PharmD/MS in Pharmacogenomics

The College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences offers both the professional Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) and the MS in Pharmacogenomics (known as the MSPGx program). The intent of this dual-degree option is to expand the opportunities available to pharmacy graduates, particularly those pursuing clinical fellowships or residencies with an eventual goal of working in clinical pharmacogenomics-based positions, the pharmaceutical industry, or academics.

This is a dual-degree program, where students completing the requirements for each program will receive two separate degrees, the PharmD and the MS within four years of entry as a PharmD student. Students are initially admitted only into the PharmD degree portion of the program. Transition into the MSPGx program is not automatic, nor is acceptance into the MSPGx program guaranteed, but requires application and acceptance into the MSPGx program. The MSPGx program admission requirements can be found in the MS in Pharmacogenomics program description in this catalog.

PharmD students are eligible to apply for admission to the MSPGx degree program during their first semester in the PharmD program. Application and acceptance to the MSPGx program must occur by the end of the PY1 year in the PharmD program to be timely enrolled in the dual degree program. Candidates must successfully submit their application materials and meet with the program coordinator to be considered for enrollment in the MSPGx portion of the dual degree option. Enrollment in the MSPGx program after completion of the PY1 year of the PharmD program will alter the sequencing of courses, and result in awarding of the MSPGx degree after awarding of the PharmD degree.

The PharmD program consists of 146 credits (refer to “Doctor of Pharmacy” program in this catalog for details) and the MSPGx program consists of 37 credits (refer to “MS in Pharmacogenomics” program in this catalog for details). The dual degree option was designed to take advantage of courses already part of the PharmD program, so the two programs share 13 required credits (PHAR 513, PHAR 522, PHAR 523, PHAR 526, PHAR 611), 5 MSPGx credits are waived (PHRSC 556, PHRSC 557), and possibly, 6 MSPGx credits count as PharmD electives (PHRSC 527, 551, or 553 – 2 of the 3). With required and elective course sharing, taking the 2nd and 3rd year PHAR IPPE courses during the prior summer semesters, and taking the Pharmacogenomics Laboratory Experience and Pharmacogenomics Clinical Experience courses during the summer, timely-enrolled students can complete the dual degree program in 4 years. As such, timely-enrolled dual degree students are awarded both the PharmD and MSPGx degrees at the same time. Late-enrolled dual degree students will require additional matriculation time beyond the 4 years of the PharmD degree. Accordingly, such students will be awarded the PharmD degree upon its completion, and subsequently after the PharmD degree, will be awarded the MSPGx degree when done.

A dual degree program is predicated upon completion of both degrees, and in the PharmD-MSPGx program, the assumption is the two degrees are completed simultaneously, or the PharmD is followed by the MSPGx. Should a student quit or be dismissed from the PharmD program while in the dual degree program, there may be impact on their status in the MSPGx program. If the student does not have a Bachelor’s degree, their enrollment in the MSPGx program would be suspended until such degree was completed, at which point they could continue in the MSPGx program. If the student has a Bachelor’s degree, then they could remain enrolled in the MSPGx program, assuming they have no academic issues within that program.

Total Credit Hours: 37

Degree Requirements

The semester-by-semester PharmD/MS in Pharmacogenomics dual-degree program course listings below only show those courses required in both programs (PHAR-designated courses), those that are required in one program but count as an elective in the other (PHRSC 527, 551, and 553), or those specific to the MSPGx (the remaining PHRSC-designated courses).

Credits counting toward both programs = 13 credits + 5 credits waived = 18 credits

MSPGx specific credits = 19 credits

- MSPGx credits that could count as PharmD Electives = 6 credits

- Credits exclusive to the MSPGx = 13 credits

Course Sequence

1st Year PharmD - Fall Semester

PHAR 513

Biochemistry

3 cr.

Subtotal: 3

1st Year PharmD - Spring Semester

PHAR 522

Pathophysiology

3 cr.

PHAR 523

Medical Genetics and Pharmacogenomics

2 cr.

PHAR 526

Pharmacy Outcomes

2 cr.

Subtotal: 7

1st year PharmD - Summer Semester

PHAR 644/645 IPPE Community or Health System

2nd Year PharmD/1st Year MSPGx - Fall Semester

PHAR 611	Principles of Pharmacology	3 cr.
PHRSC 510	Seminar & Journal Club 1	1 cr.
PHRSC 529	Responsible Conduct of Research	3 cr.
PHRSC 551	Introduction to Genetics and Genetic Counseling	3 cr.

Subtotal: 10

2nd Year PharmD/1st Year MSPGx - Spring Semester

PHRSC 526	Analytical Techniques Lab	1 cr.
PHRSC 560	Genetic Research and Bioinformatics	3 cr.

Subtotal: 4

2nd Year PharmD/1st Year MSPGx - Summer Semester

PHAR 644/645	IPPE Community or Health System
PHRSC 558	Pharmacogenomics Laboratory Experience	2 cr.

Subtotal: 2

3rd Year PharmD/2nd Year MSPGx - Fall Semester

PHRSC 527

Data Analysis & Biostatistics

3 cr.

Subtotal: 3

3rd Year PharmD/2nd Year MSPGx - Spring Semester

PHRSC 552

Advanced Genetics and Genomics

1 cr.

Subtotal: 1

4th Year PharmD/3rd Year MSPGx – Summer, Fall, or Spring Semesters

PHRSC 559

Pharmacogenomics Clinical Experience

2 cr.

Subtotal: 2

Courses in MSPGx Curriculum that are waived for PharmD students

PHRSC 557 Advanced Pharmacology & Drug Action 3 cr. - Based on completion of 30 credit-hours of required IPC&PM

PharmD courses.

PHRSC 556 Pharmacokinetic Sciences 2 cr. – Based on 4 credit-hour required PHAR 610, Principles of

Pharmacokinetics PharmD course.

Subtotal: 5

Total MSPGx Credit Hours: 37

MSPGx Program Degree completion requirements:

1) All courses passed (“C” or better), with no more than two courses with a grade of “C” or “C+’” and
2) Attain an overall grade point average of 3.000 or higher.

Dual Graduate/Doctoral Professional Practice Degree Programs

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Dual Graduate/Doctoral Professional Practice Degree Programs