University of Windsor - Graduate Calendar, 1998-2000

Facilities are provided for students wishing to proceed to the degrees of Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy. Students may enrol in graduate studies in Chemistry and Biochemistry. One field of study in Chemistry is Clinical Chemistry, which is approved by the Canadian Academy of Clinical Biochemistry and is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Clinical Chemistry (U.S.A.).

4.2.1 THE DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY DEGREE

In addition to the general requirements outlined in 1.5.2, the following requirements must be met by all students proceeding to the Ph.D. degree:

1) Course Work: Candidates must complete successfully at least eight courses, including 59-710 (or four courses if the candidate enters the program with an M.Sc. degree) chosen from the available graduate offerings in the student's field or from related and cognate courses, with the approval of the Program Committee. Credit for up to a maximum of two courses may be given for equivalent courses taken as an undergraduate, provided that a grade of at least A- was achieved in the courses.

Ph.D. Candidates who are studying in the field of Clinical Chemistry are required to take the following core courses: 59-564, 59-680, 59-681, 59-682, 59-683, 59-684, and 59-686. Candidates who have taken any of these courses for an M.Sc. degree will be given credit for those courses successfully completed. They will also participate in a Hospital Rotation Program which is designated as the course, 59-689.

The program in the field of Clinical Chemistry is approved by the certification committee of the Canadian Academy of Clinical Biochemistry as fulfilling all of the academic requirements, and one year of the required practical experience. The Ph.D. program is also accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Clinical Chemistry (U.S.A.).

2) Seminars: In addition to the above course work, students must attend the regular departmental Seminar (59-795) throughout their Ph.D. studies and present at least one seminar on their research as a fulfilment of this requirement.

3) Dissertation: The principal requirement for the Ph.D. degree is the presentation of a dissertation which embodies the results of an original investigation (59-798). For general requirements of the dissertation, see 1.5.3.

A student who fails to achieve satisfactory performance in all aspects of the program (e.g., course work, seminars, and dissertation work) may be required to withdraw.

4) Doctoral Committee: The Ph.D. committee is chosen in the manner described in 1.5.2. This committee will meet with the student annually to review his or her progress. As part of this review the student will present a short seminar on his or her research progress.

5) Examinations: In addition to examinations connected with course work, all students proceeding to the Ph.D. degree must meet the following requirements:

(a) Qualifying Examination for Admission to the Ph.D. Program: Students who wish to transfer to a Ph.D. program from an M.Sc. program will be required to satisfactorily complete an oral comprehensive examination in the first twenty-four months of graduate study prior to transfer. For students who enrol directly in a Ph.D. program, the qualifying examination must be completed within the first twelve months of the doctoral program. The examination will take the form of a ten to twenty minute presentation of the student's research work to date, followed by a question and answer session in which the student's depth of knowledge of the field of research and the underlying chemical and/or biochemical principles will be examined. The student may be assessed by a committee of three members comprised of the research advisor and two other faculty members from Chemistry and Biochemistry. As a guide to the student, the committee may provide some directed readings prior to the examination. The student will be expected to understand the subject matter and background of these topics. A grade of Pass or Fail will be given. In the event of a failing grade, the student may be allowed a second examination within one month, or a specific assignment for subsequent evaluation at the discretion of the examining committee. It may be possible that the student will not be allowed to repeat the examination.

(b) Final Examination: Each candidate will take a final oral examination in defense of the dissertation on the recommendation of the doctoral committee. An external examiner, chosen for acknowledged scholarship in the appropriate field of chemistry, biochemistry or clinical chemistry, will normally be present during the oral examination. The external examiner will be selected by the doctoral committee, subject to the approval of the Executive Dean of Graduate Studies and Research. The examination will be public and will involve a short seminar presentation by the candidate. The examination will be chaired by the Executive Dean of Graduate Studies and Research or delegate.

4.2.2 THE MASTER OF SCIENCE DEGREE

In addition to the general requirements and stipulations outlined in 1.6.2 for the Master's degree, the following requirements must be met by students proceeding to the M.Sc. degree.

1) Course Work: Candidates must complete successfully at least four courses chosen from the available graduate offerings in the student's field or from related and cognate courses, with the approval of the Program Committee. Credit for up to a maximum of two courses may be given for equivalent courses taken as an undergraduate, provided a grade of at least A- was achieved in the course.

M.Sc. candidates in Clinical Chemistry will be required to take the following core courses: 59-680, 59-681, 59-682, and 59-683. These candidates will also take a Practical Laboratory Methodology course (59-589).
The M.Sc. program in Clinical Chemistry is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Clinical Chemistry (U.S.A.). This program has been approved by the National Registry in Clinical Chemistry (U.S.A.) as fulfilling all of the academic requirements and a portion of the practical experience for certification by examination at the Clinical Chemist level.

2) Seminars: In addition to the above course work, students must attend the regular departmental Seminar (59-795) throughout their M.Sc. studies and present at least one seminar on their research as a fulfilment of this requirement.

3) Thesis: A student must undertake original research and embody the results in a thesis (59-797). The student will then be examined by a committee.
A student who fails to achieve satisfactory performance in all aspects of the program (e.g., course work, seminars, thesis work or major critique) may be required to withdraw.

