Curriculum

WORLD CLASS EDUCATION

The GSAT program is a multidisciplinary graduate program focused on genomic research and advanced technology development, designed and taught by leading scientists in Vancouver, Canada. Generally, students complete their course work during the first nine months of study. Graduate students proceeding towards a Ph.D. degree are required to pass an oral Qualifying Examination within 36 months of beginning their graduate studies.

M.Sc. Program

  • One mandatory course
  • Three elective courses
    • Statistics/Computer Sciences/Mathematics/Engineering course – Term 1 or 2: 3 credits
    • Genetics/Genomics/Proteomics/Molecular Biology course – Term 1 or 2: 3 credits
  • M.Sc. thesis course (GSAT 559) – 18 credits
  • Two Mandatory Professional Development Courses

As part of the requirement for the GSAT program, students must take two professional development workshops by the end of their second year in the program.  Below is an example of the kind of workshop required. These workshops are things like interviewing skills, presentation skills, TA workshops, etc. The program will pay the cost of this if there is a fee associated with it. Proof of enrollment is required.

Courses/workshops can be found at: ctlt.ubc.ca/ and at Graduate Studies Pathways to Success programs: www.grad.ubc.ca/current-students/gps-graduate-pathways-success

Students can also find workshops offered throughMITACS-STEP 
program:www.mitacs.ca/seminars-and-workshops and Center for Drug Research and Development: http://www.cdrd.ca/

GSAT Research Rotation Award

All candidates accepted into the GSAT program will be considered for this award. Students with research rotation awards will participate in three 4-week research rotations in their first semester (Sept-Dec). These research rotations, undertaken at various venues and laboratories, provide collaborative research projects from the different academic centres, and amongst the program faculty. Trainees will select an appraised proposal based on their research interest and career goals. These rotations will provide the students with knowledge and technical skills from different disciplines and engage students in a vast array of methodological approaches that are important in resolving major scientific challenges. Examples of various research rotation opportunities can be found on the Research Rotation Curriculum page.

Students who do not qualify for a research rotation award will have the exact same mandatory and elective course requirements, for a total of 12 course credits. These students will not undertake research rotations. NOTE: If the student is entering the program with their own funding (i.e. CIHR, NSERC, MSFHR) they must undertake the research rotations.

All students complete their course work over their first year of study and then finish either a Master’s degree in year two, or transfer to the Ph.D. program (transfer must be undertaken before 2 years of graduate studies is complete, and can only be done at the beginning of a term). For either degree, a student completes a research-based thesis project in a participating program faculty’s laboratory.

Ph.D. Program (entering from M.Sc.)

  • There are no formal course requirements
  • Register for Ph.D. thesis course (GSAT 699) – O credits
  • A pass on the Ph.D. oral Qualifying Exam based on a research proposal (must be completed within 36 months of start date)
  • Presentation of an exit seminar before Ph.D. defense

Additional information on the Genome Science + Technology program can be obtained directly from the Program Coordinator:

Sharon Ruschkowski
100-570 West 7th Avenue
Vancouver, BC V5Z 4S6
Tel: 604-707-5803
Fax: 604-876-3561
sharonr[at]bcgsc.ca