Pharmacy Professional Master’s and Certificate Resources
School of Pharmacy

Academics

MS degrees in Pharmaceutical Sciences

MS in Pharmaceutical Sciences: Applied Drug Development

This hybrid, accelerated program focuses on developing practical and professional skills needed across the lifecycle of drug development, manufacturing, and ongoing safety management. It also blends online and in-person learning.

MS in Pharmaceutical Sciences: Psychoactive Pharmaceutical Investigation

Leaders in the psychoactive pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical industries—including companies focused on cannabis, psychedelics, and entheogens—are seeking employees with advanced degrees, appropriate skills, and rigorous ethical standards.

Health practitioners assess a patient during a psilocybin treatment session.

"This program has given me a lot more confidence in my current role... the coursework directly relates to what you're doing."

Zach Miller, ADD Graduate

PPI Curriculum

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REQUIRED Courses for All MS Students (22 credits)

Course Number Course Title Credits Terms Offered
PHM SCI 563 Drug History: Dangerous Drugs and Magic Bullets 2 Fall
PHM SCI 612 Legal Structures for Controlled Substances 1 Fall
PHM SCI 640 Appropriate Use of Abused Drugs 2 Spring
PHM SCI 671 Psychedelic Drugs in Science and Society 2 Spring
PHM SCI 674 Cannabinoids in Science and Society 2 Fall
PHM SCI 751 Introduction to Regulatory Practice 3 Fall, Spring
PHM SCI 757 Introduction to Drug Development 2 Fall
PHM SCI 759 Current Trends in Drug Discovery and Development 1 Fall, Spring
PHARMACY 770 CNS Drug Designs, Actions, and Applications I 3 Fall
PHARMACY 771 CNS Drug Designs, Actions, and Applications II (PHARMACY 770 is pre-req) 3 Spring
PHM SCI 801 Bioethics and Scientific Integrity 1 Fall, Spring

ELECTIVE Courses for MS Students (Select 3-5 courses for 8 credits)

Course Number Course Title Credits Terms Offered
PHM SCI 564 Psychedelic History: Sacred Plants, Science and Psychotherapy 3 Spring
PHM SCI 632 Neuroscience of Psychedelics  (PHM SCI 770 is pre-req) 3 Spring
PHM SCI 699 or PHM SCI 760 Advanced Independent Study  (in-person course) Summative Research Internship (online + fieldwork) 2-3 (Each)   Fall, Spring, Summer OR Spring, Summer
PHM SCI 748 or PHM SCI 758 Skills for Professional Success  (best taken in first semester) Working Effectively in a Scientific Environment(N/A if PHM SCI 760 is taken) 1 (Each) Fall, Spring OR Spring, Summer
PHM SCI 753 Project Management in Drug Development 3 Fall, Spring
PHM SCI 754 Business Tools for Pharmaceutical Scientists 3 Spring
PHM SCI 755 Laboratory and Instrumentation Methods (in-person course) 3 Spring
PHM SCI 756 Introduction to Data Analyses in Drug Development (PHM SCI 768 is pre-requisite) 3 Spring
PHM SCI 764 Case Studies in Drug Development (PHM SCI 757 & 759 are pre-requisites) 2 Fall
PHM SCI 765 Assay Development (PHM SCI 757 & 759 are pre-requisites) 1 Fall
PHM SCI 768 Pharmacokentics 3 Fall
Notes on Course Offerings • Except where noted, all courses are offered online. This means that all course materials are provided and all activities are completed through online course software. Most of the coursework is completed asynchronously, but there may be selected synchronous class meetings held on virtual platforms throughout the semester. • For courses noted as “in-person,” instruction is provided on the UW-Madison campus. Students must be able to attend all class meetings in person.

REQUIRED Courses for All Capstone Certificate Students (12 credits)

Course Number Course Title Credits Terms Offered
PHM SCI 563 Drug History: Dangerous Drugs and Magic Bullets 2 Fall
PHM SCI 612 Legal Structures for Controlled Substances 1 Fall
PHM SCI 640 Appropriate Use of Abused Drugs 2 Spring
PHM SCI 671 Psychedelic Drugs in Science and Society 2 Spring
PHM SCI 674 Cannabinoids in Science and Society 2 Fall
PHM SCI 748^ Skills for Professional Success 1 Fall, Spring
PHM SCI 759 Current Trends in Drug Discovery and Development 1 Fall, Spring
PHM SCI 801 Bioethics and Scientific Integrity 1 Fall, Spring
^Capstone Certificate students are required to take PHM SCI 748 during their first semester in the program. Notes on Capstone Certificate Curriculum • All courses taken in the Capstone Certificate program transfer directly into the MS in Pharmaceutical Sciences: Psychoactive Pharmaceutical Investigation program. • Except where noted, all courses are offered online. This means that all course materials are provided and all activities are completed through online course software. Most of the coursework is completed asynchronously, but there may be selected synchronous class meetings held on virtual platforms throughout the semester

ADD Curriculum

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REQUIRED Core Courses for Master’s Students (21 credits)

