The MS in Pharmaceutical Sciences (MSPS) degree is designed to provide training in research and scholarship within a pharmaceutical sciences discipline for students seeking careers that include a research component, such as those in the pharmaceutical industry, managed care organizations, state and local health departments, academic healthcare systems, and healthcare colleges. The MS program is designed as a component of the PharmD/MS in Pharmaceutical Sciences Dual Degree Program, or alternatively can be awarded to students pursuing a PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences who change to the MS path. Students that participate in this program can choose any aspect of research conducted by investigators at the UKCOP across five training tracks: Medicinal, Bioorganic & Computational Chemistry, Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Engineering, Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Clinical and Experimental Therapeutics, and Pharmaceutical Outcomes & Policy.
Admission Requirements
Admission to the MS program is restricted to students who are currently enrolled in the Doctor of Pharmacy Program at the UK College of Pharmacy (PharmD/MS Dual Degree Program), enrolled in the Pharmaceutical Sciences PhD Program at the UK College of Pharmacy who elect to switch to the MS path, or who receive special permission from the program to apply. Admission is competitive and is based on academic achievement (minimum 3.0/4.0 GPA in required PharmD coursework), research rotation evaluations, a research proposal, and a letter of recommendation from the proposed faculty research mentor. Faculty mentors will be consulted as needed to assist the Graduate Program Commiteee in making admissions decisions. The step-by-step process and timeline for admission to the dual degree program is described in Pharmaeutical Sciences Graduate Program Handbook.
Degree Requirements
The program follows the coursework requirements as set by the Graduate School for the master’s degree. Students must earn at least 30 credits and complete a mentored research project. At least two-thirds of the minimum requirements for the master’s degree must be in regular courses, and at least half of the minimum course requirements (excluding thesis, practicum, or internship credit) must be in 600-or700-level courses. Candidates for the master’s degree must have a major research focus area and must take at least two-thirds of the course work in this discipline. The other one-third may be taken in this area or in related graduate areas as directed by the DGS and/or advisory committee.
Under the dual degree program, 1 current PharmD course will count towards graduate credit: PHR 952 Principles of Research and Evidence-based Medicine [4 credit hours]. Other graduate courses will be taken to account for the 8 credit hours of elective credits needed for the PharmD curriculum.
Additional information may be found in the UK Graduate School Catalog:http://bulletin.uky.edu/index.php and the Pharmaceutical Sciences Graduate Program Handbook: https://pharmacy.uky,edu/node/307
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