Master of Science in Psychiatry

Director: Richard Balon, M.D.
Tolan Park Medical Building Suite 3-A
Phone: 313.993.3416

About the Program

The Master of Science in Psychiatry Program at Wayne State University allows physicians to pursue an exciting course of work which is an ideal preparation for an academic or research career in psychiatry and the behavioral neurosciences.

The core of the program involves rigorous study of clinical psychiatry, neurobiology, clinical and basic research, and statistics. Each student has an individual curriculum plan and research project which allow for mentoring and direction, while providing the student freedom to pursue individual scientific interests.

Research Divisions

These Divisions, housed in state-of-the art clinical and basic facilities, are the backbone of the Department’s research mission. They cover a continuum of pursuits at the molecular, cellular, and clinical levels. As a key component of their program, students will join the endeavors of one or more of these Clinical and Basic Research Divisions. This allows the MS candidate to join ongoing projects while pursuing individual interests with the support of an existing infrastructure.

Facilities

Among the facilities and equipment available to the MS candidate is the stately, remodeled and refurbished Jefferson Avenue Research Clinic, which is devoted to the study of substance abuse. Additionally, candidates may work at the Neuropsychiatric Research Unit (NRU), an inpatient unit in Detroit Receiving Hospital which focuses its work on the discovery of novel treatments for schizophrenia and mood disorders. Operating in close cooperation with the NRU is a modern sleep laboratory. Several clinical and basic science laboratories have been refurbished and newly equipped. MRI and PET facilities are available at Children’s Hospital of Michigan, and outpatient clinics (University Psychiatric Centers) are available as locations for clinical research.

Mentorship

Our commitment to world class scientific education has led the WSU Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences to bring to its ranks some of the finest researchers currently working in the neurosciences. Among them are former members of NIH, a former director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse, editors-in-chief of peer reviewed journals, and more.

Among the core faculty in the Program are:

Cynthia Arfken, Ph.D.
Richard Balon, M.D.
Nashaat Boutros, M.D.
Vaibhav Diwadkar, Ph.D.
Robert Freedman, Ph.D.
Matthew Galloway, Ph.D.
James Granneman, Ph.D.
Mark Greenwald, Ph.D.
Donald Kuhn, Ph.D.
Steven Ondersma Ph.D.
Timothy Roehrs, Ph.D.
David Rosenberg, M.D.
Thomas Roth, Ph.D.
Jeffrey Stanley Ph.D.
Manuel Tancer, M.D.

These individuals and others in the program closely collaborate on research and educational projects. The vibrancy of these relationships as they bridge basic and clinical research is the program’s defining aspect. Contact information numbers are available at our faculty page.