Graduate Program
The Department of Pathology and Anatomical Sciences offers a Master's (MS) degree in Pathology and Doctoral (PhD) degrees through either (1) the Pathobiology Area Program in general or as part of the Integrative Anatomy emphasis area within the Pathobiology Area Program or (2) the Interdisciplinary Neuroscience Program. Our academic programs capitalize on the strengths and diverse resources of the PAS faculty and provide students with the flexibility to achieve their individual goals. Please direct questions regarding the application process, deadlines, and material to the Director of Graduate Studies (see below).
MS in Pathology
The MS in Pathology is a flexible, research-oriented degree program. Students are required to meet all Graduate School requirements and complete an MS thesis. Specific plan of study is worked out with the student's advisor. We recommend that you contact a potential advisor before applying. If you are interested in a MS in Pathology, please contact the Director of Graduate Studies before applying online.
Applications for admissions are due yearly on the second Friday of January for Fall semester matriculation.
Degree Requirements:
Each candidate for the master’s degree is required to complete a minimum of 30 semester hours at the 8000 or 9000 level and no more than 12 hours of research, problems or special investigations. Maintenance of a B or better GPA in graduate course work is required. Candidates also must satisfactorily complete a thesis. A candidate is expected to demonstrate knowledge of clinical and/or basic science research techniques and to defend the thesis. Faculty members advise students in the preparation of a plan of study. Required courses and those of special interest should complement the student’s academic background and career objectives.
PhD through the Pathobiology Area Program
The Department of Pathology and Anatomical Sciences in the School of Medicine offers a PhD degree through the Pathobiology Area Program. The exceptional diversity of faculty in this program affords a wide variety of opportunities for translational and basic science research directed at questions in genetics, neuroscience, cancer biology and integrative/evolutionary anatomy. If you are interested in obtaining a PhD in this (or other) doctoral programs with faculty in Pathology and Anatomical Sciences, please contact the Director of Graduate Studies before applying online.
Degree Requirements:
Students are required to complete the minimum doctoral requirements of the Graduate School. These include 72 semester hours beyond the baccalaureate degree, including research and readings credits, to be approved by the doctoral advisor. Up to 30 hours of post-baccalaureate credit from an accredited institution may be transferred toward the doctoral degree. Further details are available online from the MU Graduate School. Resources for research in integrative anatomy, genetics, pathobiology, cancer biology and neuroscience include standard and special-use equipment in the departmental laboratories. Faculty and staff members provide guidance and practical supervision in clinical, translational, experimental and basic-science research.
For further information regarding the program, requirement and admission criteria, go to the Pathobiology Area Program.
Applications for admissions are due yearly on the second Friday of January for Fall semester matriculation.
PhD in Integrative Anatomy (emphasis area of Pathobiology)
Students interested in the study of evolutionary and/or Integrative Anatomy (IA) may apply specifically to this emphasis area within the Pathobiology Area Program. Our graduate training emphasizes a flexible interdisciplinary approach to the education of doctoral students, with a current and growing core of closely-knit faculty in the Department of Pathology and Anatomical Sciences at the University of Missouri School of Medicine. The University of Missouri-Columbia (MU) is unique in affording access to a wide variety of resources on the same campus, some of which include the School of Medicine, College of Arts and Sciences, College of Engineering, College of Veterinary Medicine and Bond Life Sciences Center. This proximity facilitates access to exceptionally diverse and cutting-edge resources, with myriad cross-disciplinary opportunities for translational and evolutionary research and education. In combination with the technical and theoretical proficiency of IA faculty, we capitalize on emerging approaches from allied programs in pathobiology and the life sciences. Campus-wide, there are numerous faculty and student groups with exciting research interests that complement those of IA. If you are interested in obtaining a PhD in Integrative Anatomy, please contact the Director of Graduate Studies before applying online.
Degree Requirements:
Integrative Anatomy PhD students are required to complete the minimum requirements of the MU Graduate School. These include 72 semester hours beyond the baccalaureate degree, including research and readings credits, to be approved by the doctoral advisor. Up to 30 hours of post-baccalaureate credit from an accredited institution may be transferred toward the doctoral degree. Further details are available online from the MU Graduate School. They also take courses in human gross anatomy, evolutionary biology, evolutionary morphology, statistics and the ethical conduct of research, as well as participating in journal club, outreach activities, and teaching. Students must pass comprehensive exams and defend a research proposal, and must complete and defend a written dissertation.
Applications for admissions are due yearly on the second Friday of January for Fall semester matriculation.
