M.S. Degree Curriculum

Ecampus Non-Thesis M.S. Degree

Required Number of Credits: 45

The non-thesis online M.S. degree option in Pharmaceutical Sciences is targeted to bachelors degree holders in biology- or chemistry-related fields who wish to pursue a career in the pharmaceutical or biotechnology industries, or those who wish to advance their careers in those industries. 

The online degree provides the flexibility of completing degree requirements around your work schedule or other life commitments. You'll gain an understanding of the drug discovery, development, and approval processes; how drugs function in the human body; and the processes and techniques for acquiring and analyzing data to evaluate drug activities.

The program can be completed full-time or part-time. Full time enrollment includes 15-16 credits per term for 3 terms (approximately 9 months). Part-time enrollment includes 3-9 credits per term but students must register for a minimum of three credits each term. 

Sample schedules are below with recommendations on sequencing for part-time students.

Required Courses (8-11 credits):

  • GRAD 520 Responsible Conduct of Research (2)
  • PHAR 522 Drugs and the Body (3)
  • PHAR 506 Research Capstone (3) (up to 6 credits allowed)

Highly Recommended Courses

  • BB 550 & 551 General Biochemistry I & II, (4 and 3)
  • H 524 Introduction to Biostatistics (4)
  • PHAR 507 Seminar (1 credit; offered Thursdays at 12:00 PM PST fall and spring terms)

BB 550 and 551 Biochemistry I and II are recommended for students who have not completed an upper-level undergraduate biochemistry series (300 or 400 level).

H524 Intro to Biostatistics is a pre-requisite for PHAR 528.

PHAR 507 Seminar is a 1 credit course in which students learn about current research and emerging trends in Pharmaceutical Sciences. This course is optional and is delivered live via Zoom. Students who register for Seminar must be able to join online at the scheduled day and time.

Elective Courses:

  • PHAR 521 High-throughput Screening: Theory, Design, and Application (3)
  • PHAR 523 Drug Formulation and Product Optimization (3)
  • PHAR 556 Pharmacokinetics in Drug Development (3)
  • PHAR 594 Advances in Manipulating the Human Genome (3)
  • EMGT 560 Elevating Problem-solving to Drive Change (3)
  • EMGT 572 Introduction to Management for Engineers and Scientist (4)
  • GRAD 514 Introduction to Graduate Writing (3)
  • ST 536 R Programming for Data (3)
  • TOX 511 Fundamentals of Toxicology (3)
  • VMB 671 Molecular Tools (3)
  • PHAR 528 Biostatistics with Applications in Pharmacology (3)
  • PHAR 567 Regulatory Affairs for Pharmaceuticals (4)

Not available until AY 2026

  • PHAR 520 Pharmacology of Cannabis (2)
  • PHAR 543 Vaccines and Immunization (3)
  • PHAR 544 Cancer Biology and Therapeutics (3)
  • PHAR 561 Mass Spectrometry for Pharmaceutical Sciences (3)

Sample Full-time Program of Study

(currently under revision; contact an advisor for more information)

Part-Time Program of Study

It's recommended that part-time students take PHAR 522 Drugs and the Body, H 524 Biostatistics, and BB 550 & 551 Biochemistry I & II earlier in the program and reserve PHAR 506 Research Capstone for the last term(s) of the degree. Optional courses may be taken in any order.

Biochemistry Waiver

For all Master's degree options, students who are approved to waive Biochemistry I & II may substitute other optional courses or up to 3 additional credits of Seminar, Capstone, or Reading and Conference courses on the Program of Study.

On-Campus Non-Thesis M.S. Degree

Required Number of Credits: 45

The non-thesis on-campus M.S. degree option in Pharmaceutical Sciences is meant for bachelors degree holders in biology- or chemistry-related fields who wish to pursue a career in the pharmaceutical or biotechnology industries or those who wish to advance in their careers in those industries. The non-thesis option is mainly coursework with no hands-on research requirement. Students will gain an understanding of the drug discovery, development, and approval processes; how drugs function in the human body; and the processes and techniques for acquiring and analyzing data related to evaluating drug activities.

The program can be completed in 3 terms (approximately 9 months) if 15-16 credits are completed per term, which is recommended. Part-time enrollment is also available. Students must register for a minimum of 3 credits per term. Sample schedules are below with recommendations on sequencing for part-time students.

Required Courses (9-15 credits):

  • PHAR 525 Foundations of Drug Action (on-campus only), or PHAR 522 Drugs and the Body (online only) (3)
  • GRAD 520 Responsible Conduct of Research (2)
  • PHAR 507 Seminar (1 credit, up to 4 credits allowed)
  • PHAR 506 Research Capstone (3 credits, up to 6 credits allowed)

Strongly Recommended Courses:

  • BB 550 & 551 General Biochemistry I & II, (4 and 3) 

BB 550 and 551 Biochemistry I and II are recommended for students who have not completed an upper-level undergraduate biochemistry series (300 or 400 level).

