Academic Programs Catalog

College of Osteopathic Medicine

Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology

Pharmacology and Toxicology
Pharmacology and Toxicology - Master of Science

The program is designed to train individuals in molecular, cellular and organ systems pharmacology and provides advanced science knowledge in pharmacology and toxicology  for individuals who are seeking additional academic qualifications that will facilitate their advancement in their place of employment and enhance their competitiveness for admission to degree programs. Online courses provide full opportunity for students regardless of their geographic location, work schedules, or family responsibilities.

In addition to meeting the requirements of the university and of the College of Osteopathic Medicine, students must meet the requirements specified below.

Admission

Applicants will be accepted into the program after review of application materials by an admissions committee from the department. A member in the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology will serve as the student’s academic advisor and will assist the student in planning a program of study related to the student’s interests and professional goals.

Applicants must:

  1. have completed a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution.
  2. have earned at least 3 credits in chemistry and 3 credits in biological science.
  3. submit a letter of intent outlining the student’s interests and professional goals.
  4. submit two letters of recommendation.
  5. present evidence of competency in English if English is not the first language. Competency may be assessed with the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), International English Language Testing System (IELTS), or Michigan English Language Assessment Battery (MELAB) scores.

Preference will be given to applicants with undergraduate degrees in biology, chemistry, or related sciences.

Requirements for the Master of Science Degree in Pharmacology and Toxicology

The Master of Science degree program is available only under Plan B (without thesis) and is offered entirely online. The student must complete 31 credits as approved by the student’s advisor. Optional concentrations are available in pharmacology and in toxicology.

The student must:

