Pharmaceutical Sciences and Drug Design M.S.
Program Overview
The Graduate Program in Pharmaceutical Sciences and Drug Design provides advanced training in basic, translational, and clinical research within the pharmaceutical sciences and prepares students for career opportunities in academia, pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries, and governmental agencies. It is one of five programs coordinated through the Molecular and Biomedical Sciences Umbrella.
The Pharmaceutical Sciences and Drug Design program is aimed at designing effective new drug therapies while minimizing adverse effects. Research in the program includes a diverse range of therapeutic areas including cancer, cardiovascular, dermatological, immune-mediated, neurological, and psychiatric diseases. Students receive didactic and laboratory training in the design and development of pharmacological compounds including the disciplines of molecular and cellular pharmacology (drug target and biomarker discovery), medicinal chemistry (drug design and synthesis), pharmacokinetics (drug absorption, distribution, metabolism, and elimination), pharmaceutics (drug delivery and formulation), pharmacogenomics (genetic basis for drug response) and toxicology (drug-induced toxicity). A unique feature of the PSDD program a focus on health equity for rural and underserved populations.
The Graduate Program is highly collaborative within the broader University of Montana research community with diverse opportunities for study and research at the interface of chemistry, biochemistry, cell and structure biology, computation, and genetics with emphases on issues of pharmaceutical and biomedical importance. Faculty in the program are also closely aligned with several multidisciplinary research Centers and Institutes at the University of Montana including the Center for Biomolecular Structure and Dynamics, the Center for Environmental Health Sciences, the Center for Structural for Functional Neuroscience, the Montana Biotechnology Center, and the L.S. Skaggs Institute for Health Innovation.
Dual Degree in the Doctor of Pharmacy and the M.S. in Pharmaceutical Sciences and Drug Design
Students have the option of completing a dual-degree pathway toward the Doctor of Pharmacy and the M.S. in Pharmaceutical Sciences and Drug Design. This pathway allows students to substitute coursework taken as part of the Doctor of Pharmacy program for requirements in the M.S.
Master of Science - Pharmaceutical Sciences and Drug Design
Degree Specific Credits: 30
Required Cumulative GPA: 3.0
Graduate students will rotate through the laboratories of at least two faculty members during their first year in the program, after which students will choose a faculty research advisor, advisory committee, and a thesis research project.
Required Courses
Note: Specialized electives chosen based on research interests may include classes offered in the departments of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chemistry and Biochemistry, and the Division of Biological Sciences.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Complete all of the following courses: | ||
| BMED 545 | Research Lab Rotations in Pharmaceutical Sciences | 2 |
| BMED 594 | Seminar | 1 |
| BMED 609 | Biomedical Statistics | 3 |
| BMED 615 | Molecular Pharmacology | 3 |
| BMED 621 | Drug Design | 3 |
| BMED 632 | Advanced Pharmacokinetics | 4 |
| BMED 637 | Topics in Pharmaceutical Sciences and Drug Design (1 cr. per semester) | 4 |
| BMED 597 | Research (MS) | 9 |
| BMED 599 | Thesis (MS) | 1 |
| Total Hours | 30 | |
Required Courses for the Doctor of Pharmacy and M.S. in Pharmaceutical Sciences and Drug Design Dual-Degree Program
Dual degree Pharm.D./M.S. students are usually able to complete degree training within the time period of the Doctor of Pharmacy degree.
Students in this program may also optionally take PHAR 588, allowing students time to write and defend their thesis or professional paper.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Complete all of the following courses: | ||
| BMED 594 | Seminar | 1 |
| BMED 637 | Topics in Pharmaceutical Sciences and Drug Design (1 cr. per semester) | 4 |
| PHAR 421 | Medicinal Chemistry I | 3 |
| PHAR 422 | Medicinal Chemistry II | 3 |
| PHAR 443 | Pharmacology & Toxicology I | 4 |
| PHAR 444 | Pharmacology & Toxicology II | 4 |
| PUBH 520 | Fundamentals of Biostatistics | 3 |
| BMED 597 | Research (MS) | 9 |
| BMED 599 | Thesis (MS) | 1 |
| Total Hours | 32 | |