University of San Francisco Masters Degrees in Biological Sciences

The Master of Science in Behavioral Health (MSBH) at USF prepares you to address disparities in the current health care delivery system. As a student in our program, you will examine the intersection of social, physical and psychological factors that impact health and well-being. Through inter-disciplinary classes, fieldwork experiences, and a capstone project, you learn psychosocial interventions as well as tools for planning, managing and evaluating community-based programs and services.

Our graduates have learned to become effective team members, who have acquired the tools to improve the accessibility and delivery of health and mental health programs. We look to our graduates to become leaders in designing the evidence-based, integrated health practices that are the cornerstone of the Affordable Care Act.

Program Highlights

- Program can be completed in 12 months
- Classes meet twice a week in the evenings
- Courses are designed to teach practical, real world skills
- Curriculum is fully integrated so that courses build on one another
- Classes are small, inter-professional and highly interactive
- Internships, located throughout San Francisco and the greater Bay Area, allow students to apply classroom learning in the field under the guidance of a preceptor and USF faculty
- Faculty are accomplished academics and practitioners

What is Behavioral Health?

Some use the term "behavioral health" to refer strictly to mental health care or substance abuse counseling. At USF we think of behavioral health more broadly. In our MSBH program, behavioral health involves analyzing and understanding how human behavior is influenced by social, physical and mental factors and how human behavior, in turn, impacts physical well-being, empowerment, and engagement in all aspects of care.

The MS in Behavioral Health program is designed for people:

- Interested in human behavior, especially the intersection between mental and physical health
- Wanting to start a career in behavioral healthcare
- Currently working in the healthcare system and wanting additional skills in interdisciplinary team leadership, program evaluation, and project management
- Wanting a foundation for other careers such as medicine or dentistry

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Why get a dual degree in public and behavioral health?

The MPH-MSBH dual degree has been designed to prepare practitioners who are committed to eliminating health disparities, working with vulnerable populations, and creating social and physical environments that promote good health for all. This program is ideal for students who want a broad, in-depth knowledge base in public health with an emphasis on behavioral health skills. Courses are practice oriented and applied skills are emphasized. Dual degree students graduate with the knowledge to design, implement, and lead evidence-based health care and community programs.

The dual degree requires approximately 60 units. Full-time, dual degree students should be able to complete their course work in 6 semesters (24 months). Students can attend on a part-time basis and spread the program over three years. The course sequence can be adjusted on an individual basis.

On completing the dual degree program, graduates will have two degrees: Both the Master of Public Health and the MS in Behavioral Health. By pursuing this dual degree option, students will achieve a substantial savings in time and credits over completing these two degrees separately.

The dual degree has been designed to help students understand and address the social, emotional and environmental determinants of health and wellbeing. The program stresses the needs of underserved and at-risk populations. It teaches students how to implement and monitor programs; set up budgets, timelines and tracking tools; and write a grant proposal. Students also learn about ethics and policy, research methods, epidemiology, and statistical analysis and their roles in program development.

There is substantive focus on how to develop evidence-based interventions that have a high likelihood of success, use behavior change theory and holistic models and frameworks, and are based on community needs and assessment.

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USF’s Master of Science in Biology is research-intensive, providing personalized, hands-on training in a faculty member’s laboratory. Working together with their advisers, students design an independent, faculty-directed research project that culminates in a formal written thesis.

The focus of USF’s Master of Science in Biology program is hands-on lab research with full-time faculty and the completion of a major lab research project. Students who have successfully completed the program are prepared to pursue further postgraduate work or to enter into a technical position in a related research or industrial laboratory.

Spring 2018: Areas of Research

Unlike other programs, students are required to apply for a concentration and an opening in a specific faculty member’s laboratory. To qualify for admission to the MS in biology program, you must be interested in pursuing research in one of the following areas:

Conservation Genetics & Systematics - Jennifer Dever
Microbial Ecology, Mycology & Bioinformatics - Naupaka Zimmerman
Marine Biology & Physiology - Nicole Thometz
Parasitology - John Sullivan
Plant Evolution & Ecology - John R. Paul
Virology - Juliet Spencer

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We're uniquely situated among the greatest concentration of biotechnology activity in the world, with over 200 private and public biotech companies thriving around the San Francisco Bay Area. Opportunity is right outside our door.

Nearly 100% job placement from our last three cohorts.

All required classes are held in the late afternoon to evening, allowing students to continue in their full-time jobs or find part-time or full-time jobs in the industry while enrolled in our program.

The Professional Science Master’s (PSM) Degree

PSMs are graduate programs in which students pursue advanced training in the sciences while developing highly sought-after business skills. Each PSM degree is developed in concert with employers as preparation for science-based careers in innovative organizations and industries. Since most biologists are trained with few or no business tools, the PSM offers more versatile training than a traditional Master of Science degree.

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USF’s Master of Science in Chemistry is designed for graduate students seeking a research-based degree with personalized direction from research advisers and training from experienced full-time faculty. Hands-on training opportunities prepare our students for a future in professional research and development, further studies in a PhD program or health-related professional programs, and teaching positions at the high school and community college level.

Full-Tuition Merit Scholarships

Students admitted to the program are funded, including a full graduate scholarship, and most earn a salary earned through teaching or research assistantships.

Research Areas

Students are accepted into specific research groups and immediately join a research project supervised by their assigned research adviser, with whom they develop a program of directed scientific research. To qualify for admission to the program, you must be interested in pursuing research in one of the following areas:

Analytical Chemistry: Lawrence Margerum & Ryan West
Biochemistry: Megan Bolitho & Janet Yang
Inorganic Chemistry: Lawrence Margerum
Medicinal Chemistry: Jie Jack Li
Organic Chemistry: Megan Bolitho & Jie Jack Li
Physical Chemistry: Giovanni Meloni & Ryan West

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