Molecular Pharmacology and Therapeutics (MS)
The Master of Science in Molecular Pharmacology and Therapeutics is a research intensive program designed to graduate students with a broad base of knowledge in the biomedical sciences and a more focused understanding of pharmacology. The goal of our graduate program is to prepare students for advanced training in the biomedical sciences, academia, the pharmaceutical industry, or consulting.
The Molecular Pharmacology and Therapeutics (MS) also offers an Accelerated Master's Pathway for Undergraduate students to complete their Graduate studies in a fifth year. Further details of the AMP, including the suggested sequence of courses, can be found under the Curriculum tab.
Related Programs
Curriculum
Besides the traditional Master's program, the Molecular Pharmacology and Therapeutics (MS) is also offered as an Accelerated Master's Pathway where exceptional students can complete the program in a fifth year. A suggested sequence for the AMP can be found below.
Required Coursework
Thesis Track
The Master of Science in Molecular Pharmacology and Therapeutics requires 30 credit hours of coursework and a master's thesis.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| BMSC 402 | Statistical Methods for Biomedical Science | 3 |
| BMSC 405 | Ethics in Biomedical Sciences | 1 |
| BMSC 410 | Biochemistry and Molecular Biology | 4 |
| BMSC 412 | Cell Biology | 4 |
| BMSC 416 | Methods Biomedical Science | 1 |
| BMSC 418 | Presentation skills | 1 |
| PHAR 405 | Pharmacology Journal Club ((taken 3 times)) | 3 |
| PHAR 409 | Principles of Pharmacology | 3 |
| Select 2 Electives | 6 | |
| Fundamentals of Drug Discovery and Development | ||
| Molecular Basis of Disease and Therapeutics | ||
| Signal Transduction | ||
| Current Topics in Pharmacology and Epidemiology of Disease | ||
| Pharmacovigilance: A Practical Approach | ||
| PHAR 499 | Research | 4-6 |
| PHAR 595 | Thesis Supervision | 0 |
| Total Hours | 30 | |
Non-Thesis Track
This track is for students who have need for a less in depth research-intensive experience. Applicants must have a strong rationale for this to be accepted into this track. Students who are interested in research careers should opt for the thesis track.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| BMSC 402 | Statistical Methods for Biomedical Science | 3 |
| BMSC 405 | Ethics in Biomedical Sciences | 1 |
| BMSC 410 | Biochemistry and Molecular Biology | 4 |
| BMSC 412 | Cell Biology | 4 |
| BMSC 416 | Methods Biomedical Science | 1 |
| PHAR 405 | Pharmacology Journal Club | 0 |
| PHAR 406 | Special Problems in Pharmacology | 1 |
| PHAR 407 | Fundamentals of Drug Discovery and Development | 3 |
| PHAR 409 | Principles of Pharmacology | 3 |
| PHAR 415 | Current Topics in Pharmacology and Epidemiology of Disease | 2 |
| PHAR 420 | Pharmacovigilance: A Practical Approach | 4 |
| PHAR 499 | Research | 1 |
| Elective Course 1 | 3 | |
| Total Hours | 30 | |
- 1
Elective course chosen in conjunction with the Graduate Program Director.
Suggested Sequence of Courses
The below sequence of courses is meant to be used as a suggested path for completing coursework. An individual student’s completion of requirements depends on course offerings in a given term as well as the start term for a major or graduate study. Students should consult their Graduate Program Director for assistance with course selection.
Traditional Master's Program
Thesis Track
| Year 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | |
| BMSC 410 | Biochemistry and Molecular Biology | 4 |
| BMSC 416 | Methods Biomedical Science | 1 |
| BMSC 412 | Cell Biology | 4 |
| PHAR 405 | Pharmacology Journal Club | 1 |
| PHAR 499 | Research | 1 |
| BMSC 405 | Ethics in Biomedical Sciences | 1 |
| Hours | 12 | |
| Spring | ||
| BMSC 402 | Statistical Methods for Biomedical Science | 3 |
| PHAR 405 | Pharmacology Journal Club | 1 |
| PHAR 409 | Principles of Pharmacology | 3 |
| PHAR 499 | Research | 2 |
| Elective 1 1 | 3 | |
| Hours | 12 | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Fall | ||
| PHAR 405 | Pharmacology Journal Club | 1 |
| PHAR 499 | Research | 2 |
| Elective 2 1 | 3 | |
| Hours | 6 | |
| Spring | ||
| PHAR 405 | Pharmacology Journal Club | 1 |
| PHAR 595 | Thesis Supervision | 0 |
| Hours | 0 | |
| Total Hours | 30 | |
- 1
Students take two electives, primarily from the list below. They may select from a broader array of electives, including courses from other tracts as approved by the GDP. Approved Electives: PHAR 408, PHAR 407, PHAR 415, PHAR 420, PHAR 453, or PHAR 410.
