Technical Standards

Our Students + Technical Standards

The biomedical Ph.D. and M.S. degree programs at the School of Graduate Studies require a laboratory-based research dissertation. Granting of these degrees implies that the recipient has demonstrated a base of knowledge in the field and the ability to independently apply that knowledge to solve a particular problem by forming hypotheses, designing and conducting experiments, interpreting the experimental results, and communicating the results and their interpretation to the scientific community with or without accommodations.

Thus, a candidate for the M.S. or Ph.D. degree in biomedical sciences must possess abilities and skills that allow for observation, intellectual and conceptual reasoning, motor coordination, and communication with or without accommodations. The use of a trained intermediary is not acceptable in many situations in that a candidate's judgment will be based on someone else's power of selection and observation.

The University provides reasonable accommodations to students on a nondiscriminatory basis consistent with legal requirements as outlined in the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments ACT (ADAAA) of 2008, and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. A reasonable accommodation is a modification or adjustment to an instructional activity, facility, program or service that enables a qualified student with a disability to have an equal opportunity to participate in all Rutgers University student activities. To be eligible for accommodations, a student must have a documented disability as defined by the ADA and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. The ADA, the ADAAA and Section 504 all define disability as (a) a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities of such individual; (b) a record of such impairment; or (c) being regarded as having such a condition.

These technical standards are not intended to deter any candidate for whom reasonable accommodation would allow the fulfillment of the complete curriculum. The School of Graduate Studies will provide reasonable accommodations, according to university policies and procedures, to otherwise qualified applicants and matriculated candidates with disabilities unless: (a) such accommodations impose undue hardship to the institution; (b) direct threats of substantial harm to the health and safety of others due to the disability cannot be eliminated by any reasonable accommodations available; or (c) such accommodations fundamentally alter the educational program or academic standards. If you have any questions concerning reasonable accommodations please contact the RBHS Office of Disability Services (ODS) at 973-972-5396 or odsrbhs@rbhs.rutgers.edu. You will also find information about ODS at https://oasa.rbhs.rutgers.edu/office-of-disability-services

Behavior + Performance

A student whose behavior or performance raises questions concerning the ability to fulfill the technical standards may be required to obtain evaluation and/or testing by a health care provider designated by the School, and to provide the results to the Campus Student Health Service for the purpose of determining whether the student is fit to pursue the educational program.

If the student is deemed fit to pursue the program, we reserve the right to require actions recommended by the health care provider, including further testing, counseling, monitoring, leave of absence, etc.

View Policies on Rutgers Policy Website

Standards, Skills, and Attributes

Technical Standards refer to non-academic requirements that are essential for meeting the academic requirements of the program. Within any area of specialization, students must demonstrate competence in those intellectual and physical tasks with or without accommodations that together represent the fundamentals of biomedical research in their chosen discipline. Enrollment is contingent on the result of certain medical laboratory test (e.g., TB) and fulfillment of immunization requirements.

Observation

The candidate must be able to acquire knowledge by direct observation of demonstrations, experiments, and experiences within the laboratory and instructional setting with or without accommodations. Examples are physiological or pharmacological responses in animals, studies of microbiological cultures and organisms, identification of normal and abnormal cells or tissues through a microscope, and interpretation of results obtained on various instrumentation.

Intellectual/Conceptual Abilities

The candidate must be able to measure, calculate, analyze, reason, integrate and synthesize information to solve problems with or without accommodations.

Motor Skills

The candidate must possess the motor skills necessary to perform procedures required for experimentation within the chosen discipline with or without accommodations. These skills may include, but are not limited to, surgery in animals, handling of animals, transferring of microorganisms to various mediums, preparing anatomical specimens for microscopic examination and/or chemical and often toxic materials and solutions, manipulating electronic and other complex equipment. Such actions require coordination of muscular movements and functional use of the senses of touch and vision with or without accommodations.

Communication

The candidate must be able to communicate and discuss their experimental hypotheses and results to the scientific community, both in scientific journals or directly at scientific meetings, seminars, or in the laboratory to the research team with or without accommodations.

Behavioral + Social Attributes

The candidate must possess the emotional and mental health required for full utilization of their intellectual abilities, the exercise of good judgment, the prompt completion of responsibilities inherent in managing a scientific laboratory, the ability to function under the stress inherent in biomedical research, and the ability to understand and comply with ethical standards for the conduct of research with or without accommodations.