This is a named option in the Pharmaceutical Sciences MS.
The Division of Pharmaceutical Sciences at the School of Pharmacy offers the Master of Science (MS) in Pharmaceutical Sciences degree named option “Psychoactive Pharmaceutical Investigations.”
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 and legal standards. With a uniquely interdisciplinary faculty and curriculum, the PPI master’s program prepares you to meet their needs, while giving you the background and in-demand skills needed to begin your career with an advantage, whether you are looking to compete in industry/academia research, government, nonprofit, or healthcare positions.
Curriculum Content Areas: Medicinal Chemistry, Pharmacology, Psychiatry, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Law, Ethics, Addiction Medicine, Counseling Psychology, Neuroscience, Biostatistics, History of Medicine, Pharmacokinetics, and Ethnobotany.
Admissions
Please consult the table below for key information about this degree program’s admissions requirements. The program may have more detailed admissions requirements, which can be found below the table or on the program’s website.
Graduate admissions is a two-step process between academic programs and the Graduate School. Applicants must meet the minimum requirements of the Graduate School as well as the program(s). Once you have researched the graduate program(s) you are interested in, apply online.
| Fall Deadline | April 30 |
| Spring Deadline | August 31 |
| Summer Deadline | The program does not admit in the summer. |
| GRE (Graduate Record Examinations) | Not required. |
| English Proficiency Test | Every applicant whose native language is not English, or whose undergraduate instruction was not exclusively in English, must provide an English proficiency test score earned within two years of the anticipated term of enrollment. Refer to the Graduate School: Minimum Requirements for Admission policy: https://policy.wisc.edu/library/UW-1241. |
| Other Test(s) (e.g. GMAT, MCAT) | n/a |
| Letters of Recommendation Required | 2 |
Students with undergraduate degrees in the physical or biological sciences, engineering, pharmacy, and related fields are encouraged to apply. Students with a liberal arts degree who also have strong science elective credit may also be competitive for this program. Applicants without a bachelor’s degree may still be considered for admittance with an earned Doctor of Pharmacy or other professional graduate degree.
Applicants must complete an online application that includes the following:
- unofficial transcripts from any previously completed undergraduate and graduate degrees,
- contact information for two individuals to submit letters of recommendation,
- statement of purpose, and
- resume or curriculum vitae.
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.
Students may contact the Office of Student Financial Aid to discuss federal loan programs and other lending opportunities.
Minimum Graduate School Requirements
Review the Graduate School minimum academic progress and degree requirements, in addition to the program requirements listed below.
Named Option Requirements
Mode of Instruction
| Face to Face | Evening/Weekend | Online | Hybrid | Accelerated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No | No | Yes | No | Yes |
Mode of Instruction Definitions
Accelerated: Accelerated programs are offered at a fast pace that condenses the time to completion. Students typically take enough credits aimed at completing the program in a year or two.
Evening/Weekend: Courses meet on the UW–Madison campus only in evenings and/or on weekends to accommodate typical business schedules. Students have the advantages of face-to-face courses with the flexibility to keep work and other life commitments.
Face-to-Face: Courses typically meet during weekdays on the UW-Madison Campus.
Hybrid: These programs combine face-to-face and online learning formats. Contact the program for more specific information.
Online: These programs are offered 100% online. Some programs may require an on-campus orientation or residency experience, but the courses will be facilitated in an online format.
Curricular Requirements
| Minimum Credit Requirement | 30 credits |
| Minimum Residence Credit Requirement | 16 credits |
| Minimum Graduate Coursework Requirement | 15 credits must be graduate-level coursework. Refer to the Graduate School: Minimum Graduate Coursework (50%) Requirement policy: https://policy.wisc.edu/library/UW-1244. |
| 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 | This program expects the MS candidate to successfully meet all program requirements |
| Language Requirements | No language requirements |
Required Courses
Pharmaceutical Sciences Core (11 credits)
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| PHM SCI 751 | Introduction to Regulatory Practice | 3 |
| PHM SCI 753 | Pharmaceutical Economics and Project Management | 3 |
| PHM SCI 759 | Current Trends in Drug Discovery and Development | 1 |
| PHM SCI 757 | Survey of the Neuroactive Drug Development Process | 2 |
| PHARMACY 801 | Bioethics and Scientific Integrity | 2 |
Psychoactive Pharmaceuticals Core (13 credits)
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| PHARMACY 563 | Drug History: Dangerous Drugs and Magic Bullets | 2 |
| PHARMACY 612 | Legal Structures for Controlled Substances | 1 |
| PHARMACY 640 | Appropriate Use of Abused Drugs | 2 |
| PHARMACY 671 | Psychedelic Drugs in Science and Society | 2 |
| PHARMACY 674 | Cannabinoids in Science and Society | 2 |
| PHARMACY 770 | CNS Drug Designs, Actions, and Applications I | 2 |
| PHARMACY 771 | CNS Drug Designs, Actions, and Applications II | 2 |
Required Elective Credits (select 2 courses, total of 6 credits)
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| B M I/STAT 541 | Introduction to Biostatistics | 3 |
| or PHM SCI 768 | Pharmacokinetics | |
| or BOTANY/AMER IND/ANTHRO 474 | Ethnobotany | |
| PHARMACY 632 | Neuroscience of Psychedelics | 3 |
| or PHARMACY 564 | Psychedelic History: Sacred Plants, Science & Psychotherapy | |
| PHM SCI 699 | Advanced Independent Study | 3 |
| or PHM SCI 760 | Summative Research Internship | |
While the program offers an accelerated 1-year path, students may also choose a 2- or 3-year path.
