Pharmacology & Physiology MS
Major: Pharmacology & Physiology
Degree Awarded: Master of Science (MS)
Calendar Type: Semester
Minimum Required Credits: 39.0 (MS, non-thesis); 55.0 (MS, thesis);
Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) code: 26.1002
Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code: 19-1042
About the Program
The College of Medicine offers a Master of Science degree in Pharmacology & Physiology. The program requires 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 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.
The MS program, requiring two years of full-time study, provides 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 completion 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.
Additional Information
For more information, visit the College of Medicine's Pharmacology & Physiology program website.
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, please visit the Pharmacology & Physiology program website.
Degree Requirements
About the Curriculum
The core curriculum is a comprehensive interdisciplinary program of study for all first-year research master’s students in 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 & Physiology program web page.
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 533S | Core Principles in Biochemistry & Cell Biology | 4.0 |
| IDPT 850S | Literature Review Non-Thesis MS | 5.0 |
| PHRM 502S | Current Topics in Pharmacology & Physiology * | 4.0 |
| PHRM 507S | Prin of Neuropharmacology | 3.0 |
| PHRM 512S | Graduate Pharmacology | 3.0 |
| PHRM 517S | Advanced Topics in Pharmacology | 1.0 |
| PHGY 503S | Graduate Physiology | 4.0 |
| Advanced Electives | ||
| Select at least three Advanced Electives | 9.0 | |
| 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 | ||
| Total Credits | 39.0 | |
- *
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 533S | Core Principles in Biochemistry & Cell Biology | 4.0 |
| 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 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 | 55.0 | |
- *
Taken each semester.
- **
Taken each semester starting in the second year.
Sample Plan of Study
Non-Thesis Option
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | |
| IDPT 502S | Learn Early As Professionals I (LEAP I) | 1.0 |
| IDPT 533S | Core Principles in Biochemistry & Cell Biology | 4.0 |
| PHGY 503S | Graduate Physiology | 4.0 |
| PHRM 502S | Current Topics in Pharmacology & Physiology | 1.0 |
| Credits | 10 | |
| Spring | ||
| IDPT 500S | Responsible Conduct of Research | 2.0 |
| IDPT 504S | Learn Early and Practice (LEAP II) | 1.0 |
| PHRM 502S | Current Topics in Pharmacology & Physiology | 1.0 |
| PHRM 512S | Graduate Pharmacology | 3.0 |
| PHRM 517S | Advanced Topics in Pharmacology | 1.0 |
| Advanced Elective | 3.0 | |
| Credits | 11 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| PHRM 502S | Current Topics in Pharmacology & Physiology | 1.0 |
| PHRM 507S | Prin of Neuropharmacology | 3.0 |
| IDPT 501S or NEUR 500S | Biostatistics I or Statistics for Neuro/Pharm Research | 2.0 |
| Advanced Elective | 3.0 | |
| Credits | 9 | |
| Spring | ||
| PHRM 502S | Current Topics in Pharmacology & Physiology | 1.0 |
| IDPT 850S | Literature Review Non-Thesis MS | 5.0 |
| Advanced Elective | 3.0 | |
| Credits | 9 | |
| Total Credits | 39 | |
Thesis Option
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | |
| IDPT 502S | Learn Early As Professionals I (LEAP I) | 1.0 |
| IDPT 533S | Core Principles in Biochemistry & Cell Biology | 4.0 |
| PHGY 503S | Graduate Physiology | 4.0 |
| PHRM 502S | Current Topics in Pharmacology & Physiology | 1.0 |
| PHRM 503S | Pharm & Phys 1st Lab Rotation | 4.0 |
| Credits | 14 | |
| Spring | ||
| IDPT 500S | Responsible Conduct of Research | 2.0 |
| IDPT 504S | Learn Early and Practice (LEAP II) | 1.0 |
| PHRM 502S | Current Topics in Pharmacology & Physiology | 1.0 |
| PHRM 504S | Pharm & Phys 2nd Lab Rotation | 4.0 |
| PHRM 512S | Graduate Pharmacology | 3.0 |
| PHRM 517S | Advanced Topics in Pharmacology | 1.0 |
| Credits | 12 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| IDPT 501S or NEUR 500S | Biostatistics I or Statistics for Neuro/Pharm Research | 2.0 |
| PHRM 502S | Current Topics in Pharmacology & Physiology | 1.0 |
| PHRM 507S | Prin of Neuropharmacology | 3.0 |
| PHRM 600S | Pharmacology Thesis Research | 9.0 |
| Advanced Elective | 2.0 | |
| Credits | 17 | |
| Spring | ||
| PHRM 502S | Current Topics in Pharmacology & Physiology | 1.0 |
| PHRM 600S | Pharmacology Thesis Research | 9.0 |
| Advanced Elective | 2.0 | |
| Credits | 12 | |
| Total Credits | 55 | |
Program Level Outcomes
- Identify and describe fundamental concepts in pharmacology and physiology.
- Design and perform hypothesis-driven research that applies concepts in pharmacology, physiology and drug discovery, and discuss its translational impact.
- Communicate scientific concepts and data from the literature as well as their own research to a broad range of audiences.
- Critically analyze and evaluate scientific literature regarding the broad range of subject areas associated with pharmacology.
- Work effectively and collegially in collaborations as well as independently in the execution of research projects and associated analysis of scientific data.
- Conduct themselves with maturity and integrity in professional endeavors and demonstrate an understanding of ethical standards in science, such as appropriate attribution of ideas and truthful presentation of data and conclusions.