• Martin E. Fernandez-Zapico, M.D., Program Director 
• Taro Hitosugi, Ph.D., Associate Program Director 

Application

Candidates must complete a Professional Master’s Degree Application form. This form is available on the MCGSBS Master’s Programs intranet site. Supporting documents include a program fee agreement form, transcripts from previous colleges, and two letters of recommendation - one preferred from your direct supervisor/manager.  

Eligibility

Enrollment is restricted to current Mayo employees/appointees and is available at all three sites: Arizona, Florida, and Minnesota, as well as Mayo Clinic Health System. Visiting clinicians, research trainees, and research collaborators are not eligible.  

Applicants must have received a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university, must have taken appropriate undergraduate science courses to adequately prepare for the Master’s program, and must have a minimum undergraduate grade point average that demonstrates a record of academic excellence. 

Time Requirement

Time to completion can vary by student (three to five years), but all requirements for the Master’s degree must be completed within five years. The five-year period begins on the start date of the term the student is appointed to. If the student's Mayo employment ends prior to completion of the program, the MCGSBS appointment will also end.

Registration Requirement 

At least 75% of the coursework for the Master’s degree must be completed in MCGSBS.

Minimum Credit Requirements

Students must complete a minimum of 45 credits, including MGS 6000 Responsible Conduct of Research. Didactic credits may vary by track - refer to specific program requirements for details. 

Transfer Credits

A total of 9 didactic credits may be transferred into the Professional Master’s Program. For more details, see the Credit Conversion, Transfer, Waiver and Substitution Policy on the MCGSBS intranet site.  

Course Requirements

A total of 45 credits with maintenance of at least a 3.0 GPA are required for graduation.

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
MGS Courses
MGS 6000	Responsible Conduct of Research	1
MGS 6400	Master's Capstone Project	6
Track Requirements
BMB 5100	Chemical Principles of Biopolymer Systems	2
BMB 5150	Molecular Cell Biology	2
MPET 5900	Molecular Pharmacology and Receptor Signaling	3
MPET 5808	Introduction to Molecular Pharmacology	4
MPET 6800	Research Seminars in Pharmacology	1
MPET 6805	Drug Metabolism and Pharmacogenomics	2
Track Tutorials		5
Select 5 credits or 3 tutorials of the following:
MPET 6400	Introduction to Principles of Pharmacokinetics
MPET 6450	Applied Data Science and Artificial Intelligence in Pharmacology
MPET 6655	Mechanisms of Cell Growth and Death
MPET 6700	Cell Death Journal Club
MPET 6813	Tutorial in Systems Pharmacology
MPET 6814	Cellular Pharmacology of Agents that Target Cancer
MPET 6815	Neurobehavioral Pharmacology
Advanced Coursework		19
Any courses approved for graduate credit; select in consultation with your project mentor

Program milestones are included in the Academic Progress and Graduation Requirements for Masters Programs Policy. See below for MPET-specific program highlights and instruction.

Students are expected to make continuous and successful academic and professional progress toward graduation requirements for the M.S. degree. The concept of satisfactory progress mandates monitoring of a students’ academic and professional performance through items including, but not limited to:

• Complete Degree Planning Tool (DPT)
• Project Advisor Selection 
• Master's Capstone Project
• Meet any program-specific competencies as defined by the track

Full details are included in the Academic Progress and Graduation Requirements for Master's Programs Policy on the MCGSBS intranet site. 

Minimum Grade Requirements

Students are expected to maintain a grade point average of 3.0 in didactic coursework. Students whose performance falls below this standard in a given quarter will be placed on academic probation, as described in the Deficiencies and Unsatisfactory Progress Policy and Warning, Probation, Dismissal and Appeal Policy outlined on the MCGSBS intranet site. 

Degree Planning Tool 

The use of a Degree Planning Tool (DPT) is required and allows students to list the coursework to fulfill degree requirements, including transfer credits. The DPT must be completed during the first academic year and should be updated as courses are completed throughout the training program. A final completed DPT must be submitted to the school when a tentative defense date has been determined to be cleared to graduate.  

Project Advisor Selection

The Project Advisor is selected with counsel from the Program Director at any time during training, but no later than the end of the year. A list of Faculty with privileges can be found on the MCGSBS intranet site.

Master's Capstone Project

This is required for all students in the Professional Master’s Program and serves as the final academic milestone of the degree.  Projects may take the form of a critical review article, original research manuscript, case study, or another approved scholarly product suitable for presentation or publication. Students must register for MGS 6400 Master's Capstone Project during their final quarter in the program. The course may only be taken once for credit. Students must register with the Program Director for their track as the course director. 

Cost

Mayo Clinic employees accepted into the Master’s program continue to receive the salary from their primary appointment and do not receive a stipend from MCGSBS. 

Program fees are charged for many Master’s programs to cover administrative costs, due upon admission. The cost is covered by Mayo Clinic funds, either by the candidate’s home department or lab.

Suggested Sequence

This is a suggested sequence based on a summer term start. Individual course plans may vary depending on true start date, program, employment/personal commitments, and research interests. Be sure to confirm you have met your requirements using your degree planning tool. Course offerings may vary slightly. Current course offerings are posted in the course catalog.

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
First Year - Summer Term
MGS 6000	Responsible Conduct of Research	1

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
First Year - Fall Term
BMB 5100	Chemical Principles of Biopolymer Systems	2
MPET 5808	Introduction to Molecular Pharmacology	4
MPET 6800	Research Seminars in Pharmacology	1

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
First Year - Winter Term
BMB 5150	Molecular Cell Biology	2
MPET 6805	Drug Metabolism and Pharmacogenomics	2

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
First Year - Spring Term
MPET 5900	Molecular Pharmacology and Receptor Signaling	3
Electives

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Second Year - Summer Term
Electives

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Second Year - Fall Term
MPET 6450	Applied Data Science and Artificial Intelligence in Pharmacology	2
MPET 6800	Research Seminars in Pharmacology	1

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Second Year - Winter Term
Electives

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Second Year - Spring Term
Electives

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Third Year - Summer Term
Electives

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Third Year - Fall Term
MPET 6800	Research Seminars in Pharmacology	1
Electives

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Third Year - Winter Term
Electives

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Third Year - Spring Term
Electives

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Fourth Year - Summer Term
Electives

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Fourth Year - Fall Term
MPET 6800	Research Seminars in Pharmacology	1
Electives

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Fourth Year - Winter Term
Electives

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Fourth Year - Spring Term
Electives

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Fifth Year - Summer Term
Electives

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Fifth Year - Fall Term
Electives

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Fifth Year - Winter Term
Electives

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Fifth Year - Spring Term
MGS 6400	Master's Capstone Project	6
Electives