Pharmaceutical Sciences
MS
Why study Pharmaceutical Sciences?
Discover our MS degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences, where we strive to provide an exceptional education that equips future pharmacists with the skills needed to excel in organized healthcare settings. Our dedicated faculty members are committed to creating an unparalleled learning experience and offering close mentorship and guidance to students. With flexible scheduling options available, including online and in-person formats, you can tailor your learning experience to fit your needs and preferences.
Furthermore, our program goes beyond the classroom by offering extensive networking opportunities. Collaborations with leading pharmaceutical companies and a vast alumni network provide invaluable connections that can lead to exciting research opportunities and promising career placements.
Join our program and unlock a world of possibilities in the pharmaceutical industry.
Program Options
Students can earn this degree by choosing one of the three program tracks below.
Biomembrane Sciences Track
The goal of the Biomembrane Sciences track is to cultivate scientists proficient in understanding the molecular and cellular mechanisms behind biological membranes, their role in disease etiology and treatment, and their barrier properties.
Students in this track explore diverse research projects, including drug delivery strategies, safety and efficacy evaluation of cosmetics, mathematical models for membrane transport, innovative drug formulations, nanocarrier design, as well as skin and hair development.
Experimental Therapeutics Track
The Experimental Therapeutics track aims to train scientists with diverse expertise in preclinical and clinical pharmaceutical sciences, enabling them to successfully translate innovative therapeutic concepts into clinical practice.
Students in this track delve into research projects encompassing various areas such as cancer biomarkers, neuropharmacology of drugs of abuse like MDMA, stroke and epilepsy, neurotoxicity, cancer pharmacokinetics, and drug metabolism.
Health Outcomes Track
The Health Outcomes track aims to train interdisciplinary scholars in pharmaceutical sciences, economics, business, and quantitative analysis. By conducting research in this emerging field, students develop expertise that can improve patient health. With the pharmaceutical industry's growing demand for scientists skilled in social and administrative aspects of pharmaceutical sciences, this track offers exciting opportunities.
Students in the Health Outcomes track explore diverse research projects, ranging from drug safety and pharmacovigilance to pharmacy facility design, operation, and pharmacoeconomics.
Admission Requirements
Applicants with an undergraduate degree in chemistry, biology, engineering, or related fields from an accredited institution are eligible to apply for our full-time, research-intensive MS program in Pharmaceutical Sciences. Similarly, those with a completed professional degree like PharmD, MD, or DVM also meet eligibility requirements. Admission to our competitive program, which offers supervised, full-time research training, is based on a selection process (the average GRE score for admitted full-time MS students in the past two years was 308/4.0).
Programmatic minimum admission criteria include:
- A U.S. bachelors degree from a regionally accredited college or university or an equivalent degree from outside of the U.S.
- A grade-point average (GPA) of at least 3.00 or non-U.S. equivalent
- A Graduate Record Examination (GRE) score of at least 290/3.0 obtained within the past 5 years
- International Applicants: qualifying English language profiency score
Supplemental Application Documents
To be considered for admission, please complete the University of Cincinnati Graduate Application and submit the following documents electronically within the application:
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Curriculum Vitae (CV)
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Statement of Purpose: Explain your motivation for pursuing a research-intensive Ph.D. degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of Cincinnati. Include your desired research focus area within the broad field of Pharmaceutical Sciences.
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Submit all college transcripts, including evidence of high academic achievement (unofficial transcripts are sufficient for initial review).
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Three letters of recommendation are required for applications, and we strongly recommend that applicants seek letters from individuals who can provide insights into their research experience. Please note that letters of recommendation from family members, friends, current students, politicians, or clergy will not be accepted.
Non-Matriculated Students
If you are interested in exploring Pharmaceutical Sciences graduate-level courses without formal enrollment in a degree-seeking program, please complete the basic data form.
Our program opens doors to a wide range of exciting career opportunities in the pharmaceutical industry, clinical research organizations, academia, and government sectors. Upon graduation, you may find yourself in roles such as a scientist, clinical pharmacologist, clinical trial manager, post-doctoral fellow, or regulatory affairs manager.
Furthermore, there are additional career paths available, including positions as a medical science liaison, pharmaceutical consultant, medical writer, or chemist, providing you with diverse avenues to pursue your passions and contribute to the advancement of the field.
Scholarship Opportunities
To explore available scholarship opportunities, please visit our Financial Aid & Scholarships page.
The graduation requirements for this program include:
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Completion of Plan of Study
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Successful passing of MS Thesis
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Compliance with degree-required seminar and journal club credit hours per semester
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Cumulative grade point average of all didactic courses ≥3.0
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Min of 30 credit hrs from track-based curriculum outline
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No failing “F” grade in any of the degree-associated graduate courses
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Successful upload of chair-signed MS Thesis through the Graduate College EDT portal by the specified deadline (for research-intensive students only)
Application Deadlines
All application documents must be electronically submitted through the online application. When completing the online application, please select the desired degree path carefully, as document switches between different tracks are not permitted. Applications are reviewed with the following timeline:
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Fall semester applications are reviewed by the Admissions Committee in May, with submissions accepted until August 1st
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Spring semester applications are reviewed by the Admissions Committee in October, with submissions accepted until December 1st
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Typically, the Fall semester provides more opportunities for incoming applicants
For further inquiries, contact pharmsci@uc.edu.
Contact Information
231 Albert Sabin Way
3005F Medical Sciences Building
Cincinnati, OH 45267
(513) 558-6172
corey.bjarnson@uc.edu
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Program Code: 25MAS-PCEU-MS