Why Earn Your MS in Pharmaceutical Sciences at Pacific University?
The Master of Science in Pharmaceutical Sciences (MSPS) is a two-year terminal degree (56.5 credits) that blends advanced coursework with extensive, hands-on research. Over 55% of the program (31 credits) focuses on laboratory-based research, giving students the depth of experience and skill required to excel in academia, industry, or professional health programs.
Our program is designed to strengthen your scientific knowledge, practical research, critical thinking, and communication skills through immersive mentorship and experiential learning. Students also have the opportunity to present their work at national or international conferences.
Program Highlights
Research-Intensive Curriculum: Over half of the coursework focuses on hands-on research and laboratory training.
Self-Directed Thesis Project: Students design and conduct an original research project under close faculty mentorship, culminating in a thesis and defense.
High-Contact Mentorship: Work directly with faculty researchers who are leaders in pharmaceutical sciences.
Skills Development: Learn and apply advanced techniques in modern laboratory environments.
Interdisciplinary Education: Over 80% of didactic coursework is completed alongside first-year PharmD students, fostering interprofessional collaboration and scientific breadth.
What Can You Do with a Master’s Degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences?
Graduates of the MSPS program are well-prepared for careers in:
- Pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and biomedical industries
- Governmental and regulatory sectors
- Academic and clinical research laboratories
- Advanced study, including PhD, PharmD, or MD programs
The faculty are so nice and are more than willing to help you navigate the world of research! The program is tailored to the students’ needs and wants, making every experience new and exciting. Some days are more challenging than others, but I look forward to hanging out in class with my pharmacy friends and working in the lab with my faculty mentor.
— Sara Snyder '25
Curriculum Design
- Credits: 56.5 total (26.5 shared with PharmD program; 5 MSPS-specific; 31 research)
- Core Coursework: Pharmaceutics, Pharmacokinetics, Pharmacy Foundations, Personal and Professional Development, Scientific Communication, Advanced Topics, and Research Seminar Series
- Research Training: Includes laboratory-based coursework, independent thesis research, and a formal thesis defense
Research
Our pharmaceutical sciences faculty lead NIH-funded and cutting-edge research in areas including:
- Drug Discovery
- Drug Metabolism
- Infectious Diseases
- Pharmacokinetics
- Pharmacology
- Medicinal Chemistry
- Natural Products
- Oncology
- Toxicology
Modern Science Research Laboratory
As a pharmaceutical sciences student, you'll enjoy access to our open-layout, state-of-the-art research laboratory, a natural environment for collaboration and interaction.
Our lab is equipped to meet different research demands and to train skills for in silico, in vitro and in vivo studies conducted across industrial or academic institutions:
- High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)
- Microscopy
- Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC–MS)
- Western blotting
- Molecular biology techniques
- Cell culture techniques
- Peptide synthesis
- Flow cytometry
- Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR)
Graduate and Professional Admissions
MSPS@pacificu.edu