4) Master's Committee and Final Examinations: The Master's committee is chosen in the manner described in 1.6.2. The final examination will take the form of an open seminar in the presence of the Master's committee (see 1.6.2). The examination will be open to the public.

4.2.3 POSTDOCTORAL DIPLOMA PROGRAM IN CLINICAL CHEMISTRY

Admission Requirements

Postdoctoral trainees will be selected from candidates who hold a Doctor of Philosophy in Biochemistry or Chemistry. Trainees may also be chosen from graduates in other related fields, provided that their training in chemistry and biochemistry is demonstrably adequate.

Program Requirements

1) Residence Requirements: The postdoctoral diploma program is of three years duration on a full-time basis, i.e., thirty-six months. This period may not be counted as residence for a Ph.D. program at the University of Windsor.

2) Course Work: Trainees in this program must successfully complete the following minimum course work:

(a) Clinical Biochemistry (59-680 and 59-681), Biochemical Diagnosis of Disease (59-682 and 59-683), Pathophysiology (59-684), Advanced Bioanalytical Topics (59-686) and DNA Science and Diagnostics (59-564).
(b) Seminar (59-795) to be taken each year in which the trainee is registered.
(c) Clinical Chemistry Laboratory Methodology (59-589) and Clinical Chemistry Research and Development (59-689) for a total of 2000 hours. These courses will be in the form of practical laboratory experience at one or more of the following hospitals in Windsor: Hotel Dieu/Grace Hospital, Windsor Regional Hospital; or at Henry Ford Hospital or Detroit Medical Centre in Detroit, Michigan.

Trainees will be expected to undertake an original piece of research of publishable standard and to be prepared to present it at a scientific meeting. The research may be in the fields of Clinical Chemistry, Biochemistry of Disease, or Biochemistry.

3) Additional Course Requirements: A trainee may be required to take a minimum of six courses. These courses will be assigned to the trainees as required in order to give them a thorough background in the appropriate areas of Chemistry, Biochemistry, and Biology. Advanced standing will normally be granted for courses previously taken.

Any trainee who fails to maintain satisfactory standing in course work, Clinical Chemistry Laboratory Methodology (59-589) and Clinical Chemistry Research and Development (59-689), or research, may be required to withdraw.

4) Diploma Committee: The Director of the Clinical Chemistry Program will establish the trainee's diploma committee in consultation with the Executive Dean of Graduate Studies and Research. This committee will consist of four members, three of whom will be chosen from Chemistry and Biochemistry, and will include the Adjunct Professor at the appropriate hospital. The committee will meet with the trainee to review his or her progress as necessary.

Plan of Work for Postdoctoral Training Program

First Year (12 months)

September—April: Course work and initiation of a research project. May—August: Clinical Chemistry Laboratory Methodology (59-589), 700 Hours minimum. This latter portion of time (seventeen weeks) will be spent obtaining practical experience in a hospital laboratory under the joint direction of a faculty member of the University and the pathologist, who is an Adjunct Professor in Chemistry and Biochemistry at the University. During this period the trainee will be required to obtain a reasonable mastery of the various operations of a clinical chemistry laboratory. Rotation through the various areas of the laboratory, as well as various sections of the clinical chemistry laboratory, will be required. At this stage orientation regarding administration of the laboratory will be carried out.

Second Year (12 months)

September—August: Remaining course work, if any, will be completed during the second year, and research will be continued. The time distribution between the hospital experience and university/hospital research (59-689) will be on a 40%/ 60% basis in all the following periods:

1) Two months will be spent in special and developmental chemistry, and further experience in laboratory administration will be gained.

2) Four months will be spent in developmental chemistry, and the administration of a section of the clinical chemistry laboratory will be undertaken.

3) Six months will be spent in the administration of the clinical chemistry laboratory (gradually taking over the major administrative function of the entire clinical chemistry laboratory) under the supervision of the Adjunct Professor.

4) Two months will be spent in molecular diagnosis of disease and DNA diagnostics.

Third Year (12 months)

In the last year, the trainees will train in other areas of laboratory medicine including immunology, hematology, and microbiology. The trainees will spend at least eight weeks in each of the above areas at one of the designated hospitals.The remaining time will be devoted to research at either the university or one of the hospital sites. During this period the trainees will also be exposed to informatics and management aspects of the clinical laboratory.

In order to ensure that the trainees obtain maximum experience in all the phases of clinical chemistry available in Windsor, rotation from hospital to hospital will occur as required during the latter training period.
Participation in Professional Meetings: During the second year, trainees will be strongly encouraged to attend a meeting of clinical chemists (e.g., Canadian Society of Clinical Chemists, American Association for Clinical Chemistry) and present a paper on the subject of their research. The subject of this paper will, if possible, be submitted for publication.

Trainees will also be required to participate in and give conferences dealing with Clinical Chemistry or Clinical Biochemistry on a regular basis along with other clinical chemists, graduate students in Clinical Chemistry and the Adjunct Professors from the affiliated hospitals.

The Postdoctoral Diploma is approved as fulfilling all of the academic requirements and the required practical experience by the certification committee of the Canadian Society of Clinical Chemists. The Postdoctoral Program is accredited by the Canadian Academy of Clinical Biochemistry and the Commission on Accreditation in Clinical Chemistry (U.S.A.).

©1997 University of Windsor
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