The Master of Science (M.S.) in Precision Medicine Program is completed as a dual degree in conjunction with a healthcare professional degree, such as Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, Doctor of Dental Medicine, Doctor of Optometry, or Doctor of Veterinary Medicine.
Students completing other professional degrees at Midwestern University should contact the Precision Medicine Program Director prior to preparing an application. Osteopathic, Dental, and Optometry students may apply as incoming students or, with their Dean's approval, as first year students. Veterinary students may apply in the first or second year of their program. In some cases, the Post-Graduate Certificate in Precision Medicine may integrate more appropriately with the primary programs that are not listed above. The coursework for the M.S. can be completed in as little as two years and is optimally completed within the timeframe of the primary degree program. The maximum time allowed for completion of the degree is six years.
Graduates are prepared to directly enter their chosen healthcare profession with the background to understand and apply genetic or genomic information in the overall care of their patients. The online, 46- quarter-credit hour Master’s degree curriculum is designed to dovetail with select Midwestern healthcare professional programs, which allows dual-degree students to complete most requirements during the didactic years of their programs.
The Master’s degree program includes 28 quarter- credit hours of required and elective coursework in Precision Medicine, including an applied genomic Capstone Project. Students must also complete relevant courses in their primary didactic programs, which upon satisfactory completion, will be applied as credit toward their secondary degree in Precision Medicine. Up to 18 hours of dual credit will be awarded from their primary degree programs for a total of 46 quarter- credit hours.
The M.S. in Precision Medicine Program requires a culminating experience that includes a Genomics Laboratory and Capstone Project whereby students are provided an introduction to the analytical methods needed for a genomic evaluation of an anonymized human genome provided by the course instructors. Veterinary Medicine students may have the option of analyzing a companion animal’s genome for this course. The genome sequence will be used to complete the Capstone Project, which will culminate in a written report of the findings and a formal presentation. Upon successful completion of the Capstone Project and other aspects of the Program, students will be awarded the Master of Science in Precision Medicine degree.