PhD through the Integrated Neurosciences Program
Neuroscience comprises a united field that integrates across many disciplines, and students from a variety of academic backgrounds are encouraged to apply to the Interdisciplinary Neuroscience Program (INP). At MU, neuroscientists investigate the molecular and cellular organization of the nervous system, the structure and function of neural systems (including vision and hearing), behaviors generated by the nervous system, and neurological diseases and disorders. Almost 50 neuroscience faculty members provide an ample supply of research teams, and state-of-the-art equipment in these labs allows neuroscientists at MU to perform their research at the cutting edge. New students must complete a baccalaureate degree or its equivalent before enrolling. U.S. residents and international applicants are strongly encouraged to apply. Students interested in the program are encouraged to contact members of the INP faculty directly by phone or email. For contact information see web pages for individual faculty. More information can be found at the INP website.
Degree Requirements:
Students must meet all requirements for the PhD set by the Graduate School. These include 72 semester hours beyond the baccalaureate degree, including research and readings credits, to be approved by the doctoral advisor. Up to 30 hours of post-baccalaureate credit from an accredited institution may be transferred toward the doctoral degree. Further details are available online from the MU Graduate School. The Neuroscience program provides a comprehensive course of study emphasizing: mentoring, research rotations, a strong and unifying core curriculum, teaching skills, a broadly-based and individualized program of study, writing and presentation skills and independent research. The goal of the Neuroscience Program is to provide extensive training in the areas of molecular, cellular, behavior and systems neuroscience. All students are required to take Integrative Neuroscience I & II. In consultation with their advisers, students are also required to take one course in cell/molecular (e.g., Developmental Neurobiology, Neural Pharmacology, Principles of Drug Action) and one in system/behavior (e.g., Cognitive Neurosciences, Functional Neuroscience, Sensory Physiology and Behavior). In addition, students will receive training in scientific ethics and in written and oral communication development.
Students interested in admission should use the application pages provided (Application Form, Reference Form; require Adobe Arcobat Reader) and also should contact:
Nila Emerich
218 Tucker Hall
Division of Biological Sciences
Columbia, MO 65211-7400
(573) 882-1847
1-800-553-5698
email: EmerichN@missouri.edu
Admission
Admission Requirements
- Undergraduate and Post-Graduate Transcripts
- Letters of recommendation: 3 required
- Statement of Purpose/Intent
- Curriculum vitae (or résumé)
Application Process
- Submit via the online application to the University of Missouri Graduate School:
- All required Graduate School and PAS documents, such as transcripts, GRE scores (Pathology [code 0215] or Anatomy [code 0201]), TOEFL or IELTS scores (if required; code 6875)
- Statement of purpose
- Letters of recommendation
- 3 letters of recommendation are required. Provide these names and contact information for each in the "Recommendation Provider List".
- Curriculum vitae or resume
- At least one writing sample (e.g., publications, proposals, upper-level course term papers, thesis, etc.)
- Although the MU Graduate School does not require GRE scores, these scores are required for all master's and doctoral programs within PAS.
- For masters program (MS degree)
- For "Admissions Category": choose Masters- On Campus
- For "Graduate Program to which you are seeking admissions": choose Pathology Master of Science (MS)
- For doctoral programs (PhD degree)
- "Admissions Category": choose Doctorate- On Campus
- "Graduate Program to which you are seeking admissions": choose Pathobiology Area Program Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
- "Please select your focus area": choose either Pathology and Anatomical Sciences or Integrative Anatomy. Choosing one of these focus areas ensures that the Director of Graduate Studies (Dr. Kevin Middleton) will be notified of your interest in pursuing training with faculty in Pathology and Anatomical Sciences. It is also recommended that you contact the Director of Graduate Studies by email to notify him that you have submitted an application to the Graduate School.
For additional information, also see:
Financial Aid
Financial aid may not be automatically provided by all programs. Some programs require an extra form or statement from those who wish to be considered for internal assistantships, fellowships or other funding packages. Check the program Web site or ask the Director of Graduate Studies for details regarding extra- and intra-mural programs and sources of funding (e.g. NSF Graduate Research Fellowships, MU Life Sciences Fellowships, MU Graduate Fellowships, and MU training grants).
Contact Information
Dr. Kevin Middleton
Associate Professor & Director of Graduate Studies
Department of Pathology & Anatomical Sciences
M263 Medical Sciences Building
University of Missouri School of Medicine
One Hospital Drive
Columbia, MO 65212
email: middletonk@missouri.edu
phone: 573-884-3192
fax: 573-884-4612
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