Pharmacology and Physiology
Major: Pharmacology and Physiology
Degree Awarded: Master of Science (MS) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Calendar Type: Semester
Total Credit Hours: 45.0 (MS, non-thesis); 62.0 (MS, thesis); 128.0 (PhD)
Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) code: 26.1002
Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code: 19-1042
About the Programs
The College of Medicine's Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences and Professional Studies offers graduate programs leading to the MS and the PhD degrees in Pharmacology & Physiology. The programs require independent research under the direction of departmental faculty members who are engaged in highly active research programs involving molecular, cellular, and behavioral approaches to experimental pharmacology and physiology in a strongly collaborative environment.
Students in both the PhD and MS programs begin their coursework with a core curriculum in biomedical sciences, and immediately start laboratory rotations. Intensive graduate level pharmacology, physiology and neuropharmacology courses round out the core programmatic courses. Specialization in ion channel physiology, smooth muscle physiology, behavioral pharmacology and signal transduction processes may involve the taking of several elective courses. Each program requires the defense of a thesis based on original research.
About the MS Program
The MS program, requiring two years of full-time study, provides a broad knowledge and technical expertise in pharmacology and physiology, allowing graduates to become partners in research in either an academic or an industrial environment. Students who wish to continue their graduate studies after the MS degree may apply to the PhD program, and their course credits may be applied to the doctoral program.
In addition to the thesis-based MS program, Drexel offers a non-thesis degree program in which students can earn the degree without a research project by taking additional classes and writing a literature review paper.
About the PhD Program
PhD candidates must pass a qualifying examination by November of their third year and they must have one accepted co-author manuscript, and one submitted first-author manuscript in peer-reviewed journals during the course of the program.
Additional Information
For more information about the program, please visit the College of Medicine's Pharmacology & Physiology program website.
Amanda Mangano
Academic Administrator
Division of Biomedical Science Programs
Drexel University College of Medicine
245 N. 15th St., MS 344
Philadelphia, PA 19102
215.762.8217
amm523@drexel.edu
Admission Requirements
Drexel University College of Medicine has a rolling admissions policy, which means that complete applications are reviewed as they are received. Applicants are therefore advised to apply early, as decisions to accept or deny admission may be made before the official deadlines.
Additional Information
To learn more about applying to Drexel College of Medicine programs visit the Drexel College of Medicine's Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences and Professional Studies website.
Degree Requirements (MS)
About the Curriculum
The core curriculum is a comprehensive interdisciplinary program of study for all first-year research master’s students in the Division of Biomedical Science Programs. The goal of the core curriculum is to provide a broad foundation in biomedical sciences and serve as a framework for advanced study in more specialized areas.
Courses Repeatable for Credit
As well as taking all required courses, students will re-enroll in courses having the status “repeatable for credit” (such as journal club, seminar and research courses) for the duration of their program in order to meet the total number of credits required for graduation.
Additional Information
For more information about the program, please visit the College of Medicine's Pharmacology and Physiology program webpage.
