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The Graduate School is committed to advancing academic excellence in graduate and postdoctoral education and training. We have several departments that can assist you with questions regarding professional development activities, administrative processes, and graduate student success initiatives.
Office Hours: 8 A.M. to 5 P.M., Monday through Friday
Campus Location: MS 4.01.52
Phone:210-458-4331
Fax: 210-458-4332
Email: graduate.school@utsa.edu
Questions regarding admissions and recruiting.
Translational Science (Ph.D.)
Basic Degree Information/Description
A new joint doctoral degree – a Ph.D. in Translational Science (TS Ph.D.) – has been approved by the University of Texas System and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB). In line with a field of science that emphasizes multi-disciplinary, collaborative research, the proposed doctoral degree program in Translational Science is offered as a multi-institutional joint degree program. The four UT System universities partnering in this effort are:
- The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (UTHSCSA)
- The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA)
- The University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin)
- The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston - School of Public Health
The goal of the Translational Science Ph.D. Program is to provide an in-depth, rigorous, and individualized multi-disciplinary and multi-institutional research education and training program in translational science that will prepare research scientists to integrate information from multiple domains and conduct independent and team-oriented research to improve human and global health.
Why pursue a Ph.D. in Translational Science?
For many years, extensive national resources have been devoted to basic biomedical (bench) and clinical (human subject) research; however, significant barriers continue to exist in moving knowledge bi-directionally between basic research, clinical research, and applications to improve health outcomes in individuals and the community. These barriers make it difficult to efficiently and effectively translate new knowledge into improved patient care.
To remedy these problems, Translational Science is emerging as an academic and scientific discipline. Translational Science (TS) is a scientific discipline that investigates methods to move discovery more efficiently and effectively into application. TS investigators must respond, interact, facilitate change, and conduct research within and among varied organizational behaviors, structures, and cultures. TS conducts rigorous studies that close the knowledge gaps between different levels of the research process – the basic science laboratory, clinical research discoveries, and application of these research findings toward disease prevention and management, and strategies to improve human, community, and global health. Translational research is often defined at two levels: (T1) Applying and advancing research-generated discoveries in the laboratory to research trials in human subjects; and (T2) Research that promotes the adoption of best practices in clinical practice settings and the community and policy development.
Admission Requirements and Prerequisites
| Required Degree | Completion of, or enrollment in, an advanced Professional Degree (e.g., M.D., D.O., D.D.S., MSN, Pharm.D.), completion of a Master’s or Doctoral degree, preferably in a health-related, science, public health or social science discipline, or enrollment as a M.D./Ph.D. student with successful completion of the two-year pre-clinical curriculum. Enrollment/graduation must be from an accredited college or university in the United States, or proof of equivalent training at a foreign institution, with a minimum grade point average of 3.0 in the professional and/or graduate work. |
| Other Degree Requirements | A copy of the applicant’s U.S. medical or other health professional license or certificate, if applicable. |
Application Requirements:
| General University Requirements | Must meet university wide requirements. |
| Application | A completed a Graduate School application. |
| Transcripts | Official transcripts from all institutions attended. All international transcripts must be recorded in English or officially translated to English. |
| Resume or Curriculum Vitae | A current Curriculum Vitae |
| Letters of Recommendation | Recommendation Forms and letters of recommendation from three (3) faculty or other individuals who are familiar with and can provide information about the applicant’s academic, research, and/or professional abilities and performance, in addition to the applicant’s potential to succeed in a doctoral program and develop into an independent research investigator |
| Statement of Purpose | A personal statement (1–3 pages) that describes the applicant’s past training and experience, future career goals and objectives, scientific research interest, and how the TS Ph.D. program will prepare them to achieve their stated research interest and career goals. The Personal Statement should include but is not limited to:
|
| Test Scores | Not Required. |
| Evaluation of Foreign Credentials |
All applicants including non-U.S. citizens (International), U.S. Citizens, and permanent residents who have earned university-level credit from foreign institutions are required to submit official transcripts along with an evaluation of the transcripts from Foreign Credentials Service of America.
|
| International Applicants |
Must meet international graduate student admission requirements Official Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score, with a score of at least an 84 iBT, or a score of 7.0 on the Academic Examination of the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), for applicants whose native language is not English. Applicants whose scores fall below the minimum requirement will be further assessed for English comprehension skills. TOEFL may be waived for applicants whose post-secondary education was conducted with English as the language of instruction. ECFMG certified physicians will also be granted a TOEFL waiver. |
| Other | None. |
Full-Time or Part-Time Attendance Requirement: Full-Time or Part-Time
Degree Website: http://iims.uthscsa.edu/ed_trans_sci_phd.html
Online Application: http://gsbs.uthscsa.edu/prospective_students/gsbs-...
Degree Catalog Link: http://iims.uthscsa.edu/ed_trans_sci_phd_requirements.html
Contact Information
- University of Texas at San Antonio Representative
Kristi Johnson
Management Analyst
The University of Texas at San Antonio
Office: 210-458-5191
Email: kristi.johnson@utsa.edu - Graduate Advisor of Record
Christopher R. Frei, PharmD, MSc
Program Director
The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
Office: 210-567-8371
Fax: 210-567-8328
Email: freic@uthscsa.edu - University of Texas at Health Sciences at San Antonio Representative (Translational Science program only)
Giovanna D'Ambra
Senior Project Coordinator
University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
Office: 210-567-8094
Email: dambra@uthscsa.edu