Program Structure
Related Information
The diagram below shows a timeline of significant events in the Medical Scientist Training Program at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
While the program, which draws from resources within the UW School of Medicine and Public Health and the UW-Madison Graduate School, typically takes eight years to complete, it is important to stress that there may be some variability as required by the needs and goals of each individual student.
This flexibility, together with the unique cohesiveness of the program, ensures timely completion of both degrees at UW-Madison.
The typical student spends the first two years in medical school while becoming acquainted with research opportunities and doing research rotations. The medical school curriculum is enriched by a series of class-specific journal clubs that explore selected topics and examine primary literature. A research trainer and graduate program are chosen during the second year.
Medicine 901, a ward clerkship taken immediately after the Med 2 year; and Medicine 903, a brush-up on clinical skills prior to the Med 3 year, constitute a bridging curriculum to ease the transitions between medical and graduate studies. The defense date for the PhD must be scheduled before the student returns as a Med 3.
Students enter the Med 3/4 years with 12 earned credits, three for Medicine 901, one for Medicine 903 and eight for their thesis research, so they need only 68 rather than 80 credits and have a three-month window as to when they return to clinical rotations (one credit is equivalent to one week).
In addition, students may take the six-credit Clinical Neuroscience block before commencing graduate studies, further increasing flexibility in their Med 3/4 schedule.
Click on the courses below for more details about the Medical Scientist Training Program curriculum.
