General Information

This legacy grad program follows all policies and procedures of the APP grad program.

The Physiology Graduate Program offers graduate programs leading to M.Sc. or Ph.D. degrees. These programs are designed to provide advanced training leading toward a career in the biomedical sciences.  Eventual career paths may include academia, health professions, industry, government, or other choices.

The M.Sc. program provides students with the opportunity to work on an independent research project based on a hypothesis derived from faculty research.  Students are expected to broaden their knowledge base and develop problem-solving and critical thinking skills. At the Ph.D. level, students are expected to contribute new insight into scientific problems, most often resulting in first-author publications.

Prospective Students

This is a legacy program. All information for students interested in the newly implemented Anatomy, Physiology & Pharmacology Graduate Program can be found on the admission website for the College of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies.

Program Details

Program Objectives

A. Specialized knowledge in an area of research. This includes familiarity with the scientific literature and techniques common in their area of specialization and practical experience in the design and conduct of scientific experiments. Students are required to develop proficiency in the collection and interpretation of data sufficient to enable them to successfully initiate and continue research as independent investigators and to supervise the work of others in that area.

B. General knowledge in physiology outside the primary research focus. A more general knowledge base prepares our graduates to assume responsibility for the dissemination of knowledge, for example through teaching, and provides them with a basis for broadening their scientific activities at subsequent stages of their careers.

C. Familiarity with the process of scientific reporting sufficient to enable the preparation of manuscripts for journals, applications for research grants, and technical reports.

D. Experience with oral presentation of scientific information sufficient to enable the preparation and delivery of reports or presentations at seminars or meetings of scientific societies.

E. A mature understanding of the process of scientific inquiry sufficient to enable the assessment and constructive criticism of the work of others. In addition, the Department endeavors to prepare students for collaborative and interdisciplinary interaction reaching beyond their area of expertise.

Program Overview

The primary responsibility of the Physiology Graduate Program toward its graduate students is the provision of an environment that provides advanced training, fosters scholarly development, involves the student in current research, and develops skills in scientific communication, including teaching. A primary goal of the Program is to provide an educational experience that will enable its graduates to continue training at a more advanced stage, or to obtain employment. Additionally, the Program has the responsibility of ensuring that its graduates will reflect credit upon the Program, the Department and on the University.

2 Years  

Students must maintain continuous registration in the PHPY 994.0 course.

  • PHPY 960.0
  • PHPY 961.0 if research involves human subjects
  • PHPY 962.0 if research involves animal subjects
  • PHPY 990.0 seminar
  • a minimum of 9 credit units at the 800-level
  • M.Sc. thesis defence

4 Years

  • Students must maintain continuous registration in the PHPY 996.0 course.
  • PHPY 960.0
  • PHPY 961.0 if research involves human subjects
  • PHPY 962.0 if research involves animal subjects
  • PHPY 990.0 seminar
  • Direct Entry PhD Program: at least 12 credit units of course work at the 800-level, Non-Direct PhD Program: a minimum of 3 credit units
  • Comprehensive Examination
  • Ph.D. thesis defence

Transfer from a Master’s program to a Ph.D. program shall take place after the end of the first year and no later than the end of the second year in the program. Recommendation for the transfer must be initiated through a formal meeting of the student's Research Advisory Committee, which shall forward its recommendation to the Health Sciences Graduate Coordinator.

The following conditions must be met:

  1. The student shows great promise both in terms of academic accomplishments and in potential for research.
  2. The student has completed at least 9 credit units at the 800-level, and has achieved a minimum average of 80% and no grade below 70%. 
  3. There is evidence of good writing and oral communication ability.
  4. There is evidence the student has requisite research skills and knowledge to be able to successfully complete a Ph.D. dissertation.
  5. The student has successfully completed the Ph.D. Qualifying Examination prior to being recommended for transfer. This examination for the purposes of transfer can only be taken once. A student failing the Qualifying Examination or any part thereof cannot be recommended for transfer.
    • Students must maintain continuous registration in the PHPY 994.0 course until the transfer is successful and complete, after which they will register in the PHPY 996.0 course.
    • PHPY 960.0
    • PHPY 961.0 if research involves human subjects
    • PHPY 962.0 if research involves animal subjects
    • PHPY 990.0 seminar
    • a minimum of 12 credit units at the 800-level
    • Qualifying Examination
    • Comprehensive Examination
    • PhD. thesis defence

Contact

Department of Anatomy, Physiology, and Pharmacology
Physiology Graduate Program
Health Sciences Building
107 Wiggins Road
University of Saskatchewan
Saskatoon, SK S7N 5E5

Graduate Chair
Dr. Scott Widenmaier
Email: scott.widenmaier@usask.ca

Graduate Programs Administrator
Email: app.grad@usask.ca