Chicago State-Northwestern MS-PhD Bridge to the Future

描述(由申请者提供)：西北大学(NU)和芝加哥州立大学(Chicago State University)寻求新的资金，以继续芝加哥州立大学(CSU)生命科学硕士学位衔接项目(BP)，该项目确定并录取来自芝加哥地区的能力、抱负和行业能力较低的少数族裔学生，这些学生具有博士学位的能力、抱负和行业，但以前的学历不足以使他们在高质量博士课程中具有竞争力。BP是位于加州州立大学的理想地点，该校拥有全国最大的少数族裔学生人口之一，并以其有利于弱势学生的教育项目而在该地区广为人知。该项目目前已开始第三年，提供学术技能、实验室培训和熟悉博士项目环境，为BP学生在西北大学或类似机构攻读博士学位做好准备。该计划是CSU现有生物学MS计划的扩展版本，具有以下增强功能：生物化学和分子生物学方面的额外要求、侧重于成功在南大攻读博士项目所需技能和学术背景的特别课程、在南大驻留一个季度期间注册博士计划核心课程和参与实验室轮换、准备一篇研究论文并在全国会议上发表和演示、仔细指导BP的学生和监测他们的进步、GRE准备以及分享CSU现有少数族裔计划的几个组成部分。在经历了整整两年的招聘(第一年招聘资金延迟)之后，BP已经证明，在芝加哥大都市区，有许多才华横溢、代表性不足的少数族裔学生有资格参加该项目。学生质量每年都有显著提高，在校学生正在为师范大学的研究生培训做扎实的准备。CSU和NU教职员工之间的良好合作已经形成，CSU对博士研究的日益关注对学生对研究职业的看法产生了非常积极的影响。BP将继续受益于由经验丰富且高度成功的外部顾问和评估员进行的定期检查和评估。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Northwestern University (NU) and Chicago State University seek renewed funding to continue a Masters degree bridge program (BP) at Chicago State University (CSU) in the life sciences that identifies and admits highly able under-represented minority students from the Chicago area who have the ability, aspiration and industry for the doctoral degree but whose prior academic qualifications do not otherwise make them competitive for quality PhD programs. The BP is ideally sited at CSU, which has one of the largest minority student populations in the country and is already well-known in the area for its educational programs that benefit disadvantaged students. The program, currently beginning its third year, provides the academic skills, laboratory training, and familiarity with the PhD program environment to prepare BP students for doctoral programs at Northwestern University (NU) or similar institutions. The program is an expanded version of the existing MS programs in biology at CSU with the following enhancements: additional requirements in biochemistry and molecular biology, special courses that focus on the skills and academic background needed for success in doctoral programs at NU, enrollment in PhD program core courses and participation in laboratory rotations during a quarter in residence at NU, preparation of a research thesis for publication and presentation at a national meeting, careful mentoring of the BP students and monitoring of their progress, GRE preparation, and sharing of several components of existing minority programs at CSU. Having now progressed through two full years of recruiting (delayed funding handicapped the first year recruiting) the BP has demonstrated that there are many highly talented under-represented minority students in the Chicago metropolitan area who qualify for the program. Student quality has markedly increased each year and current students are demonstrating solid to outstanding preparation for graduate training at NU. Excellent cooperation between CSU and NU faculty has evolved, and the increased attention at CSU to doctoral research has had a very positive effect on student perception of research careers. The BP will continue to benefit from periodic examination and assessment by experienced and highly accomplished external advisors and evaluators.