Today, the MCW Graduate School provides over 30 PhD, Master and Certificate programs in six academic disciplines meeting the needs of students who are either beginning their careers or looking to advance in their careers, including: 

MCW’s Graduate School traces its beginnings to June 1936 with the conferral of the first non-MD graduate degrees from medical departments in the Marquette University School of Medicine. This 2016 marks the 80th anniversary of the beginning of graduate education in the biomedical sciences at what is today the Medical College of Wisconsin.

On September 30, 1967, Marquette University, due to financial constraints, terminated its sponsorship of the medical school and graduate degree programs offered by medical departments. The institution became a freestanding medical school, offering graduate degree programs in the biomedical sciences and was renamed Marquette School of Medicine. On October 14, the institution was renamed to the Medical College of Wisconsin.

In January 1995, the MCW Board of Trustees formally established the School of Graduate Studies as an academic school that was separate and distinct from the School of Medicine. William L. Hendee, PhD, who also served as Senior Associate Dean for Research, was named Founding Dean of the Graduate School; a position he held until 2006.

In September 2007, Owen Griffith, PhD, Professor and Chair of MCW’s Department of Biochemistry, was named Dean of the Graduate School, after having served as Interim Dean. He served as Dean until 2010.

In May 2010, Ravi Misra, PhD, Professor of Biochemistry, was named Dean of the Graduate School.

Since 2011, the MCW School of Graduate Studies has conferred approximately 170 PhD and 230 Master degrees.

In February 2024, Daisy Sahoo, PhD, Professor of Medicine and Vice Chair of Research, was named Dean of the Graduate School.

Today, the MCW Graduate School provides over 30 PhD, Master and Certificate programs in six academic disciplines meeting the needs of students who are either beginning their careers or looking to advance in their careers.

Visit the Graduate School Programs to Learn more.