Non-Thesis Track
| Year 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | |
| BMSC 405 | Ethics in Biomedical Sciences | 1 |
| BMSC 410 | Biochemistry and Molecular Biology | 4 |
| BMSC 412 | Cell Biology | 4 |
| BMSC 416 | Methods Biomedical Science | 1 |
| PHAR 406 | Special Problems in Pharmacology | 1 |
| Hours | 11 | |
| Spring | ||
| BMSC 402 | Statistical Methods for Biomedical Science | 3 |
| PHAR 405 | Pharmacology Journal Club | 0 |
| PHAR 409 | Principles of Pharmacology | 3 |
| PHAR 499 | Research | 1 |
| Hours | 7 | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Fall | ||
| PHAR 405 | Pharmacology Journal Club | 0 |
| PHAR 415 | Current Topics in Pharmacology and Epidemiology of Disease | 2 |
| PHAR 420 | Pharmacovigilance: A Practical Approach | 4 |
| PHAR 499 | Research | 0 |
| Hours | 6 | |
| Spring | ||
| PHAR 405 | Pharmacology Journal Club | 0 |
| PHAR 407 | Fundamentals of Drug Discovery and Development | 3 |
| Elective Course | 3 | |
| Hours | 6 | |
| Total Hours | 30 | |
Accelerated Master's Pathway
Students can take up to 14 credit hours in the senior year with admission to the AMP. These credits are shared between the Bachelor's and Master's programs.
Students in the Accelerated Master's Pathway are primarily accepted into the Non-Thesis Track unless they seek thesis work and are approved by Director.
| Senior | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | |
| PHAR 415 | Current Topics in Pharmacology and Epidemiology of Disease | 2 |
| PHAR 420 | Pharmacovigilance: A Practical Approach | 4 |
| PHAR 406 | Special Problems in Pharmacology | 1 |
| Hours | 7 | |
| Spring | ||
| PHAR 409 | Principles of Pharmacology | 3 |
| PHAR 407 | Fundamentals of Drug Discovery and Development | 3 |
| Hours | 6 | |
| Master's | ||
| Fall | ||
| BMSC 405 | Ethics in Biomedical Sciences | 1 |
| BMSC 410 | Biochemistry and Molecular Biology | 4 |
| BMSC 412 | Cell Biology | 4 |
| BMSC 416 | Methods Biomedical Science | 1 |
| PHAR 405 | Pharmacology Journal Club | 0 |
| PHAR 499 | Research | 1 |
| Hours | 11 | |
| Spring | ||
| BMSC 402 | Statistical Methods for Biomedical Science | 3 |
| PHAR 405 | Pharmacology Journal Club | 0 |
| PHAR 499 | Research | 0 |
| Elective Course | 3 | |
| Hours | 6 | |
| Total Hours | 30 | |
Guidelines for Accelerated Master's Pathways
In Accelerated Master’s Pathways, students share limited, authorized credits between their Undergraduate and Graduate degrees to facilitate completion of both degrees in a shorter amount of time. Shared credits are Graduate level credit hours (400-level or higher) taken during the Undergraduate career and then applied both to the Undergraduate degree and towards Graduate program requirements.
Admission and Matriculation
Accelerated Master's Pathways are designed to enhance opportunities for advanced training for Loyola’s Undergraduates. Admission to these programs is competitive and will depend upon a positive review of credentials by the Graduate program. Accordingly, the admission requirements for these programs may be higher than those required if the Master’s degree were pursued entirely after the receipt of a Bachelor’s degree.
Students enrolled in an Accelerated Master's Pathway who choose not to continue to the Master’s degree program upon completion of the Bachelor’s degree will face no consequences.
Ideally, a student will apply for admission to an AMP program as they approach 90 credit hours in their Undergraduate career.
Students will not officially matriculate into the Master’s degree program and be labeled as a Graduate student by the university, with accompanying changes to tuition and Financial Aid (see below), until the Undergraduate degree has been awarded. Once admitted to the Graduate program, students must meet the academic standing requirements of their Graduate program as they complete the program curriculum.
Advising and Registration
Students in their final Undergraduate year will work with Advising in the home School of their Bachelor's program(s), as well as the Graduate Program Director of the Master’s program. Any 400-level or higher courses that the student plans to enroll in should be reviewed by both advisors to ensure that these courses will complete requirements for both degrees.
Registration in Graduate level courses during the Undergraduate year may require assistance from the Graduate Program Director and/or the student’s current academic advisor to enroll.
Shared Credits
Only courses taken at the 400-level or higher will count toward the Graduate program. At the Undergraduate level, students are restricted to enrolling in and sharing up to the number of Graduate level credits explicitly indicated in the catalog for their selected AMP program.
In general, Graduate level coursework should not be taken prior to admission into the Accelerated Master's Pathway. Exceptions may be granted for professional programs where curriculum for the Accelerated Master's Pathway is designed to begin earlier. On the recommendation of the program’s Graduate Program Director, students may take one of their Graduate level courses before they are admitted to the Accelerated Master’s Pathway if they have advanced abilities in their discipline and course offerings warrant such an exception.
Degree Requirements and Conferral
Undergraduate degree requirements are in no way impacted by admission to an Accelerated Master’s Pathway. Students should not, for example, attempt to negotiate themselves out of a writing intensive requirement on the basis of admission to a Graduate program.
The program’s Graduate Program Director will designate credit hours to be shared through the advising form and Master’s degree conferral review process. Graduate credit hours taken during the Undergraduate career will not be included in the Graduate GPA calculation.
If students wish to transfer credits from another university to Loyola University Chicago, the program’s Graduate Program Director will review the relevant syllabus or syllabi to determine whether it meets the criteria for a 400-level course or higher.
Programs with specialized accreditation requirements that allow programs to offer Graduate curriculum to Undergraduate students will conform to those specialized accreditation requirements.
Degrees are awarded sequentially. All details of Undergraduate commencement are handled in the ordinary way as for all students in the School/College/Institute. Once matriculated in the Graduate program, students abide by the graduation deadlines set forth by the Graduate program. Students in these programs must be continuously enrolled from Undergraduate to Graduate degree program unless given explicit permission by their program for a gap year or approved leave of absence. In offering the option of an Accelerated Master’s Pathway, the university is making possible the acceleration of a student’s Graduate degree completion. It should be understood that students may not request deferral of their matriculation into the Master’s degree program. If students would like to delay their Graduate studies after earning the Undergraduate degree, they may apply for admission to the traditional Master’s degree program. Any application of Graduate credit earned while in the Undergraduate program is subject to the policies of the Graduate degree granting school.
Graduate & Professional Standards and Regulations
Students in graduate and professional programs can find their Academic Policies in Graduate and Professional Academic Standards and Regulations under their school. Any additional University Policies supersede school policies.
Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this program, students will be able to:
- Demonstrate a general knowledge base in the biomedical sciences with an understanding of fundamental biochemical, molecular, and cellular processes and common biomedical research methods.
- Demonstrate an understanding of the molecular, cellular, and physiological mechanisms underlying the pathophysiological changes that occur in disease etiology and describe how targeting these mechanisms with drug(s) can act to effectively treat the disease.
- Understand, assess, and draw conclusions from published research.
- Describe various approaches by which new drugs are discovered and developed and the process by which drugs are approved for clinical use.
- Propose original biomedical research by forming an hypotheses, designing experiments, critically evaluating experimental results, interpreting data, and drawing appropriate conclusions.
- Design and effectively present scientific presentations, write scientific papers and grants.
- Articulate and discuss ethical aspects in drug development and pharmacovigilance, including, but not limited to, animal use, clinical trials, intellectual property, benefit-risk analysis, and research design and integrity.