Elective Courses:

  • PHAR 527 Foundations of Drug Action II (3)
  • PHAR 537 Bioorganic Chemistry (3)
  • PHAR 563 Cancer and Chemoprevention (2)
  • PHAR 572 Applied Biopharmaceutics and Pharmacokinetics (3)
  • PHAR 573 Current topics in Pharmaceutical Sciences (3)
  • PHAR 574 Nanomedicine (3)
  • PHAR 594 Advances in Manipulating the Human Genome (3)
  • PHAR 669 Introduction to Grant Proposal Writing (2)
  • PHAR 670 Introduction to Systems Biomedicine and Pharmacogenomics (2)
  • VMB 674 Vaccines and New Therapies (3)
  • MB 516 Immunology (3)
  • TOX 511 Fundamentals of Toxicology (3)

Optional Online Courses:

These courses are not required, but are open to on-campus students and may be used to complete remaining credits.

  • PHAR 521 High-throughput Screening: Theory, Design, and Application (3
  • PHAR 523 Drug Formulation and Product Optimization (3)
  • PHAR 528 Biostatistics with Applications in Pharmacology (3)
  • PHAR 556 Pharmacokinetics in Drug Development (3)
  • PHAR 567 Regulatory Affairs for Pharmaceuticals, (4)
  • PHAR 594 Advances in Manipulating the Human Genome (3)
  • EMGT 560 Elevating Problem-solving to Drive Change (3)
  • GRAD 514 Introduction to Graduate Writing (3)
  • VMB 671 Molecular Tools (3)

Part-Time Program of Study

It's recommended that part-time students take PHAR 522 or 525 Drugs and the Body or Foundations of Drug Action and BB 550 and 551 Biochemistry I & II earlier in the program and reserve PHAR 506 Research Capstone for the last term(s) of the degree. Optional courses may be taken in any order.

Biochemistry Waiver

For all Master's degree options, students who are approved to waive Biochemistry I & II may substitute other optional courses or up to 3 additional credits of Seminar, Capstone, or Reading and Conference courses on the program of study.

On-Campus Thesis M.S. Degree

Required Number of Credits: 45

The thesis M.S. degree option in Pharmaceutical Sciences is targeted to bachelors degree holders in biology- or chemistry-related fields who wish to pursue or advance a career in the pharmaceutical or biotechnology industries or those who wish to pursue a future Ph.D. degree in the field. The thesis option provides an opportunity for extensive hands-on research. The student will gain an understanding of the drug discovery, development, and approval processes; how drugs function in the human body; and the processes and techniques for acquiring and analyzing data related to evaluating drug activities.

The additional time required to acquire data and complete a thesis usually requires an additional year of full-time research work following completion of a year of traditional coursework totaling a minimum of two years to complete the MS thesis degree option, dependent upon research progress and success. Part-time coursework may be accommodated under some circumstances but is not recommended for the thesis option.

Required Courses (18 credits):

  • PHAR 525 Foundations of Drug Action (on-campus only), or PHAR 522 Drugs and the Body (online only) (3)
  • GRAD 520 Responsible Conduct of Research (2)
  • PHAR 507 Seminar (1 credit, up to 4 credits allowed)
  • PHAR 506 Research Capstone (3 credits, up to 6 credits allowed)

Strongly Recommended Courses: 

  • BB 550 & 551 General Biochemistry I & II, (4 and 3)

BB 550 and 551 Biochemistry I and II are recommended for students who have not completed an upper-level undergraduate biochemistry series (300 or 400 level).

Elective Courses: 

  • PHAR 563 Cancer and Chemoprevention (2)
  • PHAR 670 Introduction to Systems Biomedicine and Pharmacogenomics (2)
  • PHAR 573 Current topics in Pharmaceutical Sciences (3)
  • PHAR 574 Nanomedicine (3)
  • PHAR 594 Advances in Manipulating the Human Genome (3)
  • PHAR 669 Introduction to Grant Proposal Writing (2)
  • PHAR 527 Foundations of Drug Action II (3)
  • PHAR 572 Applied Biopharmaceutics and Pharmacokinetics (3)
  • PHAR 537 Bioorganic Chemistry (3)
  • TOX 511 Fundamentals of Toxicology (3)
  • VMB 674 Vaccines and New Therapies (3)
  • MB 516 Immunology (3)

Optional Online Courses:

These courses are not required, but are open to on-campus students and may be used to complete remaining credits.

  • PHAR 521 High-throughput Screening: Theory, Design, and Application (3)
  • PHAR 523 Drug Formulation and Product Optimization (3)
  • PHAR 528 Biostatistics with Applications in Pharmacology (3)
  • PHAR 556 Pharmacokinetics in Drug Development (3)
  • PHAR 567 Regulatory Affairs for Pharmaceuticals, (4)
  • PHAR 594 Advances in Manipulating the Human Genome (3)
  • EMGT 560 Elevating Problem-solving to Drive Change (3)
  • GRAD 514 Introduction to Graduate Writing (3)
  • VMB 671 Molecular Tools (3)

Biochemistry Waiver

For all Master's degree options, students who are approved to waive Biochemistry I & II may substitute other optional courses or up to 3 additional credits of Seminar, Capstone, or Reading and Conference courses on the program of study.