Master of Science in Drug Discovery and Development
About the Program
Master of Science: 38.0 semester credits
The MS in Drug Discovery and Development provides in-depth exposure to the multiple elements involved in drug discovery and development. This program has been designed to prepare students for a smooth transition into an enduring and productive research career within the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry. It covers all aspects of drug discovery and development ranging from the discovery and characterization of drug targets through to regulatory approval and commercialization. Students will also be exposed to business aspects as well as to other areas of biotechnology as well as to the basic sciences of pharmacology and physiology.
The MS in Drug Discovery and Development is available to individuals who have already obtained a BS or BA degree in some field of the biomedical or health sciences who may wish to pursue an industry-focused master's-level degree. This may include individuals who wish to pursue a career in the pharmaceutical or biotechnical industries.
This program is also intended for individuals from other disciplines who wish to have a broader base of information about drug discovery and development, those who may wish to transition into the industry, or those who are already active in the industry and seek to increase their knowledge. The curriculum has been designed with the recognition that the complex pharmaceutical and biotechnical industries require a diversity of personnel experience.
For more information about this program, visit the College of Medicine's Biomedical Graduate Studies page.
Admission Requirements
For acceptance to the program, the applicant must have completed a four-year biology or chemistry-based bachelor's degree program, or equivalent, with at least a 3.0 GPA. Students must fulfill all requirements for consideration as defined by the Drexel University College of Medicine Biomedical Graduate Education Committee:
- official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended;
- official copies of entrance test scores and official test scores from the Graduate Record Examination (GRE);
- references from at least three instructors or professionals;
- an application fee, made payable to Drexel University is required for application processing (online application is free);
- International applicants (non-United States citizens) must meet the same requirements for admission as students from the United States. Applicants whose native language is not English must demonstrate the ability to speak, write, and understand the English language by submitting an acceptable score on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), or IELTS.
Students applying to the program will be expected to have undergraduate experience in chemistry, cell biology, biochemistry, and mathematics--including, at a minimum--two semesters each of inorganic chemistry, organic chemistry, physics, calculus and biology.
Visit Drexel University's Graduate Admissions site for additional information regarding specific requirements for applying to the College of Medicine as well as important application dates.
For additional information on how to apply, visit Drexel's Admissions page for Biomedical Graduate Studies.
Degree Requirements
The curriculum is designed to provide students with a detailed core focusing on the many facets of the drug discovery and development process, while simultaneously providing students with multiple options to pursue related areas of interest.
| Required Courses | ||
| Required Semester Courses | ||
| IDPT 500S | Scientific Integrity & Ethics | 2.0 |
| IDPT 501S | BIOSTATISTICS I | 2.0 |
| PHRM 512S | GRADUATE PHARMACOLOGY | 3.0 |
| PHRM 525S | Drug Discovery and Development I | 3.0 |
| PHRM 526S | Drug Discovery and Development II | 3.0 |
| PHRM 605S | Research in Drug Discovery and Development | 4.0 |
| PHGY 503S | GRADUATE PHYSIOLOGY | 4.0 |
| Required Quarter Courses | ||
| BMES 604 | Pharmacogenomics | 3.0 |
| MGMT 940 | Seminar in Organizational Behavior | 3.0 |
| ORGB 625 | Leadership and Professional Development | 3.0 |
| Electives | 8.0 | |
| Students take additional electives from the following two lists to reach a minimum of 38.0 credits total for graduation. | ||
| Semester Elective Course Options: | ||
| Biotechniques I | ||
| Vaccines and Vaccine Development | ||
| Fundamentals of Molecular Medicine I | ||
| Fundamentals of Molecular Medicine II | ||
| Animal Models for Biomedical Research | ||
| Quarter Elective Course Options: | ||
| Bioinformatics I | ||
| Implementing Strategies Using Project Teams | ||
| Readings in Strategic Management | ||
| Introduction to Project Management | ||
| International Project Management | ||
| Principles of Epidemiology | ||
| Total Credits | 38.0 | |
Courses
PHRM 502S CURRENT TOPICS IN PHARM & PHYS 1.0 Credit
Current topics in experimental pharmacology are presented via a journal club alternating with research presentations. In addition to active student participation, all members of the department of pharmacology and physiology (research assistants, postdoctoral fellows and faculty) participate.
Repeat Status: Can be repeated multiple times for credit
PHRM 503S PHARM & PHYS 1ST LAB ROTATION 4.0 Credits
First rotation. Guided research is conducted on a part-time basis for two or three 8-10 week periods. Rotations are generally conducted during spring or summer of the first year. A written research report is required at the end of each rotation.
Repeat Status: Not repeatable for credit
PHRM 504S PHARM & PHYS 2ND LAB ROTATION 4.0 Credits
Second rotation. Guided research is conducted on a part-time basis for two or three 8-10 week periods. Rotations are generally conducted during spring or summer of the first year. A written research report is required at the end of each rotation.