1.  Complete all of the following core courses (10 credits):
PHM 819 Principles of Drug-Tissue Interactions 2
PHM 822 Academic and Research Integrity 1
PHM 830 Experimental Design and Data Analysis 3
PHM 850 Communications for Scientists 2
PHM 982 Master of Science Capstone Literature Review 2
2. Complete up to 21 credits, a minimum of 7 credits of 800-level PHM courses and a maximum of 9 credits of 400-level courses of science electives chosen from the following:
BLD 830 Concepts in Molecular Biology 2
HM 803 Epidemiology and Public Health 3
HM 806 Environmental Factors of Health 3
HM 833 Introduction to Pharmaceutical Counterfeiting and Public Health 3
PHM 430 Human Pharmacology 3
PHM 431 Pharmacology of Drug Addition 3
PHM 450 Introduction to Chemical Toxicology 3
PHM 461 Tropical Medicine Pharmacology 2
PHM 483 Chemotherapy of Infectious Diseases 3
PHM 492 Pharmacotherapy of Human Viral Infections 2
PHM 811 Global Health: Pharmacology and Toxicology Perspective 2
PHM 813 Cardiovascular Pharmacology and Toxicology 3
PHM 817 Neurotoxicology 2
PHM 818 Practical Pharmacokinetics/Pharmacodynamics Modeling and Simulation in Drug Development 1
PHM 823 Current Topics in Pharmacology and Toxicology 1
PHM 828 Concepts in Carcinogenesis 2
PHM 829 Neuropharmacology 2
PHM 831 Endocrine Pharmacology and Toxicology 2
PHM 833 Gastro-Intestinal and Liver Pharmacology and Toxicology 2
PHM 834 Respiratory Pharmacology and Toxicology 2
PHM 835 Biopharmaceuticals: From Development to Manufacturing 3
PHM 837 Autonomic Pharmacology 1
PHM 838 Pharmacogenomics 2
PHM 840 Safety Pharmacology 2
PHM 841 Cellular and Molecular Toxicology 3
VM 812 Food Safety Toxicology 3
3. Complete no more than 5 credits of professional electives:
BLD 842 Managing Biomedical Laboratory Operations 2
PHM 851 Intellectual Property and Patent Law for Biomedical Sciences 2
PHM 854 Leadership and Team-Building for Biomedical Research 2
PHM 855 The Business of Biomedical Research Organizations 2
PHM 857 Project Management 2
PHM 858 Drug Development Process 3
4. Completion of a final examination or evaluation.
Students who wish to complete a Pharmacology concentration must complete all core courses listed in item 1. above and the following:
1. Complete 8 credits from the following:
HM 833 Introduction to Pharmaceutical Counterfeiting and Public Health 3
PHM 430 Human Pharmacology 3
PHM 431 Pharmacology of Drug Addition 3
PHM 813 Cardiovascular Pharmacology and Toxicology 3
PHM 829 Neuropharmacology 2
PHM 834 Respiratory Pharmacology and Toxicology 2
PHM 835 Biopharmaceuticals: From Development to Manufacturing 3
PHM 837 Autonomic Pharmacology 1
2. Other elective science courses:
BLD 830 Concepts in Molecular Biology 2
HM 803 Epidemiology and Public Health 3
HM 806 Environmental Factors of Health 3
PHM 450 Introduction to Chemical Toxicology 3
PHM 461 Tropical Medicine Pharmacology 2
PHM 483 Chemotherapy of Infectious Diseases 3
PHM 817 Neurotoxicology 2
PHM 828 Concepts of Carcinogenesis 2
PHM 831 Endocrine Pharmacology and Toxicology 2
PHM 833 Gastro-Intestinal and Liver Pharmacology and Toxicology 2
PHM 840 Safety Pharmacology 2
PHM 841 Cellular and Molecular Toxicology 3
VM 812 Food Safety Toxicology 3
3. Professional Elective Courses (not more than 5 credits):
BLD 842 Managing Biomedical Laboratory Operations 2
PHM 851 Intellectual Property and Patent Law for Biomedical Sciences 2
PHM 854 Leadership and Team-Building for Biomedical Research 2
PHM 855 The Business of Biomedical Research Organizations 2
PHM 857 Project Management 2
PHM 858 Drug Development Process 3
Students who wish to complete a Toxicology concentration must complete all core courses listed in item 1. above and the following:
1. Complete 8 credits from the following:
HM 806 Environmental Factors of Health 3
PHM 450 Introduction to Chemical Toxicology 3
PHM 817 Neurotoxicology 2
PHM 828 Concepts in Carcinogenesis 2
PHM 841 Cellular and Molecular Toxicology 3
VM 812 Food Safety Toxicology 3
2. Other elective science courses:
BLD 830 Concepts in Molecular Biology 2
HM 803 Epidemiology and Public Health 3
HM 833 Introduction to Pharmaceutical Counterfeiting and Public Health 3
PHM 430 Human Pharmacology 3
PHM 431 Pharmacology of Drug Addition 3
PHM 461 Tropical Medicine Pharmacology 2
PHM 483 Chemotherapy of Infectious Diseases 3
PHM 813 Cardiovascular Pharmacology and Toxicology 3
PHM 829 Neuropharmacology 2
PHM 831 Endocrine Pharmacology and Toxicology 2
PHM 833 Gastro-Intestinal and Liver Pharmacology and Toxicology 2
PHM 834 Respiratory Pharmacology and Toxicology 2
PHM 835 Biopharmaceuticals: Development to Manufacturing 3
PHM 837 Autonomic Pharmacology 1
PHM 840 Safety Pharmacology 2
3. Professional Elective Courses (not more than 5 credits):
BLD 842 Managing Biomedical Laboratory Operations 2
PHM 851 Intellectual Property and Patent Law for Biomedical Sciences 2
PHM 854 Leadership and Team-Building for Biomedical Research 2
PHM 855 The Business of Biomedical Research Organizations 2
PHM 857 Project Management 2
PHM 858 Drug Development Process 3


Academic Standards

Students enrolled in the Master of Science degree in Pharmacology and Toxicology are expected to maintain a minimum cumulative grade-point average of 3.0. A student who does not maintain a 3.0 grade-point average will be placed on probation and given one year of enrollment to achieve a 3.0 cumulative grade-point average, or dismissal from the program may result.