Two Unique Programs Prepare Career-Ready Pharmaceutical Scientists
Blending technical expertise with valuable 21st-century skills, two professional MS degree programs offered by the top-ranked School of Pharmacy prepare graduates for a wide variety of careers. These programs feature courses built around project-based learning, critical thinking, scientific communication, and collaborative team projects. This page contains hiring information for employers looking at graduates of our ADD and PPI programs.Get Involved!
Opportunities to recruit MS students include hiring Badgers for Internships and full-time roles, as well as participating in our Career Spotlight Series, spotlighting your career, industry, and organization. Contact Chris McIntyre at cmcintyre@wisc.edu for more information.Common Types of Employment Offers
Organizations that hire current students from UW-Madison’s MS in Pharmaceutical Sciences: Applied Drug Development or Psychoactive Pharmaceutical Investigation programs typically make employment offers that fall under one of the categories shown below.| Type of Offer | Student Situation | Common Employer Situation |
| Standalone internship offer | Needs fieldwork to graduate | • Needs short‐term contributions / project help • Has no immediate plans to add a full‐time employee |
| Internship offer – with possibility to hire full‐time | Needs fieldwork to graduate | • Wants to hire qualified full‐time employees • Uses internship opportunities to develop talent |
| Full‐time employment offer – pre‐graduation | Needs fieldwork to graduate | • Needs qualified full‐time employees • Wants long‐term return on training time investment |
| Full‐time employment offer – upon graduation | Has completed fieldwork & program | • Needs qualified full‐time employees • Prefers or requires MS graduates (not MS students) |
Information about Our Program’s Internship / Fieldwork Requirements
All students in the ADD program must complete PHM SCI 760 (“Summative Research Internship”), a four-credit course comprising online coursework alongside an industrially relevant professional work experience. Many PPI students also complete a Summative Research Internship or Advanced Independent Study as part of their degree.- Most students will complete PHM SCI 760 during their last term in our program, usually during a Spring or Summer term. Therefore, students registered for PHM SCI 760 typically have all other program coursework completed.
- Students can meet the fieldwork requirement of the PHM SCI 760 course through either an internship or a new full-time position.
Information about Hiring Our International Students
International students/graduates from our program:- Are sponsored by F-1 student visas supported by UW-Madison.
- Can complete fieldwork during a Spring or Summer term using the “Curricular Practical Training” (CPT) option allowed by their F-1 student visa.
- Are eligible for 36 months of “Optional Practical Training” (OPT) under their F-1 student visa.
Level up your workforce’s talent
The MS in Pharmaceutical Sciences: Applied Drug Development and Psychoactive Pharmaceutical Investigation programs are designed for working professionals who want to continue working full-time at their current job while earning a directly relevant advanced degree. Consider sending your junior-level scientists to our program to deepen their knowledge of the following topics:- Drug discovery and development processes
- Regulatory affairs; FDA compliance
- GxP; regulated work environments
- Project management
- Laboratory skills and techniques
- Pharmacokinetics
- Biostatistics
- Pharmacology & drug action
Authentic, Project-based Training:
Our program’s coursework incorporates industry-based scenarios to build sought-after workplace skills. Our students learn and apply concepts by:- Analyzing primary literature
- Constructing solutions to real-world case studies
- Working both independently and in project groups
- Generating executive summaries, project timelines, FDA meeting and compliance plans, and data analysis reports
- Giving elevator pitches and formal presentations
Summative Fieldwork:
The Applied Drug Development program requires on-the-job fieldwork, allowing students to further their working knowledge of the pharmaceutical industry. This in-depth training ensures that our graduates emerge with proven hands-on experience.Connect with Us!
We welcome opportunities to connect with potential employers and internship providers.
Chris McIntyre
Employer Liaison cmcintyre@wisc.edu