Interdisciplinary Oncology Graduate Specialization (IOGS)

Increasingly, an interdisciplinary approach is required for the effective practice of science. To better prepare our students and to train the next generation of cancer research leaders, the Interdisciplinary Oncology Graduate Specialization (IOGS) was established at SFU in partnership with the BC Cancer Agency (BCCA). This program, IOGS, is a graduate level multi-departmental program that integrates with existing SFU departmental graduate programs (MSc and PhD) and is available to graduate students interested in gaining exposure to diverse facets of cancer-related research. The key impacts on science teaching and learning include broad exposure to multiple aspects of oncology such as the biology and epidemiology of cancer and theories behind prevention, diagnosis and treatment. Opportunities to develop presentation skills, critique current cancer research, and shadow cancer clinicians will be provided. Students and faculty will benefit from networking and collaborative opportunities at both SFU and BCCA sites, including participation in a yearly scientific retreat currently held by the BCCA/UBC Interdisciplinary Oncology program. One goal of this yearly event is to enhance networking between students and faculty with cancer-related interests, with the local and provincial community of cancer researchers, trainees and clinicians.

Application (Application Form) to the program is through the Interdisciplinary Oncology Steering Committee (email to sga49@sfu.ca).
Note that to enroll in the Interdisciplinary Oncology Graduate Specialization, a student must be a thesis-based MSc or PhD student at SFU and must first be accepted into a home department (usually based on their senior supervisor's affiliation). IOGS core courses are ONC 502 and ONC 510 (see below) but overall program requirements may vary depending on the home department.

MSc course requirements for this specialization are here.

Students complete the following graduate courses:

BPK 801: Seminar on Research in Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology (3)
STAT 603: Quantitative Analysis of Research Studies (5)
ONC 502: Concepts in Oncology (3)
ONC 510: Seminars in Oncology (3)

Specific course outlines for the IOGS program can be found here.

Additional courses may be taken at the discretion of the student's senior supervisor and supervisory committee. Such courses may be selected from the following*:

BISC 834 - Essential Cell Biology (3)
BPK 806 - Special Topics (3)
BPK 851 - Recent Advances in Experimental Carcinogenesis (3)
HSCI 775 - Seminar in Molecular Mechanisms of Epigenetics (3)
HSCI 776 - Seminar in Molecular Basis of Drug Action and Environmental Exposure (3)
HSCI 778 - Seminar in Molecular Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases (3)
MBB 505 - Problem Based Learning in Bioinformatics (3)
MBB 746 - The Molecular Biology of Cancer (3)
MBB 762 - Human Genomics (3)
ONC 548 - Rotation in Oncology (3)

*Note: Any relevant special topics course from any department may be included upon permission of the IOGS steering committee. Oncology related courses at other institutions may also be used to satisfy the elective requirement. Please consult with the IOGS steering committee for queries regarding course eligibility.

MSc Research

A major part of the MSc specialization program will be devoted to original research. A thesis describing the work must be submitted and defended in accordance with SFU Graduate General Regulations.

PhD requirements for this specialization are here.

Entry with a BSc or Equivalent

Students who enter the program with a Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree, or equivalent, are required to complete the same course requirements as for the thesis MSc.

Entry with an MSc Degree

Students who enter the program with a Master of Science (MSc) degree will complete a minimum of two courses, including:

The two required IOGS courses are:

ONC 502 - Concepts in Oncology (3)
ONC 510 - Seminars in Oncology (3)
BPK 896 - PhD Comprehensive Examination (0)
and two seminars
- BPK 897 - PhD Seminar (0)
and a thesis
- BPK 899 - PhD Thesis (18)

Additional courses may be taken at the discretion of the student's senior supervisor and supervisory committee. Such courses may be selected from the following*:

BISC 834 - Essential Cell Biology (3)
BPK 806 - Special Topics (3)
BPK 851 - Recent Advances in Experimental Carcinogenesis (3)
HSCI 775 - Seminar in Molecular Mechanisms of Epigenetics (3)
HSCI 776 - Seminar in Molecular Basis of Drug Action and Environmental Exposure (3)
HSCI 778 - Seminar in Molecular Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases (3)
MBB 505 - Problem Based Learning in Bioinformatics (3)
MBB 746 - The Molecular Biology of Cancer (3)
MBB 762 - Human Genomics (3)
ONC 548 - Rotation in Oncology (3)

If a student has already completed the specialization as an MSc student, they may still enroll in the IOGS as a PhD student upon approval by the IOGS steering committee. Note that in this circumstance, ONC 510-3 must be taken for credit again in the PhD program, but ONC 502-3 cannot be taken again for credit.

PhD Research

The major portion of the PhD specialization program will be devoted to original research. An original thesis which contributes to new knowledge must be presented and defended at the end of the degree program in accordance with SFU Graduate General Regulations. In addition, all BPK PhD candidates must meet all other requirements for the BPK PhD degree.

Oncology Courses

ONC 502-3 Concepts in Oncology
This course covers the biology and epidemiology of cancer and theories behind prevention, diagnosis and treatment of different types of cancer. A major goal of the course is to integrate knowledge and research on the biology of cancer with all disciplines in oncology. This course can only be taken once, either during an MSc or during a PhD. Prerequisite: Enrollment in a participating graduate program. No specific courses are prerequisites.

ONC 510-3 Seminars in Oncology
This course features cancer-related research by trainees and faculty at the BC Cancer Research Centre. Topics include recent developments in the molecular basis of oncogenesis, cancer bioinformatics, cancer epidemiology, cancer treatment and other clinical studies, and ethical issues. Students are required to present seminars on their research. Students undertaking the Interdisciplinary Oncology Graduate Specialization must enroll in this course throughout their entire time as a graduate student. This course can be taken twice, if a student does the Interdisciplinary Oncology Graduate Specialization (IOGS) as an MSc student, and also does it as a PhD student. Students who transfer from MSc to PhD would only take it once. Prerequisite: Enrollment in a participating graduate program. No specific courses are prerequisites.MSc to PhD would only take it once. Prerequisite: Enrollment in a participating graduate program. No specific courses are prerequisites.

ONC 548-3 Rotation in Oncology
This course allows students to gain hands-on experience by rotations through specialty laboratories and/or by shadowing clinicians. Students can use the rotation opportunity to learn new techniques and or gain an understanding of the clinical aspects of their research project. The supervisor and supervisory committee create a custom rotation plan for the student. A grade is assigned based on a written report by the student, which is evaluated by the student's supervisory committee. This course can only be taken once, either during an MSc or during a PhD. Prerequisite: Enrollment in a participating graduate program. No specific courses are prerequisites. Permission from instructor required.

Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology (BPK)