The School of Pharmacy offers professional Master of Science degrees in Pharmaceutical Sciences under the “named option” designation. These named-option master’s degrees provide students with knowledge and skills that are directly applicable to the pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical industries.
- The Applied Drug Development named option allows students to earn their Master of Science degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences through coursework that explores various facets of the drug development process.
- The Psychoactive Pharmaceutical Investigation named option allows students to earn their Master of Science degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences through interdisciplinary coursework covering the discovery, development, and clinical application of psychoactive drugs as therapeutic agents.
The Division of Pharmaceutical Sciences does not currently accept applications for a terminal research-based master's in pharmaceutical sciences. Prospective students may not apply for a research master’s degree program, and should instead see information about the PhD.
Admissions
Students apply to the Master of Science in Pharmaceutical Sciences through the following named option paths:
- MS Named Option in Applied Drug Development
- MS Named Option in Psychoactive Pharmaceutical Investigation
Students interested in a research-based graduate degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences apply to the PhD program through the following path:
Funding
Graduate School Resources
Resources to help you afford graduate study might include assistantships, fellowships, traineeships, and financial aid. Further funding information is available from the Graduate School. Be sure to check with your program for individual policies and restrictions related to funding.
Program Information
Students enrolled in this program are not eligible to receive tuition remission from graduate assistantship appointments at this institution.
However, students may contact the Office of Student Financial Aid to discuss federal loan programs and other lending opportunities.
Students seeking the PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences should see this Guide page.
Minimum Graduate School Requirements
Review the Graduate School minimum academic progress and degree requirements, in addition to the program requirements listed below.
Major Requirements
Curricular Requirements
| Minimum Credit Requirement | 30 credits |
| Minimum Residence Credit Requirement | 16 credits |
| Minimum Graduate Coursework Requirement | See Named Options for requirements information. |
| Overall Graduate GPA Requirement | 3.00 GPA required. Refer to the Graduate School: Grade Point Average (GPA) Requirement policy: https://policy.wisc.edu/library/UW-1203. |
| Other Grade Requirements | Candidates will be dropped from the program if they receive more than 7 credits of grades at the BC level or lower. This applies to formal courses and research credits. |
| Assessments and Examinations | See Named Options for requirements information. |
| Language Requirements | No language requirements. |
Required Courses
Select a Named Option for courses required.
Named Options
A named option is a formally documented sub-major within an academic major program. Named options appear on the transcript with degree conferral. Students pursuing the MS in Pharmaceutical Sciences must select one of the following named options:
Professional Development
Graduate School Resources
Take advantage of the Graduate School's professional development resources to build skills, thrive academically, and launch your career.
Learning Outcomes
- Articulate general principles in pharmaceutical sciences.
- Apply knowledge and skills to address relevant problems in the student's area of focus.
- Produce original scholarship that contributes to the student's field of study.
- Communicate accurate, clear, and accessible scientific information.
- Demonstrate a commitment to upholding ethical principles.
People
The Pharmaceutical Sciences Graduate Program has educated generations of scientists for challenging positions in industry, academia, and government.
Students should refer to the following for the named option master’s degree faculty listings:
- MS Named Option in Applied Drug Development - Faculty
- MS Named Option in Psychoactive Pharmaceutical Investigation - Faculty
Students should refer to the following for the research-based PhD degree faculty information: