Pharmaceutical Sciences, M.S.

This 36-semester hour Master of Science degree program in Pharmaceutical Sciences at Harrisburg University consists of advanced training in characterizing drug action and disposition. Courses offered in this program will give the student a broad understanding of diverse topics in pharmaceutical science that range from established paradigms to emerging technology and applications. Scientific communication and professional development are stressed in the curriculum and reinforced through coursework and independent study. Graduates may seek a career in research, industry, or continuing to a doctoral program in health sciences or healthcare. Classes that focus on genomics and biopharmaceutics will give the student perspectives on aspects of personalized medicine. This diverse curriculum will prepare graduates for careers in the expanding personalized medicine and biotechnology sectors, as well as in more traditional roles in the pharmaceutical industry. The elective options allow the student to individualize their own coursework based on their career goals.

Additional Requirements for Admission to the MS in Pharmaceutical Sciences

The following are requirements in addition to those that are part of the general graduate admissions requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in a biological, biomedical, or life science
• Minimum GPA: 3.2
• Undergraduate academic requirements by content area:

- Successful completion of Organic Chemistry or equivalent: 8 credit hours
- Successful completion of General Chemistry or equivalent: 4 credit hours
- Successful completion of General Biology or equivalent: 4 credit hours
- Successful completion of General Physics or equivalent: 4 credit hours
- Successful completion of Precalculus or higher math or equivalent: 3 credit hours

Admission requirements are subject to review by the program lead and equivalent coursework is accepted at the discretion of the program lead. 

Program Goals

Graduates of the Master of Science in Pharmaceutical Sciences program will be able to:

• Analyze the role of core content areas in pharmaceutical science in the industrial, clinical, and regulatory spheres;
• Recommend and apply established models to predict drug dispositions in patients as part of a multidisciplinary team;
• Design strategies using scientific approaches to accomplish set pharmaceutical goals in an industry or regulatory setting;
• Evaluate primary literature relevant to pharmaceutical sciences and use that literature to solve diverse problems in pharmaceutical science; and,
• Effectively communicate pharmaceutical science information and issues from around the world, orally and written, to individuals with scientific and non-scientific backgrounds.