Graduate Handbook: MS Nonthesis Program

Index

 

Overview

Students will be able to complete the Master’s Nonthesis degree in one calendar year. For all graduate programs at the University of Pittsburgh the minimum acceptable GPA is 3.0. No student may graduate with a GPA less than 3.0. Our MS in Pharmaceutical Sciences attracts students interested in drug discovery, delivery, and metabolism in addition to pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics. Graduating with the MS in Pharmaceutical Sciences will prepare you for employment in pharmaceutical manufacturing plants and labs. Pharmaceutically-trained professionals are involved in biotechnology, research, synthesizing and testing new compounds, in marketing and sales of pharmaceuticals and biomedical devices, and in pharmaceutical benefit management. Some areas where graduates with degrees in Pharmaceutical Sciences are sought after are Cosmetic Science, Industrial Pharmacy, and University-based laboratory areas.

Selection of Major Advisor

It is highly recommended that at the start of their program each student identifies a major advisor who agrees to supervise his/her work and is responsible for overseeing the development of the student’s program of study. Each student must complete the selection of a major advisor form and send it to/or drop it off to the Graduate Program Coordinator (Lori Altenbaugh) and the Director of the Graduate Programs (Bailey Tobias). If a student has not identified an advisor upon entering the program, the Director of Graduate Programs will serve as the interim advisor for a MAXIMUM of the first two semesters.  At the conclusion of the first two semesters, a major advisor MUST be selected and the selection of a major advisor form must be submitted.  To serve as an advisor for a PhD student the faculty member must have graduate faculty status.  That status can be determined here: Graduate Faculty Dashboard. If a student identifies an advisor that does not yet have graduate faculty status, that advisor may serve as a co-advisor and directly mentor the student alongside a faculty member with graduate faculty status, who would serve as the Major Advisor. 

Formal Coursework

Fall Semester

COURSE NUMBER COURSE TITLE CREDITS
PHARM 3028 Pharmacology and Therapeutics 4
PHARM 3040 Statistical Methods I 3
PHARM 3049 Scientific Writing Skills 2
PHARM 3024 Pharmaceutical Sciences Seminar 1
PHARM 3011 Principles of Biochemistry 1
Multiple Journal Club (Choose one) 1
Multiple Specialization Electives 0-3

Note: PHARM 3011 is considered an elective by some specialization areas.

Spring Semester

COURSE NUMBER COURSE TITLE CREDITS
PHARM 2001 Pharmaceutical Analysis 4
PHARM 3071 Foundations in Pharmaceutical Sciences 4
PHARM 3025 Pharmaceutical Sciences Seminar 1
Multiple Journal Club (Choose one) 1
Multiple Specialization Electives 0-5

Note: PHARM 2001 and 3071 are considered elective by some specialization areas.

Optional Summer Semester

COURSE NUMBER COURSE TITLE CREDITS
Multiple Specialization Electives variable

Journal Clubs

COURSE NUMBER COURSE TITLE CREDITS WHEN OFFERED
PHARM 3009 Advances in Pharm Sciences 1 Fall, Spring
PHARM 3034 Topics in Translational Research 1 Fall
PHARM 3036 Advances in Drug Delivery and Regenerative Medicine 1 Fall
PHARM 3048 Drug Discovery, Design & Development 1 Fall, Spring
PHARM 3070 Genomics & Cancer Therapeutics 1 Fall, Spring
PHARM 3052 Topics and Methods in Pharmaceutical Outcomes and Policy Research 1 Spring

Additional journal clubs are also available depending on the area of specialization.

Specialization Electives 

COURSE NUMBER COURSE TITLE CREDITS WHEN OFFERED
PHARM 3068 Computational Systems Pharmacology 3 Fall
PHARM 3069 Pharmacometrics 3 Fall
PHARM 5218 Pharmacokinetics and Drug Response 3.5 Fall
PHARM 2003 Pharmacoepidemiology 2 Spring
PHARM 3073 Applied Multivariate Statistical Analysis in Pharm. Sci. 3 Spring
PHARM 3067 Clinical Pharmacy Environments 2 Spring
PHARM 3032 Medicinal Chemistry 3 Fall
PHARM 3045 Advanced Statistical Methods 3 Fall, Spring
PHARM 2015 Comprehensive Examination 1-3 Fall, Spring, Summer
PHARM 5834 Python for Data Management and analysis 3 Spring, Summer

Additional elective courses are also available depending on the area of specialization.