Repeat Status: Not repeatable for credit
PHRM 505S PHARM & PHYS 3RD LAB ROTATION 4.0 Credits
Third rotation. Guided research is conducted on a part-time basis for two or three 8-10 week periods. Rotations are generally conducted during spring or summer of the first year. A written research report is required at the end of each rotation.
Repeat Status: Not repeatable for credit
PHRM 507S Prin of Neuropharmacology 3.0 Credits
This course covers basic concepts in Neuropharmacology, all of the major neurotransmitter systems, behavioral pharmacology and addition, approaches to molecular and cellular physiology including photoactivated biomolecules, electrophysiology, phosphorylation.
Repeat Status: Not repeatable for credit
PHRM 512S GRADUATE PHARMACOLOGY 3.0 Credits
This team taught course provides a basic knowledge of the pharmacologic mechanisms of action, effects on organ systems, routes of administration, pharmacokinetics, therapeutic uses, adverse reactions, contraindications, and drug interactions of drugs.
Repeat Status: Not repeatable for credit
PHRM 516S Special Topics In Pharm & Phys 1.0 Credit
This required course serves to complement either Graduate Physiology or Graduate Pharmacology, and is taken concurrently with each. The focus is on fundamental concepts using typically published reports as examples. For instance, use of two-photon imaging paired with electrophysiology has been covered under Physiology, whereas inverse agonists and pharmacogenetics have been covered under Pharmacology. For Graduate Pharmacology, computer simulation exercises of pharmacokinetics and autonomic drugs are also included.
Repeat Status: Can be repeated multiple times for credit
PHRM 525S Drug Discovery and Development I 3.0 Credits
This course, the first of two, will provide in-depth exposure to the concepts and processes involved in drug discovery and development as practiced in the biopharmaceutical industry cover all facets from target identification through to the submission of the investigational New Drug Application (IND). Current unmet medical needs and case histories from difference therapeutic areas will be reviewed.
Repeat Status: Not repeatable for credit
PHRM 526S Drug Discovery and Development II 3.0 Credits
This course will provide in-depth exposure to the concepts and processes involved in drug discovery and development as practiced in the biopharmaceutical industry. It will follow the first course (Drug Discovery and Development I) and will cover all aspects from roval process to the submission of the NDA to regulatory approval and post-marketing surveillance.
Repeat Status: Not repeatable for credit
Prerequisites: PHRM 525S [Min Grade: B]
PHRM 600S PHARMACOLOGY THESIS RESEARCH 9.0 Credits
Research toward the fulfillment of the dissertation is conducted beginning after successful completion of the qualifying examination. Progress is monitored by the student's advisor and department, Advisory Committee or Thesis Committee.
Repeat Status: Can be repeated multiple times for credit
PHRM 602S RESEARCH METHODS IN PHARMACOLO 2.0 Credits
A research course in which the student participates in several research projects under the direction of different staff members in order to become familiar with the specific areas of expertise of the faculty. This course emphasizes not only experimental methods but also the conceptual bases for investigating current problems in pharmacology.
Repeat Status: Not repeatable for credit
PHRM 605S Research in Drug Discovery and Development 4.0 Credits
This course is designed to provide opportunities for the student to pursue research in the area of drug discovery and development. This can be done either in an academic or pharmaceutical laboratory under the supervision of a mentor. An alternative or an additional aspect can be the conduct of research for this thesis that is not laboratory research but library research based on an approved topic for the thesis requirement. Bother alternatives, laboratory or library research must be approved by the course directors.
Repeat Status: Not repeatable for credit
PHRM 751S MEDICAL PHARMACOLGY 0.0 Credits
College/Department: College of Medicine
Repeat Status: Not repeatable for credit
PHRM 823S CARDIOVASCULAR PHARMACOLOGY 0.0 Credits
College/Department: College of Medicine
Repeat Status: Not repeatable for credit
PHRM 895S PHARMACOLOGY RESEARCH 0.0 Credits
Repeat Status: Not repeatable for credit
PHRM 9092S PHARMACOLOGY - ELECTIVE - 2WKS 0.0 Credits
College/Department: College of Medicine
Repeat Status: Not repeatable for credit
PHRM 9094S PHARMACOLOGY -ELECTIVE 0.0 Credits
College/Department: College of Medicine
Repeat Status: Can be repeated 0 times for 0 credits
PHRM 9750S RESEARCH-PHARMACOLOGY-16 wks 0.0 Credits
College/Department: College of Medicine
Repeat Status: Not repeatable for credit
PHRM 9754S PHARMACOLOGY RESEARCH 0.0 Credits
College/Department: College of Medicine
Repeat Status: Not repeatable for credit