Non-Thesis Option
| Required Courses | ||
| IDPT 500S | Responsible Conduct of Research | 2.0 |
| IDPT 501S | Biostatistics I | 2.0 |
| or NEUR 500S | Statistics for Neuro/Pharm Research | |
| IDPT 502S | Learn Early As Professionals I (LEAP I) | 1.0 |
| IDPT 504S | Learn Early and Practice (LEAP II) | 1.0 |
| IDPT 521S | Molecular Structure and Metabolism | 5.0 |
| IDPT 526S | Cells to Systems | 5.0 |
| IDPT 850S | Literature Review Non-Thesis MS | 4.0 |
| PHRM 502S | Current Topics in Pharmacology & Physiology * | 4.0 |
| PHRM 507S | Prin of Neuropharmacology | 3.0 |
| PHRM 512S | Graduate Pharmacology | 3.0 |
| PHRM 516S | Advanced Topics in Physiology | 1.0 |
| PHRM 517S | Advanced Topics in Pharmacology | 1.0 |
| PHGY 503S | Graduate Physiology | 4.0 |
| Advanced Electives | 9.0 | |
| Select at least three Advanced Electives for a minimum of nine credits. | ||
| Macromolecular Structure & Function | ||
| Cancer Biology | ||
| Immunology I | ||
| Biotechniques I: Molecular and Genomic Methods | ||
| Animal Models for Biomedical Research | ||
| Graduate Neuroscience I | ||
| New Frontiers in Therapy | ||
| Methods in Biomedical Research | ||
| Drug Discovery and Development I | ||
| Drug Discovery and Development II | ||
| General Electives | ||
| Teaching Practicum I | ||
| Teaching Practicum II | ||
| Teaching Practicum III | ||
| Thesis Defense | ||
| Epidemiology | ||
| Business Processes and Contemporary Concerns in Pharmaceutical R & D | ||
| World Wide Regulatory Submissions | ||
| Intro to Clinical Trials | ||
| Applications of Clinical Research Biostatistics | ||
| Scientific Writing and Medical Literature | ||
| Current Federal Regulatory Issues in Biomedical Research | ||
| Pharmaceutical Law | ||
| Leadership Skills | ||
| Compliance & Monitoring Issues | ||
| Principles and Practice of Pharmacovigilance | ||
| Designing the Clinical Trial | ||
| Innovative Product Development | ||
| Fundamentals of Compliance | ||
| Introduction to Clinical Pharmacology | ||
| Informatics in Pharm Res & Development | ||
| Total Credits | 45.0 | |
| * | Taken each semester. |
Thesis Option
| Required Courses | ||
| IDPT 500S | Responsible Conduct of Research | 2.0 |
| IDPT 501S | Biostatistics I | 2.0 |
| or NEUR 500S | Statistics for Neuro/Pharm Research | |
| IDPT 502S | Learn Early As Professionals I (LEAP I) | 1.0 |
| IDPT 504S | Learn Early and Practice (LEAP II) | 1.0 |
| IDPT 521S | Molecular Structure and Metabolism | 5.0 |
| IDPT 526S | Cells to Systems | 5.0 |
| PHRM 502S | Current Topics in Pharmacology & Physiology * | 4.0 |
| PHRM 503S | Pharm & Phys 1st Lab Rotation | 4.0 |
| PHRM 504S | Pharm & Phys 2nd Lab Rotation | 4.0 |
| PHRM 507S | Prin of Neuropharmacology | 3.0 |
| PHRM 512S | Graduate Pharmacology | 3.0 |
| PHRM 516S | Advanced Topics in Physiology | 1.0 |
| PHRM 517S | Advanced Topics in Pharmacology | 1.0 |
| PHRM 600S | Pharmacology Thesis Research ** | 18.0 |
| PHGY 503S | Graduate Physiology | 4.0 |
| Advanced Electives | ||
| Select at least two Advanced Electives for a minimum of four credits. | 4.0 | |
| Macromolecular Structure & Function | ||
| Cancer Biology | ||
| Immunology I | ||
| Biotechniques I: Molecular and Genomic Methods | ||
| Animal Models for Biomedical Research | ||
| Graduate Neuroscience I | ||
| New Frontiers in Therapy | ||
| Methods in Biomedical Research | ||
| Drug Discovery and Development I | ||
| Drug Discovery and Development II | ||
| General Electives | ||
| Teaching Practicum I | ||
| Teaching Practicum II | ||
| Teaching Practicum III | ||
| Thesis Defense | ||
| Epidemiology | ||
| Business Processes and Contemporary Concerns in Pharmaceutical R & D | ||
| World Wide Regulatory Submissions | ||
| Intro to Clinical Trials | ||
| Applications of Clinical Research Biostatistics | ||
| Scientific Writing and Medical Literature | ||
| Current Federal Regulatory Issues in Biomedical Research | ||
| Pharmaceutical Law | ||
| Leadership Skills | ||
| Compliance & Monitoring Issues | ||
| Principles and Practice of Pharmacovigilance | ||
| Designing the Clinical Trial | ||
| Innovative Product Development | ||
| Fundamentals of Compliance | ||
| Introduction to Clinical Pharmacology | ||
| Informatics in Pharm Res & Development | ||
| Pharm & Phys 3rd Lab Rotation | ||
| Total Credits | 62.0 | |
| * | Taken each semester. |
| ** | Taken each semester starting in the second year. |
Degree Requirements (PhD)
About the Curriculum
The core curriculum is a comprehensive interdisciplinary program of study for all PhD students in the Division of Biomedical Science Programs. The goal of the core curriculum is to provide a broad foundation in biomedical sciences and serve as a framework for advanced study in more specialized areas.
