Picture of grads in coats at the white coat ceremony
Molecular & Integrative Physiology Master's Program Tracks

The program starts in late August or early September. Coursework Track students finish by the end of June, while Research Track students may finish by mid-August.  For those planning to enter Health Professional school immediately after, the program ensures timely completion of requirements.

Research Track students who begin laboratory work earlier, such as July 1 or August 1, can potentially complete sooner. To earn an MS degree in Physiology on the Research Track, students typically enroll for the Fall, Winter, and Summer half-term, concluding in mid-August, and engage in lab (list of potential mentors) work during the Spring half-term without incurring tuition costs.
Coureswork Track

For Coursework Track students, enrollment in a 3-credit Capstone Project is required in the Spring half-term.

Core Courses

Elective Courses

Core Courses

Very Highly Recommended Courses

Optional: Physiol 704 (1 cr): Peer-Facilitated Capstone Development
This 1-credit course is graded on a satisfactory/unsatisfactory basis. 
Please note: This 1 credit cannot count towards one of the minimum 34 credits to graduate, but must be taken in addition to those minimum 34 credits.

Important information for students relying on federal financial aid:
In early 2020, the government made a policy change regarding the minimum number of credits in which a student must enroll to be eligible for federal financial aid. The Registrar’s Office determined 8 credits is minimum full-time enrollment. Since students are required to be enrolled half-time in any term to be eligible to receive federal financial aid (and sometimes private loans, as well), graduate students must be enrolled in at least 4 credits during the Sp, Su, or Sp/Su terms as well as the Fall and Winter terms to remain eligible to receive federal financial aid.

Any student may elect to enroll in this optional, 1-credit course.
Course Offerings

If you are not a current U-M student or recent alumni, the above hyperlinks may not be available to you. For your convenience, we have included the information for most courses in a pdf document posted in the Dropbox folder.

Resources for Applicants
Research Track

Students must spend at least 10-11 months in the lab, with an additional month for their final project. Starting lab work before the Fall term can expedite completion; for example, a July 1 start might allow for a mid-June finish, while an August 1 start might result in a mid-July completion.

Research Track students must complete:

  • 6 credits of independent research in the Fall term
  • 8 credits of independent research in the Winter term
  • A 3-credit Research Capstone Project during the Spring or Summer half-term

All courses, both required and elective, must be taken for a letter grade if that option is available. Any exceptions, such as opting for a Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory grading scheme, require prior approval from the Program Directors and Advisor, and this must be obtained before the registration period for that semester.

Core Courses

Very Highly Recommended Course

Elective Course Options

Core Courses

Very Highly Recommended Course

Elective Course Options

Research Track students are expected to develop their research projects and work in their research laboratories, even though they do not register or pay tuition during the Spring half-term. To earn an MS degree, students must complete a minimum of 10-11 months in the lab, typically with an additional month to write and present the final project. Starting lab work before the Fall term can expedite completion; for example, beginning on July 1 could facilitate a mid-June finish, while starting on August 1 might result in completion by mid-July.

Students may choose to enroll in Physiology 703 (3 credits, Spring half-term): Physiology Masters Research Project, if they start in their laboratory early. Additionally, there is an optional course:

  • Physiol 704: Peer-Facilitated Capstone Development (1 credit, satisfactory/unsatisfactory) - This course involves peer-facilitated instructional activities such as discussions and critiques of capstone materials and presentations in development. Note that this 1 credit cannot count toward the minimum 34 credits required for graduation.

Students relying on federal financial aid must be mindful of enrollment requirements. In early 2020, federal policy changes mandated that students must be enrolled at least half-time (4 credits) per term to be eligible for federal financial aid, including both public and private loans. Therefore, graduate students must enroll in a minimum of 4 credits during the Spring, Summer, or Spring/Summer terms, as well as in the Fall and Winter terms, to maintain financial aid eligibility.

Course Requirements

  • Physiology 703 (3 credits, Summer half-term): Physiology Masters Research Project
    • Optional Course: Physiol 704 (1 credit): Peer-Facilitated Capstone Development

Course Description

  • Physiol 704 involves peer-facilitated instructional activities, including:
  • Discussions of written capstone materials-in-development
  • Critiques of oral capstone presentations-in-development for students enrolled in either Physiol 700 or Physiol 703
  • This 1-credit course is graded on a satisfactory/unsatisfactory basis and cannot count toward the minimum 34 credits required for graduation, but it must be taken in addition to those credits. Any student may elect to enroll in this optional course.

Important Information for Students Relying on Federal Financial Aid

  • Following a policy change in early 2020, students must be enrolled in at least 8 credits per term for full-time status.
  • To be eligible for federal financial aid, students must be enrolled at least half-time (4 credits) during the Spring, Summer, or Spring/Summer terms, as well as the Fall and Winter terms.
  • This requirement also applies to eligibility for some private loans.
Mentors & Projects for Research Track

Examples of research projects that may be available to research track students.

Explore research projects