followed by a comprehensive examination leading to the Masters (MS) degree.

PHSU is committed to the development of independent, competitive, and well-trained professionals with strong interpersonal communication skills. The MS Program in Medical Sciences’ major goals are to further develop students with the necessary skills and knowledge to pursue competitive research and academic careers.

The program is limited to graduates holding a bachelor’s degree and may be used to:

Supplement an undergraduate record with an enhanced science preparation in order to become eligible for admission to any of the health fields professions.

Enhance the student’s possibilities of being accepted into the Ponce Health Sciences University (PHSU) Medical Education (MD) Program by demonstrating added competence in the required sciences.

Program Goal

The major goal of the MSMS is to further develop students who have the necessary skills and knowledge to pursue competitive research and academic careers.

Knowledge: Students must demonstrate knowledge about established and evolving medical sciences as well as the application of this knowledge to research. By the time of graduation students are expected to:

1. Demonstrate general knowledge in the basic sciences including Anatomy, Biochemistry, Histology, Microbiology, Neuroscience, Community Medicine, Ethics, and Physiology.

Professionalism: Students must demonstrate a commitment to carrying out professional responsibilities and to abide by ethical principles. By the time of graduation, students are expected to:

1. Demonstrate a commitment to carry out professional responsibilities based on ethical principles.
2. Demonstrate honesty, integrity and respectful behavior in all research, courses and career training activities.

Communication Skills: Students must demonstrate interpersonal and communication skills that result in the effective exchange of information

Admissions Requirements

All applicants are requested to have a bachelor’s degree. The courses required for admission are as follows (to be included in the bachelor’s degree):

Course Title	Credits
Biology	8
Chemistry	8
Organic Chemistry	8
Physics	8
Mathematics	6
Behavioral and Social Sciences	6
Spanish	3
English	3

*Revised: December 20, 2016

• In addition to the above requirements, we strongly recommend course work in Cell Biology, Genetics, Microbiology, Liberal Arts and/or Humanities.
• Fully bilingual in English and Spanish (read, write, speak and understand).
• A minimum GPA of 2.7 on a four points scale is required for applying.
• A minimum Science GPA of 2.7 on a four-point scale is required for applying.
• The completion of a graduate degree in science or health allied field may be used to substitute the GPA and science GPA of the bachelor’s degree.
• MCAT score or equivalent.

How to Apply

Application for Admission to the Master of Science in Medical Sciences can be downloaded or obtained personally at our Admissions Office.

Applicants must submit the following documents:

• Curriculum Vitae (CV)
• Official transcript from all undergraduate and graduate schools attended.
• Two letters of recommendation written by individuals knowledgeable of the applicant’s professional work and skills, including one from a former or current professor.
• Personal Statement composed in English; 500 words minimum
• Certificate of No Penal Record
• Pay an application processing fee.
• Upon acceptance, the new student must submit a written confirmation of acceptance and make a deposit of $100 to secure their seat in the entering class.
• The Institution also requires a Health Certificate from the Department of Health of PR, a physical exam and evidence of up-to-date immunization record that must include Varicella, Td Adult (no more than 10 years), MMR and Hepatitis B to complete the admission record of the student.

Grading System

The grading system for MSMS is as follows:

Letter	Grade
A	100% - 87%
B	86% - 77%
C	76% - 67%
F	Failed (below 67%)
E	Extended
I	Incomplete
IP	In Progress
P	Pass
NP	Not Pass
W	Withdrawal
AW	Administrative Withdrawal

Satisfactory Academic Progress

A Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) policy has been established to ensure that students of Master of Sciences in Medical Sciences complete the academic program within the acceptable time frame and the minimally accepted quality of performance.

General Requirements

1. Time Frame for completion of the Academic Program

A student of Master of Sciences in Medical Sciences will be allowed a maximum time frame of two semesters of enrollment beyond the standard required for the completion of the program. Summer enrollment is considered part of the academic year for the purpose of this measure.

Satisfactory Academic Progress

A Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) policy has been established to ensure that students of Master of Sciences in Medical Sciences complete the academic program within the acceptable time frame and the minimally accepted quality of performance.

General Requirements

1. Time Frame for completion of the Academic Program
   A student of Master of Sciences in Medical Sciences will be allowed a maximum time frame of two semesters of enrollment beyond the standard required for the completion of the program. Summer enrollment is considered part of the academic year for the purpose of this measure.

Program	Standard	Maximum
Master of Sciences in Medical Sciences	1 year	2 years

1. Definition of Full Time
   Students with an academic load of six credits or more per semester will be considered Full Time Masters students.
2. Definition of Half Time
   Students with an academic load of three to five credits per semester will be considered Half Time Masters students.
3. Definition of Part Time or Less than Half Time
   Students with an academic load of less than three credits per semester will be considered Part Time Masters students or Less Than Half Time student.

 

2. Completion of Program Requirements
   1. Course Requirement
      Students must complete all courses within the established time frame. The Program requires a minimum of 42 credits for graduation.
   2. Performance Requirement
      A student must maintain a minimum 3.00 grade point average (GPA) in a scale of 4.00 by the end of each semester. Any student failing to meet a 3.00 GPA standard of performance or failing at any course will be referred to the Student Promotion Committee (SPC).
   3. Comprehensive Qualifying Examination Requirement (CQX)
      A CQX must be taken at the end of the academic year. The maximum time allowed to take this examination is three attempts within one year according to the program time frame. A passing score for CQX is required for graduation.
   4. Professional Behavior Requirement
      The students must conduct themselves in accordance with the norms for professional conduct set forth by the Ponce Health Sciences University and the corresponding accreditation agencies.

