Welcome

The VCU School of Medicine offers a wide range of Master's degree programs with research training opportunities in cancer, neuroscience, drug addiction, microbiology, medical physics and other areas. Additionally, our Genetic Counseling and Medical Physics programs offer substantial clinical training opportunities. Master's students typically train under the guidance of faculty mentors and perform research or clinical work while taking advanced courses. Most students complete their degrees in two years.

Graduates of our programs can be competitive for further academic training, such as Ph.D. or M.D. programs, or may pursue research or other positions in academia, biotechnology or health care settings.

Master’s Programs

Need more information? Please explore below for major research areas, administrative contacts and application information for all M.S. programs in the VCU School of Medicine.

International Program in Addiction Studies

Research areas

  • Global burden and prevention findings
  • Addictions policy
  • Latest treatment recommendations

Program information

Mary Loos, Ph.D.
Program Director
meloos@vcuhealth.org
804-828-8019

Apply through the IPAS

Learn about the program

Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology

Research areas

  • Central nervous system circuit function
  • Glial cell biology
  • Molecular mechanisms of neuropsychiatric disorders

Program information

Kimberle Jacobs, Ph.D.
Program Director
kimberle.jacobs@vcuhealth.org

Apply through VCU Graduate Admissions

Learn about the program

Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Research areas

  • Bioactive lipids, metabolism in health and diseases
  • Cancer biology
  • Neuroscience

Program information

Tomasz Kordula, Ph.D.
Program Director
tomasz.kordula@vcuhealth.org

Apply through VCU Graduate Admissions

Learn about the program

Department of Human and Molecular Genetics

Research areas

  • Human, medical and public health genetics and genomics
  • Genetic principles as applied to clinical management, pathophysiology, disease prevention
  • Differential diagnosis, genetic testing, population screening

Program information

Tahnee Causey, M.S., LCGC
Program Director
tahnee.causey@vcuhealth.org
804-628-4078

Apply through VCU Graduate Admissions

Learn about the program

Department of Human and Molecular Genetics

Research areas

  • Complex disorders
  • Tumor biology and metastasis
  • Cancer gene therapy
  • Muscular dystrophy
  • Epigenetics

Program information

Rita Shiang, Ph.D.
Program Director
rita.shiang@vcuhealth.org
804-628-4083

Apply through VCU Graduate Admissions

Learn about the program

Department of Radiation Oncology

Program highlights

  • Clinical rotations
  • Directed research and thesis
  • Radiation dosimetry, radiobiology and physics of diagnostic imaging

 

Program contact

William Song, Ph.D., DABR, FAAPM
Program Director
william.song@vcuhealth.org

Apply through VCU Graduate Admissions

Learn about the program

Department of Microbiology and Immunology

Research areas

  • Microbial Molecular Pathogenesis, Genomics & Translational Science
  • Cancer Biology
  • Immunopathology & Immunotherapy

Program information

Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology

Research areas

  • Drug and alcohol abuse
  • Neuroscience
  • Cancer
  • Cardiovascular
  • Gastrointestinal pharmacology

Program information

Keith L. Shelton, Ph.D.
Director of Graduate Education
keith.shelton@vcuhealth.org

Apply through VCU Graduate Admissions

Learn about the program

Department of Physiology and Biophysics

Research areas

  • Molecular biophysics
  • Cardiovascular
  • Gastrointestinal
  • Chemical senses

Program information

Christina I. Kyrus, M.S.
Program Coordinator
cikyrus@vcu.edu
804-628-5506

Apply through VCU Graduate Admissions

Learn about the program

Financial Support

Due to limited resources, M.S. students do not typically receive direct financial support for tuition and fees, but M.S. students are eligible for travel grants from the School of Medicine and the Graduate School. Please see VCU Student Accounting for the most recent information on tuition and fees. U.S. citizens and permanent residents should contact the School of Medicine Financial Aid Office for information on financial aid.

VCU School of Medicine Financial Aid Office

For more information about specific programs, please fill out our graduate education contact form.