Electives may be taken in any semester when they are offered. Students may take graduate level courses in other schools under the advisement of the Director of Graduate Studies.  

Monitoring Student’s Progress

Each student will follow a program of study developed in conjunction with the major advisor. The program of study must contain all of the program core courses as well as required and elective courses. Each student’s progress will be reviewed annually by their advisor and by the Graduate Program Academic Affairs Committee. When a student fails to make satisfactory progress in the program, the Director of the Graduate Program will be informed and the Committee will request the student’s advisor to develop, and submit for Committee approval, a plan of remedial action. When approved, the student will be bound by the conditions set forth in the plan. Failure to meet these conditions will result in dismissal of the student from the Graduate Program.  Please see Milestones.

Expected Milestones

TERMS MILESTONES AND MAJOR EVENTS STUDENT RESPONSIBILITY
August Prior to Start of Fall Term
  • Attend Graduate Program Orientation and Registration.
  • If you are an international student Attend International Student orientation and comply with all Office of International Student requirements. (www.ois.pitt.edu)
  • Complete paperwork for healthcare enrollment, tuition payments (at orientation).
  • Bring copies of Visa, Passport, Drivers’ License etc to orientation.
  • For international students: complete all items required by OIS
Fall Term
  • Choose Focus Area
  • Identify an advisor for review paper by end of September.
  • Complete a total of 15 credits.
  • Submit the title / topic of the review paper to the Director of NTMS by December 15.
  • Submit Selected Advisor form to Graduate Program Coordinator no later than October 1.
  • Core and Required courses.
  • Initiate outline / review topic work with your primary advisor.
  • Attend end of semester graduate student meeting.
Spring Term
  • Complete additional 15 credits for a total of 30 credits.
  • Organize a committee to evaluate the review paper by March 15.
  • The committee will include three people: your primary advisor, one other faculty member and EITHER the Director of the NTMS program OR the Director of the Graduate Program in Pharmaceutical Sciences.
  • Submit Selected Committee Form to Graduate Program Coordinator by March 30.
  • Core and Required courses
  • Continue work on the review paper
  • Attend end of semester graduate student meeting.
Summer Term
  • Complete the review paper which needs to be of publishable quality.
  • Submit the review paper to the committee members at least three weeks prior to your scheduled defense.
  • Defense: Give a 15 – 20 minute oral presentation about the review work in front of a committee.
  • Defend your work by answering questions from the committee.
  • Graduation
  • Determine your date of defense and scheduled with the Graduate Program Coordinator
  • At Closed Defense/ presentation have each member of committee complete the “Review paper Evaluation Form for NTMS” and submit to Graduate Program Coordinator.
  • Graduation application must be submitted at least 60 days prior to the date of graduation defined by the University’s academic calendar. See Graduate Program Coordinator for information.

Graduation Requirements

APRIL 2023 GRADUATION DEADLINES AND
REQUIREMENTS

You Are Responsible For Reading The Following Information Regarding Graduation.  Not following the requirements listed below could jeopardize your graduation. 

I. APPLICATION FOR GRADUATION: Any student who plans to complete degree requirements in the Spring Term must fill out an application for graduation by November 30, 2022 using the following link: https://www.registrar.pitt.edu/students/graduationdiplomas
Applications will be accepted until April 1, 2023 with a varying late fees. 
Students who applied for graduation in a prior term must reapply for the
current term.  Only the student’s legal name may be used on the application (documentation supporting name changes must accompany the application).

II. REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS: Students must be registered for one credit or, if needed, Full Time Dissertation Study (FTDS) in the term in which they graduate.

III.  INCOMPLETE GRADES: All
I and/or G grades including those not relevant to the degree program must be
changed before the degree can be posted. Change of Grade cards must be sent by
the instructor or departmental administrator to 5141 Sennott Sq., or the
department must state in writing that the incomplete course(s) are not required
for the degree.