Musculoskeletal Sciences

Musculoskeletal Sciences: Introduction

Lead Faculty of the Collaborative Specialization

Medicine

Participating Degree Programs

Biomedical Engineering — MASc, PhD
Dentistry — MSc, PhD
Kinesiology — MSc, PhD
Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology — MSc, PhD
Medical Science — MSc, PhD
Pharmacology and Toxicology — MSc, PhD
Rehabilitation Science — MSc, PhD

Supporting Unit

Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology (see amendment made on August 17, 2023)

Overview

There is an increasing burden of illness related to musculoskeletal disorders. The Collaborative Specialization in Musculoskeletal Sciences focuses on educating and training graduate students to carry out musculoskeletal research and helping them see how their work fits into the larger community of musculoskeletal research that ranges from bench to bedside to society.

The collaborative specialization nurtures leaders in the field of musculoskeletal sciences who possess the knowledge and capability to promote transformational change.

The University of Toronto has a cohort of stellar faculty with expertise in all related medical research disciplines, constituting one of the largest musculoskeletal research communities in the world. Research areas include immunology, cell biology, molecular medicine and genomics, muscle physiology, imaging, pathology, bioengineering, and related clinical areas such as orthopaedics, rheumatology, dentistry, kinesiology, rehabilitation, injury prevention, and pain management.

Advances in these areas are converging to allow major advances in translating research to musculoskeletal care and health. This collaborative specialization builds on this community to provide a unique education and training program.

Musculoskeletal Sciences interests graduate students wishing to enhance their interdisciplinary knowledge and advance their careers. Participation in this collaborative specialization enhances professional contacts throughout the international musculoskeletal research community. Upon successful completion of the degree requirements of the participating home graduate unit and the collaborative specialization, students will receive the notation “Completed Collaborative Specialization in Musculoskeletal Sciences” on their transcript.

Contact and Address

Web: tmc.utoronto.ca
Email: msk.admin@utoronto.ca
Telephone: (416) 978-0841
Fax: (416) 978-6395

Collaborative Specialization in Musculoskeletal Sciences
Dr. Jane Mitchell
1 King's College Circle, Room 4342
Toronto, Ontario M5S 1A8
Canada

Musculoskeletal Sciences: Master's Level

Admission Requirements

  • Applicants who wish to enrol in Musculoskeletal Sciences must apply to and be admitted to both a graduate degree program in one of the participating units and to the collaborative specialization. In addition to the application requirements of the home degree program, the collaborative specialization requires:

    • a curriculum vitae (CV)

    • a one-page letter explaining how the applicant's plan of study and specific research interests relate to musculoskeletal science

    • a letter of recommendation from a faculty member (if possible the thesis supervisor in a thesis-based graduate program), commenting on the applicant's academic abilities and likelihood for research success.

Specialization Requirements

  • Meet all requirements of the home degree program and the collaborative specialization.

  • Complete the required core course: MSC3001H Foundations In Musculoskeletal Science.

  • Attend and participate in 12 seminars of the SRM3335H+ Master’s Seminar Series — Compulsory Attendance (Credit/No Credit).

  • Complete a thesis or major project or placement in the area of musculoskeletal sciences under the supervision of a collaborative specialization core faculty member.

+ Extended course. For academic reasons, coursework is extended into session following academic session in which course is offered.

Musculoskeletal Sciences: Doctoral Level

Students enrolled in the collaborative specialization at the master's level who transfer to the doctoral level will have the course MSC3001H Foundations in Musculoskeletal Science counted toward the completion of the doctoral collaborative specialization requirements.

Admission Requirements

  • Applicants who wish to enrol in Musculoskeletal Sciences must apply to and be admitted to both a graduate degree program in one of the collaborating units and to the collaborative specialization. In addition to the application requirements of the home degree program, the collaborative specialization requires:

    • a curriculum vitae (CV)

    • one-page letter explaining how the applicant's plan of study and specific research interests relate to musculoskeletal science

    • a letter of recommendation from a faculty member (usually the thesis supervisor in a thesis-based graduate program), commenting on the applicant's academic abilities and likelihood for research success at the doctoral level.

Specialization Requirements

  • Meet all requirements of the home degree program and collaborative specialization.

  • Complete the required core course: MSC3001H Foundations in Musculoskeletal Science. Students who have completed MSC3001H at the master's level and who transfer to a doctoral degree and the doctoral level of the collaborative specialization are not required to complete an additional core course.

  • Attend and participate in 18 seminars of the SRD4445H Doctoral Seminar Series. Students who transfer from a master's degree and master's collaborative specialization to a doctoral degree and the doctoral collaborative specialization will be required to attend 18 seminars in total; the total will include the number of seminars attended at both the master's and doctoral levels.

  • Complete a thesis in the area of musculoskeletal sciences under the supervision of a collaborative specialization core faculty member.

  • In the rare instance that a student who has completed the collaborative specialization at the master's level wishes to also enrol in the collaborative specialization at the doctoral level, the student will not be required to repeat the core course, MSC3001H. However, the student will be required to attend and participate in 18 seminars of the SRD4445H Doctoral Seminar Series and complete the doctoral thesis in the area under the supervision of a core faculty member.

Musculoskeletal Sciences: Courses

Course Code Course Title
MSC3001H
Foundations in Musculoskeletal Science
SRM3335H+
Master’s Seminar Series — Compulsory Attendance
SRD4445H+
Doctoral Seminar Series — Compulsory Attendance

+ Extended course. For academic reasons, coursework is extended into session following academic session in which course is offered.