UCSF is a health sciences campus and offers graduate degrees in the biological, biomedical, pharmaceutical, nursing, social and behavioral sciences. The success and superb ranking of our graduate programs nationally are due to the outstanding faculty research done here. Our degree-granting programs are organized around several inter-disciplinary research areas which often contain members from several departments. Currently, there are 19 degree programs, the majority of which are ranked in the top ten, nationally. To find out more about the research done on our campus, please investigate the individual degree and research programs listed below.
The University of California, San Francisco has long been a center of research and graduate training in biomedical sciences, and the University of California, Berkeley is universally acknowledged for excellence in engineering, and the physical and life sciences. The Joint Graduate Program in Bioengineering combines the resources of UC Berkeley and UC San Francisco and represents a multidisciplinary training program to the solution of problems in medicine and biology, based on the application of engineering and technology.
The purpose of the Biological and Medical Informatics Program is to train the next generation of biomedical informatics researchers. Graduate students will focus on theoretical, mathematical, and computational approaches to understanding biology at the molecular level. Research areas include the sequence-structure-function paradigm, as well as translational research in computational drug design, pharmacogenomics, and functional genomics.
The Biomedical Sciences (BMS) Graduate Program trains students in research disciplines relevant to the understanding of the cell and molecular biology of human development, physiology and disease. The BMS program has eight main research themes: Cancer Biology and Cell Signaling, Immunology, Microbial Pathogenesis and Virology, Vascular and Cardiac Biology, Tissue Biology and Endocrinology, Neurobiology and Brain Research, Stem Cell and Developmental Biology, and Human Genetics and Genomics.
The Graduate Group in Biophysics trains students who wish to employ the quantitative approaches of physics, chemistry and engineering to understanding the complexities of biological processes. Student interest is focused in areas of structural and computational biology, genomics, proteomics, cell biology and chemistry.
The Cell Biology Program is designed for students interested in the molecular basis of cellular processes such as membrane trafficking, cell division, cytoskeletal function, signal transduction and development. Faculty in the program use a wide variety of experimental approaches, including biochemistry, microscopy, structural methods, and genetics.
The Chemistry and Chemical Biology (CCB) Graduate Program fosters research that develops and uses chemical strategies to understand and control fundamental biological processes. CCB provides a rich venue for chemical, biochemical, and molecular research as it bridges the traditional disciplines of chemistry and biology.
The Master's Degree Program in Clinical Research is a two year course of study intended for individuals who wish to master clinical research methods and pursue independent clinical research careers. Course work includes instruction in advanced epidemiology and biostatistics as well as specialized topics such as outcomes research, medical informatics, molecular methods in clinical research, and decision and cost-effectiveness analysis.
The Tetrad Program in Developmental Biology trains investigators to apply the techniques of modern molecular biology, genetics, cell biology, and immunology, in conjunction with the methods of classical experimental embryology, to solve the questions of how embryonic development and differentiation are achieved.
The Masters of Science degree in Global Health Sciences provides students or practitioners in the health sciences profession with leadership skills and mastery in the emerging field of global health. The curriculum integrates content and application using representative case-based studies that cross traditional disciplines. By emphasizing a multi-disciplinary approach, this degree will uniquely prepare graduates for careers in international policy, academia, health care, interventions, research, or development. The program emphasizes process skills such as oral and written communication, strategic planning, risk assessment, program management, and teamwork.
The Graduate Program in the History of Health Sciences strives to advance knowledge of critical issues in medical research and health care in historical as well as contemporary contexts; provide health sciences and history students with a sense of professional identity and vision; offer a program of historical studies for individuals interested in careers of research and education in the field; and contribute to the public debates and understanding of bio-medical science, illness and health care.
The Medical Anthropology graduate program is designed for students interested in the study of socio-cultural factors which influence biomedical phenomena and the perception, organization and delivery of healing activities, as well as the ways in which medicine and human biology help in the understanding of socio-cultural phenomena. The graduate Program in Medical Anthropology offers training in the methods of critical medical anthropology, the study of science, technology and medicine, and encourages cross-disciplinary links to the History of Health Sciences Program.
The Neuroscience Program offers a comprehensive curriculum intended to introduce students to all areas of nervous system research. Thematic areas of research carried out by faculty in the program include Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Neurobiology, Systems, Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience, and Addictive, Neurodegenerative and Neuropsychiatric Disorders.
The UCSF School of Nursing offers three separate programs; a Nursing doctoral program that prepares scientists to conduct research in nursing and to contribute to the body of knowledge in nursing; a Nursing Master's Program that prepares leaders in the advanced practice roles of clinical nurse specialist, nurse practitioner, nurse-midwife, administrator, teacher, and consultant; and a Master's Entry Program in Nursing – a first professional degree program designed for persons with baccalaureate degrees in other disciplines who are ready to make a career commitment to heath care through nursing.
The Oral and Craniofacial Sciences Graduate Group offers Ph.D. programs in two areas: 1) biomedical sciences and 2) biomaterials and bioengineering, as well as MS programs for dental specialty residents. Ph.D. programs are available for DDS/PhD students, DDS degree holders, other health professionals, and BS/BA degree holders with a strong commitment to research in relevant areas who seek outstanding training leading to academic, professional and research careers.
The Pharmaceutical Sciences & Pharmacogenomics (PSPG) graduate program is a multidisciplinary research program. Thesis research in the pharmaceutical sciences component leads to a Ph.D. in the biology, pharmacology or biocomputation involved in the discovery and development of novel medications. Thesis research in the Pharmacogenomics component leads to a Ph.D. related to the application of genetics, bioinformatics and genomics to understand drug action, drug metabolism and drug disposition.
The Graduate Program in Physical Therapy is a joint program with San Francisco State University that requires 36 months of study. It culminates in a MS in Physical Therapy. The student takes the licensing examination and then continues their studies in the DPT program. It is a rigorous curriculum emphasizing basic science, clinical science, evidence based practice, professionalism, research and clinical applications that prepares a knowledgeable professional who is prepared to practice in a direct access environment. A program of study leading to the D.P.T.Sc. is also available.
The Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences (SBS) offers a course of study leading to a Ph.D. in sociology, with major emphasis on the sociology of health, medicine, and health care systems, and substantive emphases in the sociology and social psychology of health and illness; health care policy, economics, and institutions; and science and technology studies; with additional areas of emphasis in aging, chronic illness, and disability; women, health, and healing; HIV/AIDS; violence as a health issue; gender/race/ethnicity and health disparities; and classical, interactionist, and contemporary theoretical perspectives. The principal aim of the program is to educate students interested in professional careers as sociologists in both academic and applied contexts, where they can contribute to the advancement of sociological knowledge, with an emphasis on the study of problems in health care, the evaluation of health programs and systems, and the analysis of health and public policies.