Course Number Course Title Credits Terms Offered Choices of Course Type*
PHM SCI 748^ Skills for Professional Success 1 Fall, Spring Online, Hybrid
PHM SCI 762** The Drug Development Process from Discovery to Investigational New Drug Application (IND) 3 Fall, Spring Online, Hybrid
PHM SCI 763** The Drug Development Process from FIH to BLA/NDA 3 Spring Online, Hybrid
PHM SCI 751 Introduction to Regulatory Practice 3 Fall, Spring Online, Hybrid
PHM SCI 752 GxP (Good Practice): Working in a Regulated Environment 3 Fall Online, Hybrid
PHM SCI 753 Project Management in Drug Development 3 Fall, Spring Online, Hybrid
PHM SCI 759 Current Trends in Drug Discovery and Development 1 Fall, Spring Online
PHM SCI 760 Summative Research Internship 4 Spring, Summer Online (course) + Fieldwork
^MS students are required to take PHM SCI 748 during their first semester in the program. **MS students are required to take either PHM SCI 762 or 763 during their first semester in the program.

ELECTIVE Course Options for Master’s Students (Select 3-4 Courses, 9 Credits)

Course Number Course Title Credits Terms Offered Choices of Course Type*
PHM SCI 754 Business Skills for Pharmaceutical Scientists 3 Spring Online or Hybrid
PHM SCI 755 Laboratory and Instrumentation Methods 3 Spring In-Person
PHM SCI 756 Introduction to Data Analyses in Drug Development 3 Spring Online
PHM SCI 761 Introduction to Pharmacology 1 Spring Online
PHM SCI 764 Case Studies in Drug Development PHM SCI 762 & 759 are pre-requisites) 2 Fall Online
PHM SCI 765 Assay Development (PHM SCI 762 & 759 are pre-requisites) 1 Fall Online
PHM SCI 768 Pharmacokinetics 3 Fall Online or Hybrid
PHM SCI 770 CNS Drug Designs, Actions, and Applications I 3 Fall Online
PHM SCI 771 CNS Drug Designs, Actions, and Applications II  (PHM SCI 770 is pre-requisite) 3 Spring Online
*Course Type Descriptions • Online: All course materials are provided, and all activities are completed through online course software. Most of the coursework is completed asynchronously, but there may be selected synchronous class meetings held on virtual platforms throughout the semester. • Hybrid: Most course materials are provided, and most activities are completed through online course software. Much of the coursework is completed asynchronously, with select in-person synchronous class meetings held throughout the semester. • In-Person: Instruction is provided on the UW-Madison campus. Students must be able to attend all class meetings in person

REQUIRED Courses for Capstone Certificate Students (7 credits)

Course Number Course Title Credits Terms Offered Choices of Course Type*
PHM SCI 748^ Skills for Professional Success 1   Fall, Spring Online, Hybrid
PHM SCI 762** The Drug Development Process from Discovery to Investigational New Drug Application (IND) 3 Fall, Spring Online, Hybrid
PHM SCI 763** The Drug Development Process from FIH to BLA/NDA 3 Spring Online, Hybrid
^Capstone Certificate students are required to take PHM SCI 748 during their first semester in the program. ** Capstone Certificate students are required to take either PHM SCI 762 or 763 during their first semester in the program.

ELECTIVE Paths for Capstone Certificate Students (Select 2-4 Courses, 5 Credits)

Course Number Course Title Credits Terms Offered Choices of Course Type*
PHM SCI 751 Introduction to Regulatory Practice 3 Fall, Spring Online, Hybrid
PHM SCI 752 GxP (Good Practice): Working in a Regulated Environment 3 Fall Online, Hybrid
PHM SCI 753 Project Management in Drug Development 3 Fall, Spring Online, Hybrid
PHM SCI 759 Current Trends in Drug Discovery and Development 1 Fall, Spring Online
PHM SCI 761 Introduction to Pharmacology 1 Spring Online
PHM SCI 765 Assay Development (PHM SCI 762 & 759 are pre-requisites) 1 Fall Online
*Course Type Descriptions • Online: All course materials are provided, and all activities are completed through online course software. Most of the coursework is completed asynchronously, but there may be selected synchronous class meetings held on virtual platforms throughout the semester. • Hybrid: Most course materials are provided, and most activities are completed through online course software. Much of the coursework is completed asynchronously, with select in-person synchronous class meetings held throughout the semester. • In-Person: Instruction is provided on the UW-Madison campus. Students must be able to attend all class meetings in person Notes on Capstone Certificate Curriculum • Students must earn a minimum of 12 credits to receive the Capstone Certificate. • This program allows students to exceed the minimum and earn more credits, if desired. o For example, a student may choose to take PHM SCI 751 and 752 as their electives, in addition to the required courses of PHM SCI 748, 762, and 763. This student would complete the certificate with 13 total credits. o Similarly, another student may choose to take PHM SCI 753, 759, and 761 as their electives, completing their capstone certificate with 12 total credits. • All courses taken in the Capstone Certificate program transfer directly into the MS in Pharmaceutical Sciences: Applied DrugDevelopment program.

Explore our course structure

Pacing and degree pathways, explained