Program Requirements
General Program Requirements:
Number of Credits Required Beyond the Baccalaureate: 30
Required Courses:
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core Courses | ||
| BIOL 5505 | Ethics Regulation and Policy in Biotechnology 1 | 3 |
| BIOL 5522 | Introduction to Scientific and Regulatory Writing 1 | 3 |
| BIOL 5532 | Introduction to Grant Writing 1 | 3 |
| BIOL 5533 | Communicating Science to a Broader Audience / Non-Scientists 1 | 3 |
| JRN 5710 | Seminars in Communication 1,2 | 4 |
| Electives 3 | 12 | |
| Capstone Course | ||
| BIOL 9995 | Capstone Project | 2 |
| Total Credit Hours | 30 | |
- 1
With approval from the advisor, students may request to waive any one core course and replace it with an alternate course that aligns with the goals of the degree program.
- 2
With approval from the advisor, students may take a graduate-level Journalism course other than JRN 5710.
- 3
Electives are selected in one of two areas of specialization, as delineated below. Students are required to take two STEM courses in the specialization of their choice and may take up to two non-STEM courses that align with their interests. The coursework allows students to choose from a wide range of topics within Marketing/Regulatory Writing or Popular Scientific Writing in alignment with their professional interests. The breadth of electives ensures that students are presented with the diverse scientific writing genres in science. Listed electives for each specialization serve as a guide. Thus, students are not restricted to the listed electives and may, in consultation with the program advisor, take other graduate-level courses as electives.
Marketing/Regulatory Writing Specialization
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Select four from the following: 1 | 12 | |
QARA 5502 | Regulation of Medical Devices: Submissions | |
QARA 5533 | Requirements for Product Labeling and Advertising | |
QARA 5534 | Regulatory Aspects of Biomedical/Technical Communication | |
QARA 5545 | Post Approval Changes (PAC) | |
QARA 5548 | Risk Management of Pharmaceutical and Medical Devices | |
QARA 5592 | Food and Drug Law | |
QARA 5594 | Regulation of Dietary Supplements and Functional Foods | |
QARA 5596 | Food Labeling and Regulatory Affairs | |
QARA 5611 | Regulation of Advertising and Promotions | |
| Total Credit Hours | 12 | |
- 1
Students in the Marketing/Regulatory Writing specialization must take two QARA courses, but may elect to replace two courses with any two graduate-level courses offered at Temple that align with the Marketing/Regulatory Writing specialization.
Popular Scientific Writing Specialization
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Select four from the following: 1 | 12 | |
BIOL 5111 | Genomics in Medicine | |
BIOL 5312 | Biostatistics | |
BIOL 82X0 | Seminar in Genomics Analytics | |
CHEM 8201 | The Chemistry of Natural Products | |
ENG 9400 | Seminar in Rhetoric and Composition | |
HPM 8008 | Health Economics | |
JRN 5005 | Communication Law | |
JRN 5012 | ||
JRN 5013 | ||
JRN 5212 | The Entrepreneurial Journalist | |
MSP 8741 | Emergent Media Production | |
PHIL 5216 | Philosophy of Science | |
PHIL 5249 | Ethics in Medicine | |
STAT 5001 | Quantitative Methods for Business | |
| Total Credit Hours | 12 | |
- 1
Students in the Popular Scientific Writing specialization may take any two STEM courses and any two non-STEM graduate-level courses offered at Temple that align with their interests. The list below serves as a guide for electives within the Popular Scientific Writing specialization.
Approved Electives for the Popular Scientific Writing Specialization1
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| ENG 8706 | Advanced Study in Rhetoric and Composition | 3 |
| EPBI 5101 | Fundamentals of Epidemiology | 3 |
| HPM 8013 | Research Methods in Health Policy | 3 |
| HRPR 8101 | Bioethics and Ethical Decision-Making | 3 |
| MKTG 5001 | Marketing Management/Strategy | 3 |
- 1
With approval from the advisor, students may take one of these approved electives or any other graduate-level course as an elective to replace one course for the Popular Scientific Writing specialization.
Culminating Event:
Capstone Project:
BIOL 9995 Capstone Project
constitutes a culminating event of the Scientific Writing PSM and requires the submission of a detailed technical paper and oral presentation. In the summer following the first year of study, students are expected to complete an internship, which becomes part of their capstone project. The internship must take place in a workplace approved by the PSM Steering Committee, which includes faculty from the College of Science and Technology, Lew Klein College of Media and Communication, and the Provost's Office. Workplaces may include a patent law office specializing in chemical, engineering and scientific innovation; a practicing scientist; a publishing company; or any other relevant workplace on or off Temple’s campus.