Students in this program may not take courses outside the prescribed curriculum without faculty advisor and program director approval. Students in this program cannot enroll concurrently in other undergraduate or graduate degree programs.
Graduate School Policies
The Graduate School’s Academic Policies and Procedures provide essential information regarding general university policies. Program authority to set degree policies beyond the minimum required by the Graduate School lies with the degree program faculty. Policies set by the academic degree program can be found below.
Named Option Specific Policies
Prior Coursework
Graduate Credits Earned at Other Institutions
No graduate work from other institutions is accepted.
Undergraduate Credits Earned at Other Institutions or UW-Madison
With program approval, students are allowed to transfer no more than 7 credits of UW–Madison courses numbered 500 or above (earned as a UW–Madison undergraduate) toward the MS degree. Coursework should be presented to the School of Pharmacy Graduate Dean in the first semester of enrollment for consideration. Coursework earned ten or more years prior to admission to a master’s degree is not allowed to satisfy requirements.
Credits Earned as a Professional Student at UW-Madison (Law, Medicine, Pharmacy, and Veterinary careers)
Refer to the Graduate School: Transfer Credits for Prior Coursework policy.
Credits Earned as a University Special Student at UW–Madison
With program approval, the program will allow up to 12 credits taken as a University Special student in the Applied Drug Development or Psychoactive Pharmaceutical Investigation Capstone Certificates to transfer toward the MS-Pharmaceutical Sciences, Psychoactive Pharmaceutical Investigation named option. Coursework earned ten or more years prior to admission to a master’s degree is not allowed to satisfy requirements.
Probation
Refer to the Graduate School: Probation policy.
Advisor / Committee
Students will be assigned an advisor within the program; students who complete a summative internship project will have an approved mentor for this work.
Credits Per Term Allowed
15 credits
Time Limits
Refer to the Graduate School: Time Limits policy.
Grievances and Appeals
These resources may be helpful in addressing your concerns:
- Bias or Hate Reporting
- Graduate Assistantship Policies and Procedures
- Hostile and Intimidating Behavior Policies and Procedures
- Employee Assistance (for personal counseling and workplace consultation around communication and conflict involving graduate assistants and other employees, post-doctoral students, faculty and staff)
- Employee Disability Resource Office (for qualified employees or applicants with disabilities to have equal employment opportunities)
- Graduate School (for informal advice at any level of review and for official appeals of program/departmental or school/college grievance decisions)
- Office of Compliance (for class harassment and discrimination, including sexual harassment and sexual violence)
- Office Student Assistance and Support (OSAS) (for all students to seek grievance assistance and support)
- Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards (for conflicts involving students)
- Ombuds Office for Faculty and Staff (for employed graduate students and post-docs, as well as faculty and staff)
- Title IX (for concerns about discrimination)
Grievance Policy for Graduate Programs in the School of Pharmacy
Any student in a School of Pharmacy graduate program who feels that they have been treated unfairly by a faculty member, staff member, postdoc, or student has the right to have a complaint heard about the treatment and to receive a prompt hearing of the grievance, following these grievance procedures. Any student who discusses, inquires about, or participates in the grievance procedure may do so openly and shall not be subject to intimidation, discipline, or retaliation because of such activity. The person whom the complaint is directed against must be an employee of the School of Pharmacy. Any student or potential student may use these procedures unless the complaint is covered by other campus rules or contracts.
