Entering a master's program is a big decision. Below are some frequently asked questions and answers that we hope can help you better navigate. As always, don't hesitate to contact us with any other questions you might have at rgme@case.edu. Additionally, feel free to click here to request more information.
Program Questions
As defined by the National Library of Medicine, "Regenerative medicine, is an interdisciplinary field that applies engineering and life science principles to promote regeneration, can potentially restore diseased and injured tissues and whole organs. Since the inception of the field several decades ago, a number of regenerative medicine therapies, including those designed for wound healing and orthopedics applications, have received Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval and are now commercially available."
Students who pursue a degree in Regenerative Medicine have many avenues to pursue. Including, going for advanced education, research, business, and law.
Some career opportunities may include:
- Tissue Engineering
- Clinical Research
- Biotechnology
- Cellular Therapy
- Medical Sales
- Gene Therapy
- Federal/State/Local Government
- Academia
...and so many more!
The masters program offers an opportunity to discover different sides to the field of Regenerative Medicine. While students pursuing a PhD would be fully immersed in the research side, the master's route provides a more flexible avenue, allowing students an opportunity for career exploration. Neither one is better than the other-- it all just depends on a student's needs!
Our full-time students complete the 30-credit hour master's degree in two years. Students may also attend part-time to complete the program at a pace that makes sense for them!
You do not! Depending on a student's previous studies and experiences, they can acquire a master's to help them get the necessary exposure to work in Regenerative Medicine.
At this time we do not have an MD/MS agreement with the CWRU Medical School. Without an agreement like this in place, it would be too difficult for a student to complete this program while attending Medical School.
Historically, the majority of our students entered the program with an undergraduate degree in subjects like Biology, Biomedical Engineering, Biotechnology, Cell Biology, and Immunology. However, as we incorporate the cross-campus connections with our School of Law and Weatherhead School of Management into the program, we encourage those with backgrounds in business, political science, public health, ethics, or healthcare regulation to consider applying to the program!
Our program was founded in 2019. We are excited to be one of the first programs of its kind to mix the disciplines of regenerative medicine with business practices and law principles.
Application Questions
Students are asked to apply by one of our deadlines—January 15, March 15, April 15, or July 15—for consideration into the program. For international students, the final deadline is April 15 for consideration into the program.
Please apply through the online application portal.
For our application, we require all college transcripts, a personal essay, and two letters of recommendation.
We recommend that students apply by the "Round 2" deadline of March 15. Applying by this deadline ensures that admitted students have ample time to prepare for the fall semester start.
The application pre-screening process gives students a chance to have their application reviewed by the program director before officially submitting their application to the program. If a student takes the time to submit a pre-screening request, they also receive an application fee waiver.
Look at the steps here.
Curriculum Questions
Class sizes vary depending on if the course is Regenerative Medicine, Law, or Business focused. Courses through RGME will be your full cohort while electives will be taken with a mix of students from your cohort and other programs; through the law or business schools and/or the College of Arts and Sciences.
Our program is committed to having students gain outside experiences from either research, internships, or a combination of the two. We want students to discover which is better for them and their career path when deciding which route to take.
The majority of your time will be spent in a classroom gaining foundational knowledge about Regenerative Medicine and its intersections with business and law. This is in preparation for your research experience or internship.
Your foundational classes in RGME and some biomedical electives will be taught through the School of Medicine. While your other electives will be taught through other CWRU schools such as the School of Law, School of Engineering, and/or the Weatherhead School of Management.
You will be jointly advised by Dr. Bonfield and Ms. Prestage as you navigate through your courses, internships, and research experiences.
The academic year for the program begins in the fall term and typically ends at the completion of the spring term. However, some students will take an internship course during the summer term to fully immerse themselves within that experience.
Your classes will be taken in a variety of locations depending on which electives you choose. They may be located within the business or law school buildings, or within the various medical and science buildings across campus.
International Student Questions
Yes! International candidates must have application forms and all required materials completed and submitted by April 15th.
International students are required upon admission to submit a course-by-course transcript evaluation from WES for all international transcripts. All admission will be conditional until this documentation is received. For further information on this, please visit our graduate studies website for all international student application requirements.
If a student student obtained their undergraduate degree from an English-speaking university, then the TOEFL exam requirement can be waived. For further information, visit our graduate studies website for all international student application requirements.
U.S. federal loans are for candidates who are considered United States Citizens or Permanent Residents. However, international students are encouraged to apply for aid from other sources within their home country and other scholarship providers.
You can find more information about those recourses here.
Cleveland Questions
There are many quaint neighborhoods a short distance from campus. Some of the most popular amongst our graduate students include: the Coventry neighborhood of Cleveland Heights, Little Italy, and Shaker Square. All neighborhoods are 20 minutes or less from campus– either by foot or use of public transit.
CWRU operates a university shuttle service that is free to students, and travels on a schedule to all areas of campus. The city of Cleveland operates the Regional Transit Authority (RTA) which provides two forms of public transportation. The first being a bus system that operates various lines around the city and suburbs. The RTA also offers “The Rapid” which is a rail system that stops on campus, at various destinations around the city, and the Cleveland Hopkins International Airport.
Cleveland’s neighborhoods reflect the people from many countries and cultures who have made the city their home. Just to name a few of the populations represented, Cleveland is composed of many members of the Indian, Arabic, Chinese, Puerto Rican, and Russian communities.
At CWRU, international students make up 10-15% of the biomedical graduate programs student body. The CWRU Minority Graduate Student Organization in the School of Medicine provides students with access to both institution and community based activities.