Grade Requirement

In order to graduate, the student should complete all requirements and maintain a minimum GPA of 3.00 on a scale of 4.00 by the end of the year and pass the CQX. Satisfactory Academic Progress will be reviewed at the end of each semester.

1. A grade of “F” in any course or student with less than 3.00 GPA will be referred to the Student Promotion Committee (SPC).
2. A grade of “F” in any of the courses or a cumulative GPA less than 3.00 is not allowed. Any F grade must be repeated. No more than 2 failures are allowed in the Master Program.
3. A student repeating a course or with a GPA less than 3.00 is considered in academic probation.
4. If the student fails to obtain a 3.00 GPA or better after repeating course(s), he/she will be considered for dismissal from the academic program.
5. Courses with “F” grades will remain on record after they are successfully repeated, but the new grade (s) will be used to compute the GPA.
6. Grade of “P” (Pass) or “NP” (No Pass) is applicable to the CQX. A grade of “NP” requires repetition. The maximum time allowed to take this examination is three attempts. In case of a third “NP” grade, the student will be considered for dismissal from the academic program.
7. An “I” (Incomplete) grade will only be allowed under very special circumstances as determined by the faculty member. The student must complete the requisites of the failed course to remove the “I” (Incomplete) by the end of the following semester or an administrative “F” will replace it.
8. A student with less than 3.00 GPA or that has a No-Pass grade in the CQX, is not in satisfactory academic progress and is considered in academic probation.
9. If the dismissal decision is reversed by due process, the student will not be considered in SAP and will be placed on academic probation for one semester.

Academic Probation

Any student failing to meet Ponce Health Sciences University medical program performance requirement will be referred to the School of Medicine’s Students Promotion Committee and placed on academic and financial aid probation. The following guidelines will be applied:

6. Failing one course would result in a mandate to remediate the deficiency during the summertime.
7. Failing two or more courses, or failing a course a second time, could result in dismissal or, upon consideration, an academic warning ordering the student to repeat and pass the failed courses.
8. If the Students Promotion Committee determines that the student must repeat one or more courses during the summer or the next academic year, the student is considered on academic probation.
9. If the Students Promotion Committee determines to dismiss the student from the master’s program, the student must be informed about the appeal process.
10. If the dismissal decision is reversed by due process, the student will be considered on academic probation.

Appeal Process

Students referred to the Student Promotions Committee (SPC) will be notified of so, stating the reasons for the referral and informing them about their right to be heard or provide information to the SPC. Courses should recuse themselves if the student being considered had an unsuccessful outcome in their course. Any Committee member who has a conflict of interest as having personal relations or providing health care to the students must also recuse themselves.

Students who are notified, by the Associate Dean for the Master of Sciences in Medical Sciences, about a decision of the Students Promotion Committee (SPC) to repeat failed courses on a determined time, or have been dismissed from the master’s program, are in their right to appeal the decision within five working days after receiving the official communication.

The appeal or due process presented below must be followed in a timely manner.

The student should request reconsideration in writing addressed to the Chair of the School of Medicine’s SPC, that must include all relevant documentation to better support their request. The Committee, while in session, will evaluate the reasons and evidence submitted to determine if they could change their initial decision. The student has the right to attend and provide information during the discussion of their case by the Committee. The SPC has 48 hours to submit its decision to the Associate Dean for Medical Education, who will then notify the decision to the student.

If the SPC sustains the adverse decision, the student has the right to appeal to the Dean of Medicine. The appeal must be submitted in writing within five working days after receiving the notification. The Dean of Medicine will evaluate the appeal and the student’s academic record. The Dean can appoint a three-member Ad-Hoc Committee to re-evaluate all evidence. Rejection of the appeal by the Dean is final.

If an Ad-Hoc Committee is appointed, the Ad-Hoc Committee has forty-eight (48) hours to submit a recommendation to the Dean of Medicine. The Dean of Medicine will consider the Ad-Hoc Committee recommendation and make the final decision within forty-eight (48) hours.

Any decision will be reported to the student in writing. The decision made by the Dean of Medicine is final.

The same process described above will be followed if the adverse decision made by the Committee is for non-academic reasons, such as unacceptable professional behavior. The Department Chairperson, the Associate Dean for Medical Education or the VP for Student Affairs will refer the case to the SPC. If the recommendation of the SPC is to dismiss the student, the appeal process described above may be activated.

If an adverse decision is made due to non-academic reasons and the Dean of Medicine sustains the decision after the appeal process, the student may appeal to the Vice-President for Academic Affairs and then to the President.

Financial Aid Eligibility

Financial Aid eligibility is contingent upon satisfactory academic progress. Please refer to the institutional policy on Satisfactory Academic Progress published by the Office of Financial Aid.

Enforcement

The Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs shall have primary responsibility for overseeing this policy and will provide all students a copy of this document upon admission to Ponce Health Sciences University School of Medicine.

The President, Vice President of Academic Affairs, and the Vice President for Student Affairs, as well as the Dean of Medicine, Associate Dean for Medical Education, Registrar and Financial Aid Director will receive all pertinent data to ensure proper enforcement of the policy here set forth.

Tuition and Fees

For more details of PHSU tuition and fees please visit the Consumer Information webpage at www.psm.edu. Tuition and Fees 2024-2025.pdf

ALL TUITION AND FEES ARE PAYABLE ON OR BEFORE REGISTRATION.

Ponce Health Sciences University reserves the right to increase tuition or other fees as deemed necessary.