Courses Repeatable for Credit
As well as taking all required courses, students will re-enroll in courses having the status “repeatable for credit” (such as journal club, seminar and research courses) for the duration of their program in order to meet the total number of credits required for graduation.
Additional Information
For more information about the program, please visit the College of Medicine's Pharmacology and Physiology program webpage.
| Required Courses | ||
| IDPT 500S | Responsible Conduct of Research | 2.0 |
| IDPT 501S | Biostatistics I | 2.0 |
| or NEUR 500S | Statistics for Neuro/Pharm Research | |
| IDPT 502S | Learn Early As Professionals I (LEAP I) | 1.0 |
| IDPT 504S | Learn Early and Practice (LEAP II) | 1.0 |
| IDPT 507S | Teaching Practicum I | 1.0-4.0 |
| IDPT 508S | Teaching Practicum II | 1.0-4.0 |
| IDPT 509S | Teaching Practicum III | 1.0-4.0 |
| IDPT 521S | Molecular Structure and Metabolism | 5.0 |
| IDPT 526S | Cells to Systems | 5.0 |
| IDPT 600S | Thesis Defense | 9.0 |
| PHRM 502S | Current Topics in Pharmacology & Physiology * | 9.0 |
| PHRM 503S | Pharm & Phys 1st Lab Rotation | 4.0 |
| PHRM 504S | Pharm & Phys 2nd Lab Rotation | 4.0 |
| PHRM 505S | Pharm & Phys 3rd Lab Rotation | 4.0 |
| PHRM 507S | Prin of Neuropharmacology | 3.0 |
| PHRM 512S | Graduate Pharmacology | 3.0 |
| PHRM 516S | Advanced Topics in Physiology | 1.0 |
| PHRM 517S | Advanced Topics in Pharmacology | 1.0 |
| PHRM 600S | Pharmacology Thesis Research ** | 63.0 |
| PHGY 503S | Graduate Physiology | 4.0 |
| Advanced Electives | 4.0 | |
| Choose at least two Advanced Electives for a minimum of four credits. | ||
| Macromolecular Structure & Function | ||
| Cancer Biology | ||
| Immunology I | ||
| Biotechniques I: Molecular and Genomic Methods | ||
| New Frontiers in Therapy | ||
| Methods in Biomedical Research | ||
| Drug Discovery and Development I | ||
| Drug Discovery and Development II | ||
| Animal Models for Biomedical Research | ||
| General Electives | ||
| Epidemiology | ||
| Business Processes and Contemporary Concerns in Pharmaceutical R & D | ||
| World Wide Regulatory Submissions | ||
| Intro to Clinical Trials | ||
| Applications of Clinical Research Biostatistics | ||
| Scientific Writing and Medical Literature | ||
| Current Federal Regulatory Issues in Biomedical Research | ||
| Pharmaceutical Law | ||
| Leadership Skills | ||
| Compliance & Monitoring Issues | ||
| Principles and Practice of Pharmacovigilance | ||
| Designing the Clinical Trial | ||
| Innovative Product Development | ||
| Fundamentals of Compliance | ||
| Introduction to Clinical Pharmacology | ||
| Informatics in Pharm Res & Development | ||
