Robert David Sindelar, Interim Dean
1017 Thad Cochran Research Center

Marvin C. Wilson, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs
1023 Thad Cochran Research Center

Charles D. Hufford, Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Programs
1024 Thad Cochran Research Center

MASTER'S DEGREE PROGRAMS

Studies leading to a Master of Science degree in pharmaceutical sciences (medicinal chemistry, pharmaceutics, pharmacognosy, pharmacology, and pharmacy administration) are available. All master's program students will be required to complete a minimum of 24 semester hours of course work and 6 hours of thesis.

To be assured of consideration for admission in the fall semester, applications must be received in full (application form, transcripts, letters of recommendation, official GRE, GMAT, and TOEFL test scores) in the Graduate School by April 1 of the same calendar year. All applicants will be considered for financial aid; no specific application is required. Admission requirements peculiar to each department are listed below.

MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY

For students in the medicinal chemistry program, the following conditions apply:

Admission
Two letters of recommendation, including at least one from a faculty member in the major department, are required.

Undergraduate Requirements
Although the majority of the students admitted to the program have degrees in pharmacy and/or chemistry, there is no specific undergraduate degree required for admission. Undergraduate requirements that may need to be satisfied during graduate study (or can be completed prior to graduate study), depending on the student's selected research problem and area of interest, can include biochemistry, instrumental analysis, pharmacology, and physical chemistry.

Graduate Course Requirements
Medicinal chemistry is a multidisciplinary chemistry-centered science involved in applying both chemical and biological principles to a study of chemical substances capable of exerting specific effects on a biological system. In practice, the medicinal chemist is involved in designing, synthesizing and characterizing medicinal agents intended for the management and/or therapy of disease states. Students will be required to enroll in the following courses:

1. Students entering the program with no background in medicinal chemistry will take Advanced Medicinal Chemistry I, II (MEDC 501, 502) (6 hours);
2. Medicinal Chemistry Research Methodology (MEDC 503) (3 hours);
3. Seminar on Current Medicinal Chemistry Topics (1 hour).
   

Two departmental seminars are required of master's degree candidates. Students are required to attend seminars each semester irrespective of whether they present a seminar that semester or whether they are enrolled in seminar.
Students are encouraged to take at least one drug action and design course.

Foreign Language Requirement
None.

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PHARMACEUTICS

For students in the pharmaceutics program, the following conditions apply:

Admission
A minimum score of 600 on TOEFL is required for international students.

Undergraduate Requirements
Students should have completed the requirements for an undergraduate degree in pharmacy or related area. In addition, if not previously taken, the following undergraduate courses will be required; integral and differential calculus (equivalent to MATH 261-262) and six semester hours of physical chemistry (equivalent to CHEM 331, 332).

Graduate Course Requirements
The following graduate courses are considered to comprise the core of the master's curriculum:

1. Seminar in Current Pharmaceutical Topics (PHARM 543, 544).
2. Biometry and Experimental Design (BISC 504).
3. Analytical Pharmaceutics (PHAR 535).
4. Pharmacokinetics (PHAR 546 or PHAR 660).
5. Product Development (PHAR 649).
   

Two of the following:

1. Advanced Pharmaceutics I (PHAR 641).
2. Advanced Pharmaceutics II (PHAR 642).
3. Special Problems in the Stability of Pharmaceutical Systems (PHAR 644).
4. Colloid and Surface Chemistry (CHE 545).
   

Additional courses may be required by the student's graduate advisor and/or advisory committee. If a required course is unavailable, the Pharmaceutics Department graduate faculty may approve an alternative course for a particular student.

Thesis
A thesis based upon experimental work in the general area of pharmaceutics is also required.

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PHARMACOGNOSY

For students in the pharmacognosy program, the following conditions apply:

Admission
Two letters of recommendation, at least one from a faculty member in the major department.

Undergraduate Requirements
Applicants with undergraduate degrees in pharmacy, chemistry, or some other program which provides a sound background in chemistry, i.e., biology, chemical engineering, or chemical technology, will be considered for admission. Training in the biological sciences is desirable but not essential for admission.

Graduate Course Requirements
The following core courses are required:

1. Seminar on Topics of Interest in Natural Products (PHCG 543, 544)
   2 hours;
2. Natural Product Chemistry (PHCG 627, 628), 6 hours;
3. Analysis of Natural Product Drugs (PHCG 631, 632, 633), 9 hours;
   

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PHARMACOLOGY

For students in the pharmacology program, the following conditions apply:

Admission
A statement of purpose for enrollment by the applicant and three letters of recommendation, at least one from a faculty member in the major area, are required. All admission decisions will be made after March 1 and communicated to the applicant by April 1.

Requirements
The Doctor of Philosophy degree in pharmacology requires the core courses listed below, as well as at least 18 dissertation hours. In addition, students are expected to enroll in the Pharmacology Seminar (PHCL 643) each semester. Students who have earned a baccalaureate degree in pharmacy, toxicology, chemistry, biological science or psychology are eligible to apply for admission to the graduate program. Undergraduate course prerequisites include physiology, biochemistry or cell biology, advanced mathematics (level of calculus), and organic chemistry.

Graduate Course Requirements

1. Methods in Pharmacology and Toxicology (PHCL 679), 4 hours;
2. Introduction to Pharmacology (PHCL 563), 4 hours;
3. Biometry and Experimental Design and Analysis (BISC 504 or equivalent),
   3 hours;
4. General Principles of Pharmacology and Toxicology (PHCL 675, 676),
   4 hours;
5. Physiological Chemistry (PHCL 669), 4 hours;
6. Advanced Physiology (PHCL 661), 4 hours;
7. Pathologic Foundations of Disease (PHCL 678), 3 hours;
8. Research Methodologies (PHCL 503), 3 hours;
9. Seminar: Current Topics in Pharmacology and Toxicology (PHCL 643),
   4 hours;
10. Additional 10 hours of electives from an approved list are required.
    

An experimental research project and thesis in the area of pharmacology or toxicology is required.

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PHARMACY ADMINISTRATION
For students in the pharmacy administration program, the following conditions apply:

Admission
A score on the Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT) is acceptable in lieu of GRE. A minimum score of 600 on TOEFL is required of international students.

Undergraduate Requirements
A degree in pharmacy is preferred; however, students with degrees in disciplines related to marketing and management may be considered for admission upon demonstration of a commitment to pursue a degree in the field of pharmaceutical marketing, management, or marketing research.

Graduate Course Requirements
The following core courses are required.

1. Primary Data Techniques (PHAD 579);
2. Research Methodology and Techniques (PHAD 688);
3. Advanced Drug Marketing (required for marketing track) or Drug Development and Marketing (PHAD 683, or PHAD 692);
4. . Health Systems Management (PHAD 689);
5. Current Topics in Pharmacy Administration (PHAD 543, 544);
6. Health Economics (PHAD 693).