Translational Pharmaceutical Science, MS
Degree: Master of Science (MS)
Field of Study: Translational Pharmaceutical Science
Program Overview
This program will prepare students for careers in the pharmaceutical industry. Full-time students can complete the 30 credit hour master’s degree in two years or less and have the opportunity to tailor their training to their specific career aspirations. The core courses provide foundational knowledge about the translation of pharmaceuticals from “bench to bedside” including pharmaceutical science principles, drug development and discovery, clinical trials, and professional skills. Additionally, students select an experiential learning opportunity that can be an industry internship or laboratory research. To ensure our students receive extensive interdisciplinary training mimicking the pharmaceutical industry, students select from a variety of electives offered in the areas of biomedical research, business management, intellectual property, patent law, bioengineering, biostatistics and bioinformatics. To round out our program, students participate in scientific seminars, research ethics workshops, and career development activities. In lieu of a thesis, students develop a final presentation and a review article related to their experiential learning opportunity.
Though many students may choose to pursue diverse elective training opportunities, this program offers students the opportunity to specialize in a particular discipline through concentration selection. The three concentrations offered in this program are Pharmaceutical Science Research, Pharmaceutical Business and Law, and Biostatistics and Bioinformatics. Students that opt to join a concentration will focus their electives and/or experiential learning opportunity in that discipline. Concentration selection is not required for this program.
Learning Outcomes
- Pharmaceutical Science Principles:
Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the foundational disciplines that underlie the pharmaceutical sciences.
Apply fundamental concepts of pharmacology, pharmaceutics, medicinal chemistry, and related disciplines to explain or predict drug action and disposition in biological systems.
Critically evaluate primary pharmaceutical science literature to support evidence-based decision making and experimental design - Drug Discovery and Development:
Demonstrate broad understanding of the processes and stages involved in the discovery, design, and development of new pharmaceutical agents.
Design and interpret strategies used in target identification, lead optimization, drug formulation, and preclinical evaluation.
Evaluate scientific, regulatory, and ethical challenges that influence the successful advancement of novel pharmaceuticals.
Critically appraise emerging innovations in drug discovery and development, and articulate their potential impact on translational science and patient care. - Translational Applications and Clinical Trials:
Apply principles of translational science to connect laboratory discoveries with strategies for advancing the pharmaceutical landscape.
Demonstrate understanding of the principles, design, and regulatory frameworks that guide clinical research and ensure ethical conduct.
Critically evaluate translational research and clinical trial evidence to inform the development and implementation of new approaches. - Professional and Interpersonal Skills:
Communicate complex scientific concepts effectively to diverse audiences, including scientists, clinicians, regulators, and patients.
Demonstrate leadership, teamwork, and project management skills in collaborative, interdisciplinary settings.
Uphold ethical principles and professional integrity in research and clinical environments.
Graduate Policies
For graduate policies and procedures, please review the School of Graduate Studies section of the General Bulletin.
Program Requirements
The MS in Translational Pharmaceutical Science is a two-year program and falls under the Plan B or non-thesis option. Students must complete a minimum of 30 credit hours of coursework with at least 18 credit hours of coursework at the 400-level or higher and at least 12 credit hours of graded coursework. A cumulative grade point average of at least a 3.0 is required for award of the degree.
The curriculum is built upon four foundational pillars that are universal themes across all occupational opportunities in the pharmaceutical industry requiring a MS degree, including pharmaceutical science principles, drug development and discovery, translational applications and clinical trials, and professional and interpersonal skills. The core curriculum ensures students are proficient in these competencies, which accounts for 12 credit hours of graded coursework. Electives satisfy 12 to 15 credit hours of coursework, the majority of which is graded. Students are required to complete a minimum of 3 credits of either a research experience, internship, or combination, which serves as the culminating experience for this MS degree. Additional required activities include participation in a pharmaceutical science seminar series, attending and presenting at a scientific retreat, and participating in professional skill and career development workshops.
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses: | ||
| MGRD 425 | Leadership and Professional Development Skills for Biomedical Sciences | 0 |
| PHRM 409 | Principles of Pharmacology | 3 |
| PHRM 511 | Frontiers in Pharmacology | 0-1 |
| PHRM 528 | Contemporary Approaches to Drug Discovery | 3 |
| PHRM 529 | FDA Regulation in Entrepreneurship and Clinical Research | 3 |
| PHRM 602 | Translational Pharmaceutical Science: Culminating Research Experience | 3-6 |
| or PHRM 603 | Translational Pharmaceutical Science: Culminating Internship Experience | |
| Electives | 12-15 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 30 | |
Concentrations
Three concentrations are offered but not required.
Pharmacology and Drug Discovery Concentration
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Electives: | ||
| PHRM 466 | Cell Signaling | 3 |
| PHRM 525 | Topics in Cell and Molecular Pharmacology | 0-18 |
| PHRM 527 | Pathways to Personalized Medicine | 3 |
| PHRM 604 | MS Research Experience in Pharmacology | 1-3 |
| CRSP 440 | Translational & Patient-Oriented Research Theory | 3 |
| EBME 416 | Biomaterials for Drug Delivery | 3 |
| EBME 426 | Nanomedicine | 3 |
| EBME 440 | Translational Research for Biomedical Engineers | 3 |
| PQHS 450 | Clinical Trials and Intervention Studies | 3 |
Pharmaceutical Business and Law Concentration
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Electives: | ||
| EPOM 400 | Leadership and Interpersonal Skills | 3 |
| HSMC 420 | Health Finance | 3 |
| HSMC 421 | Health Economics and Strategy | 3 |
| HSMC 425 | Dialogues in Healthcare Management | 3 |
| MBAP 411 | Identifying Design Opportunities | 3 |
| MGRD 530 | Regulatory Strategy and FDA Communications | 3 |
| MGRD 531 | Patent Law and the Biomedical Sciences | 1 |
| RGME 467 | Commercialization and Intellectual Property Management | 3 |
| RGME 468 | Commercialization and IP Management II | 3 |
Biostatistics and Bioinformatics Concentration
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Electives: | ||
| PHRM 604 | MS Research Experience in Pharmacology | 1-3 |
| PQHS 431 | Statistical Methods I | 3 |
| PQHS 432 | Statistical Methods II | 3 |
| PQHS 450 | Clinical Trials and Intervention Studies | 3 |
| PQHS 515 | Secondary Analysis of Large Health Care Databases | 3 |
| SYBB 402 | Introduction to Scientific Computing | 1 |
| SYBB 411 | Technologies in Bioinformatics | 3 |
| SYBB 412 | Survey of Bioinformatics: Programming for Bioinformatics | 3 |
| SYBB 421 | Fundamentals of Clinical Information Systems | 3 |