Cardiovascular/Renal Physiology Graduate Certificate
Overview
Courses
Master the Body’s Most Critical Systems
The heart and kidneys never stop working. The least we can do for them is understand how.
UF’s online Graduate Certificate in Medical Physiology with a specialization in Cardiovascular/Renal Physiology helps you dive deep into these vital systems and understand how they keep us alive.
Program at a Glance:
- 12 credits total
- Entirely online, self-paced electives
- Finish in two semesters
- No GRE required
Have questions? We’ve got answers.
Your Shortcut to Advanced Physiology Knowledge
Start strong with Principles of Medical Physiology (6 credits), a deep dive into the body’s core systems:
- Endocrine
- Cardiovascular
- Respiratory
- Renal
- Gastrointestinal
Then, choose three 2-credit electives exploring advanced topics like blood circulation, renal physiology and hypertension research.
You’ll walk away ready to apply physiological concepts to real-world clinical and research settings and fully prepared to take on graduate or professional school with confidence.
Is This Certificate Right for You?
This program is built for:
- Medical and healthcare professionals looking to specialize
- PA school applicants who want a stronger foundation in key topics (like cardio and renal) before starting clinical training
- Students preparing for the MCAT or National Board exams
- Educators and biomedical professionals expanding their expertise
- Anyone looking to gain graduate-level medical science experience[3]
Gain Expertise in the Body’s Most Vital Systems
A strong understanding of cardiovascular and renal systems gives you an edge in medicine, research and advanced practice roles. You’ll explore:
- The structure and function of the heart and kidneys
- What happens when these systems go wrong
- How new treatments and discoveries are transforming care
Taught by UF’s expert faculty, these graduate-level courses give you career-ready, practical knowledge that translates directly to the real world.
GMS 6400c Principles of Medical Physiology
This course teaches the functions of the human body at a level required for clinical medicine. Students will gain an understanding of how systems act in an integrated manner to regulate overall body functions and how failure of these normal physiologic functions and interactions are associated with some diseases.
GMS6410 Physiology of Circulation of Blood
This course exposes students to in-depth discussion and understanding of several aspects of cardiovascular function, including control of cardiac development, vascular and microvascular function, baroreflex and chemoreflex control of the circulation, role of the kidney and central nervous systems in cardiovascular regulation, the maternal and fetal circulation in normal pregnancy and the use of gene therapy tools in cardiovascular research.
GMS6414 Advanced Renal Physiology and Pathophysiology
This course exposes students to in-depth discussion and understanding of several aspects of kidney function, including physiological control of glomerular filtration and glomerular function in renal disease, regulation of renal sodium excretion, morphology of renal transporters, renal mechanisms of acid base balance and the renal physiologic responses to normal pregnancy.
GMS6413 Advances in Hypertension Research
This course delves into important, current aspects of hypertension research. It begins with clinical trials and pharmacogenomics and considers mono- and polygenic forms of hypertension, dietary/environmental influences leading to salt dependent hypertension/metabolic syndrome/type 2 diabetes, neural control of BP and stress-induced hypertension, endothelial dysfunction / inflammation and stem cells in hypertension and hypertension in pregnancy and fetal programming of hypertension.