Exclusions
This policy does not apply to employment-related issues for Graduate Assistants in TA, PA, and/or RA appointments. Graduate Assistants will utilize the Graduate Assistantship Policies and Procedures (GAPP) grievance process to resolve employment-related issues.
Requirements for Programs
The School of Pharmacy requires that each director of graduate studies (DGS) serve as a grievance advisor for the school. The program must notify students of the grievance advisors, including posting the grievance advisor’s names in the program handbook. The student will be able to select the grievance advisor of the student’s choice and does not need to use the grievance advisor from the student’s program.
A grievance advisor may be approached for possible grievances of all types. They will spearhead the grievance response process described below for issues specific to the graduate program, including but not limited to academic standing, progress to degree, professional activities, appropriate advising, and a program’s community standards. They will ensure students are advised on reporting procedures for other types of possible grievances and are supported throughout the reporting process. Resources on identifying and reporting other issues have been compiled by the Graduate School.
Procedures
- The student is advised to initiate a written record containing dates, times, persons, and description of activities, and to update this record while completing the procedures described below.
- If the student is comfortable doing so, efforts should be made to resolve complaints informally between individuals before pursuing a formal grievance. If students would like to seek guidance at this informal step, the student can contact the Assistant Dean of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, the DGS for the student’s program, or the UW Ombuds Office.
- Should a satisfactory resolution not be achieved AND the complaint does not involve an academic program, the procedure outlined in Step 6 below should be followed. Should a satisfactory resolution not be achieved in step 2, the student should contact an SOP grievance advisor of one’s choice to discuss the complaint. The grievance advisor should keep a record of contacts with regard to possible grievances. The first attempt is to help the student informally address the complaint prior to pursuing a formal grievance and should occur within 10 days of notifying the grievance advisor. The student is also encouraged to talk with their faculty advisor regarding concerns or difficulties.
- If the issue is not resolved to the student’s satisfaction, the student may submit a formal grievance to the grievance advisor in writing, within 60 calendar days from the date the grievant first became aware of, or should have become aware of with the exercise of reasonable diligence, the cause of the grievance. To the fullest extent possible, a grievance shall contain a clear and concise statement of the grievance and indicate the issue(s) involved including individuals, the relief sought, the date(s) the incident or violation took place, and any specific policy involved.
- On receipt of a written grievance, the following steps will occur. The final step must be completed within 30 working days from the date the formal written grievance was received. The program must store documentation of the grievance for seven years. Significant grievances that set a precedent may be stored indefinitely.
- The grievance advisor will convene a SOP faculty committee with at least three members to facilitate the grievance following Steps b, c, and d. The grievance advisor assumes the role of coordinator. Any faculty member involved in the grievance or who feels that they cannot be impartial may not participate in the committee. Committee composition will include at least one member from outside the student’s home program.
- The faculty committee, through the grievance advisor, will obtain a written response from the person or persons toward whom the grievance is directed. The grievance advisor will inform this person that their response will be shared with the student filing the grievance.
- The grievance advisor will share the response with the student filing the grievance.
- The faculty committee will make a decision regarding the grievance. The committee’s review shall be fair, impartial, and timely. The grievance advisor will report on the action taken by the committee in writing to both the student and the person toward whom the grievance was directed.
- If either party (the student or the person or persons toward whom the grievance is directed) is unsatisfied with the decision of the program’s faculty committee, the party may file a written appeal to the SOP Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Education within 10 working days from the date of notification of the program’s faculty committee. The following steps will occur:
- The grievant will be notified in writing, within five business days of the written appeal, acknowledging receipt of the formal appeal and establishing a timeline for the review to be completed.
- The associate dean or their designee may request additional materials and/or arrange meetings with the grievant and/or others. If meetings occur, the associate dean or their designee will meet with both the grievant and the person or persons toward whom the grievance is directed.
- The associate dean or their designee will make a final decision within 20 working days of receipt of the committee’s recommendation.
- The SOP Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Education must store documentation of the grievance for seven years. Significant grievances that set a precedent may be stored indefinitely.
- The student may file an appeal of the School of Pharmacy decision with the Graduate School. See the Grievances and Appeals section of the Graduate School’s Academic Policies and Procedures.
Other
n/a
Professional Development
Graduate School Resources
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People
The Pharmaceutical Sciences Graduate Program has educated generations of scientists for challenging positions in industry, academia, and government. The faculty for the MS Psychoactive Pharmaceutical Investigation consists of experts in industry and academia affiliated with the School of Pharmacy. The Psychoactive Pharmaceutical Investigation faculty list is available on the School of Pharmacy website.