Offered in collaboration with our Clinical and Translational Science Institute, NYU Grossman School of Medicine’s dual MD/MS in Clinical Investigation (MSCI) with a specialized focus on translational research is designed for students who want to pursue a career in translational research—applying research advances to the development of new medical therapies.

As a student in this dual degree program, you take courses on topics including research design, biostatistics, epidemiology, drug design, and manuscript writing. You also complete an original research project under the guidance of a faculty mentor and the program director.

In weekly seminars, you exchange ideas with other students, discuss problems encountered during your research, and develop solutions. This experience allows you to be part of our vibrant community of researchers.

Throughout the program, your faculty mentor and the program director track your progress and set benchmarks, which include submitting research abstracts and manuscripts for publication and presenting at national research meetings. The program culminates with a written thesis and oral defense based on your original research.

Timeline for Completing the Program

The 31-credit MSCI can be completed with the MD degree by adding an additional year of training into your MD degree. After your clerkship year in the MD curriculum, you will join us for your dual degree year. During that time you will focus full time on the MS in translational research before returning to complete your final year in medical school.

During your final year in your MD program, you resume your MD training and at the same time, you complete a limited amount of MS coursework and finish your research. You receive the same level of mentoring and complete the same milestones as postdoctoral fellows, except you write a reflective thesis based on your research instead of the grant proposal required of postdoctoral fellows.

Time allotted for electives in the medical school curriculum can be used during your final year to complete your research. With this project, you earn 12 elective credit weeks that count toward your MD degree and 12 independent research credits that count toward the MS degree.

MS in Clinical Investigation Courses in the Dual Degree Curriculum

Program Application, Tuition, and Funding

You apply to the MD/MSCI in translational research directly through the Clinical and Translational Science Institute during the spring of your second year at NYU Grossman School of Medicine. As part of your application, you choose a research project and faculty mentor and submit your CV, a personal statement, and three letters of recommendation. The program leadership can assist you with identifying a faculty mentor if you need assistance.

Students receive an NYU Grossman School of Medicine Full-Tuition Scholarship to cover the cost of tuition for the MD degree program, provided each student maintains satisfactory academic progress in accordance with NYU Grossman School of Medicine’s Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy. For the MSCI portion of the degree, tuition discounts are available from the National Institutes of Health. For more information about tuition rates, merit-based scholarships, and other options for financing your MSCI in translational research, contact the program.

Contact Us

For more information about the MD/MSCI in translational research, email MSCIDualDegree@NYULangone.org.

For additional information about this and other dual MD/master’s degree programs, contact Olivia Haines, dual degree advisor, at Olivia.Haines@NYULangone.org.