| Regulatory, Scientific and Social Issues Affecting Biotech Research | ||
| Health Policy and Economics | ||
| Strategic Planning | ||
| Total Credits | 128.0-137.0 | |
| * | Taken each semester with the exception of the last when only Thesis Defense is taken. |
| ** | Taken each semester starting in year 2, with the exception of the last semester when only Thesis Defense is taken. |
Sample Plan of Study (MS)
Thesis Option
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| IDPT 502S | 1.0 | IDPT 500S | 2.0 |
| IDPT 521S | 5.0 | IDPT 504S | 1.0 |
| PHGY 503S | 4.0 | IDPT 526S | 5.0 |
| PHRM 502S | 1.0 | PHRM 502S | 1.0 |
| PHRM 503S | 4.0 | PHRM 504S | 4.0 |
| PHRM 516S | 1.0 | PHRM 512S | 3.0 |
| 16 | 16 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| PHRM 502S | 1.0 | IDPT 501S or NEUR 500S | 2.0 |
| PHRM 507S | 3.0 | PHRM 502S | 1.0 |
| PHRM 517S | 1.0 | PHRM 600S | 9.0 |
| PHRM 600S | 9.0 | Advanced Elective | 2.0 |
| Advanced Elective | 2.0 | ||
| 16 | 14 | ||
| Total Credits 62 | |||
Non-Thesis Option
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| IDPT 502S | 1.0 | IDPT 500S | 2.0 |
| IDPT 521S | 5.0 | IDPT 504S | 1.0 |
| PHGY 503S | 4.0 | IDPT 526S | 5.0 |
| PHRM 502S | 1.0 | PHRM 502S | 1.0 |
| PHRM 516S | 1.0 | PHRM 512S | 3.0 |
| Advanced Elective | 3.0 | ||
| 12 | 15 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| PHRM 502S | 1.0 | IDPT 501S or NEUR 500S | 2.0 |
| PHRM 507S | 3.0 | IDPT 850S | 4.0 |
| PHRM 517S | 1.0 | PHRM 502S | 1.0 |
| Advanced Elective | 4.0 | Advanced Elective | 2.0 |
| 9 | 9 | ||
| Total Credits 45 | |||
Sample Plan of Study (PhD)
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| IDPT 502S | 1.0 | IDPT 500S | 2.0 |
| IDPT 521S | 5.0 | IDPT 504S | 1.0 |
| PHGY 503S | 4.0 | IDPT 526S | 5.0 |
| PHRM 502S | 1.0 | PHRM 502S | 1.0 |
| PHRM 503S | 4.0 | PHRM 504S | 4.0 |
| PHRM 516S | 1.0 | PHRM 505S | 4.0 |
| PHRM 512S | 3.0 | ||
| 16 | 20 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| PHRM 502S | 1.0 | IDPT 501S or NEUR 500S | 2.0 |
| PHRM 507S | 3.0 | IDPT 507S | 1.0-4.0 |
| PHRM 517S | 1.0 | PHRM 502S | 1.0 |
| PHRM 600S | 9.0 | PHRM 600S | 9.0 |
| 14 | 13-16 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| IDPT 508S | 1.0-4.0 | IDPT 509S | 1.0-4.0 |
| PHRM 502S | 1.0 | PHRM 502S | 1.0 |
| PHRM 600S | 9.0 | PHRM 600S | 9.0 |
| Advanced Electives | 2.0 | Advanced Electives | 2.0 |
| 13-16 | 13-16 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| PHRM 502S | 1.0 | PHRM 502S | 1.0 |
| PHRM 600S | 9.0 | PHRM 600S | 9.0 |
| 10 | 10 | ||
| Fifth Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| PHRM 502S | 1.0 | IDPT 600S | 9.0 |
| PHRM 600S | 9.0 | ||
| 10 | 9 | ||
| Total Credits 128-137 | |||
