Non-Thesis MS and Certificate Programs in Pharmaceutics


Regulatory Affairs and Quality Assurance Graduate Program of Temple University School of Pharmacy

The pharmaceutical industry is one of the most vibrant business sectors in the Delaware Valley, employing more than 35,000 in the discovery, development, manufacturing, and marketing of pharmaceutical, devices, and biotechnology products. There is a pressing need for skilled, technically-trained professionals with post-graduate science degrees.

Temple University’s non-thesis master’s degree and certificate program in Pharmaceutics are specifically designed to educate pharmacists, bench scientists, and lab technicians in the highly dynamic arena of the pharmaceutical sciences. It is ideal for industry employees with a bachelor of science who seek graduate or post-graduate training to expand career opportunities.

The courses draw upon the School’s world-renowned MS program in Regulatory Affairs and Quality Assurance (RAQA), offering students a well orchestrated balance between the pharmaceutical sciences and the industry’s regulatory milieu. The courses help promising professionals to advance within their current positions by learning advanced pharmaceutical sciences, helping them make valuable contributions to all phases of their companies’ projects while being cognizant of regulatory requirements.

Courses are taught by graduate faculty from Temple University’s School of Pharmacy or industry experts in discovery and development, Regulatory Affairs, manufacturing, and validation.

PROGRAM ADVANTAGES

Students may:

Start classes in the fall, spring, or summer semesters;

Enjoy classes on weeknights or weekends;

Pursue many (but not all) courses online:

Take up to three courses before deciding whether to apply to the Master of Science degree or Certificate Program;

Complete the four-course certificate on their way to the MS.

Students who plan to start the program as a non-matric must complete two of the four required courses before formally applying to the program:

Pharmaceutical Analysis (8002) - offered only in the fall

Pharmaceutical Biotechnology (8005) - usually offered twice a year

Physical Pharmacy I (8006) - offered only in spring of even-numbered years

Applied Biopharmaceutics (8007) - usually offered in the spring

ADMISSION TO THE NON-THESIS MS in PHARMACEUTICS DEGREE

Academic requirements:

Students must

Hold a science-related degree in pharmacy, chemistry, biochemistry, biology, chemical engineering, or mechanical engineering;

Have an overall undergraduate GPA of 3.0

If a student has not achieved a 3.0 undergraduate GPA from an undergraduate institution, the student may gain admittance to the MS in Pharamaceutics Non-Thesis Program by taking three of the four courses listed below and earning an overall 3.33 (B+) GPA:

Pharmaceutical Analysis (8002)

Pharmaceutical Biotechnology (8005)

Physical Pharmacy I (8006)

Applied Biopharmaceutics (8007)

APPLICATION PROCESS

Students must:

Submit the Graduate Application form and application fee

Furnish official undergraduate and graduate transcripts (including Temple University) and must have a grade point average of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale;

Submit two letters of recommendation from supervisory professionals or college/university instructors familiar with the student's academic competence;

Provide a statement of approximately 500-1,000 words of your career goals and objectives.

Provide a signed CV or resume.

Applicants whose native language is not English must submit a minimum TOEFL score of 230 (CBT), 585 on the paper-based version, or 85 (IBT). An IELTS of 7.0 of higher is required in the Academic Test scores section in lieu of a TOEFL.

Application deadlines: Fall Admission (July 20), Spring Admission (November 1), and Summer Admission (March 20).

CERTIFICATE IN PHARMACEUTICS

Applicants seeking the four-course (12 credits) Certificate in Pharmaceutics must complete the following courses within three years:

3 required courses (Pharmaceutical Analysis, Pharmaceutical Manufacturing I and Physical Pharmacy).

One additional required or elective course (choices are listed below)

Maintain an overall B average in the four courses.

After completing the certificate, students may count all of the courses towards the non-thesis MS in Pharmaceutics, provided they meet the requirements for admission.

To download the Certificate Application, click here.

Please remember to include photocopies of all college transcripts (including Temple U) and the Notice of Completion.

DEGREE REQUIREMENTS FOR MS IN PHARMACEUTICS (NON-THESIS)

The non-thesis M.S. in Pharmaceutics will be awarded to students who complete a minimum of 36 credits including 18 required and 18 elective credits chosen from the lists below. MS students are urged to complete required courses first, since they provide a foundation of knowledge for subsequent coursework.

Students may receive a maximum of six semester hours of transfer credit from other schools, provided the courses are equivalent to courses offered in our program, a grade of B or higher was earned, and they were taken within the last six years.

Students will be given five years to complete the degree. Students are not required to perform research at the Pharmacy School or write a thesis.

Required Courses for the MS in Pharmaceutics:

Pharmaceutical Analysis (8002) - offered only in the fall

Pharmaceutical Manufacturing I: Preformulation/Formulation (8003)

Pharmaceutical Manufacturing II: Solid Dosage Forms (8004)

Pharmaceutical Biotechnology (8005)

Physical Pharmacy I (8006) - offered only in spring of even-numbered years

Applied Biopharmaceutics (8007)

Elective Courses for the MS and Certificate in Pharmaceutics:

Fundamentals of Pharmacology and Pharmacokinetics (5401)*

Statistical Quality Control (5451)*

Validation of Facilities, Utilities, and Equipment (FUE) (5468)*

Pharmaceutical Lab Quality Systems and Operations (5469)*

Biotechnology: Bioprocess Basics (5471)*

Process Validation (5474 or 8484. Credit is given for only one. Students may not receive credit for both.)*

Good Manufacturing Practices (5477) OR Advanced GMPs – Defining “c” (5479)* (Students may select 5477 or 5479. Students may not receive credit for both).

High Purity Water Systems (5478) *

Production of Sterile Products (5492)*

Sterilization Processes (5493)

Pharmaceutical Drug Dosage Forms (5499)

Development of Sterile Products (5501)

Microbiological Concepts in Pharmaceutical Manufacturing (5512)*

Cleaning Validation (5516)*

Regulatory Sciences: Managing the Guidelines for Quality (5575)*

Global CMC Issues and Regulatory Dossiers (5576)*

Global CMCs- Biopharmaceuticals and other Biologics (5577)*

Unit Operations (5622)*

Process Analytical Technology (PAT) (5625)*

Statistical Design of Experiments (DOE) (5627)*

Process Monitoring (5629)*

Introduction to Toxicology (8111)

Modified Release Dosage Forms (8478)

Analytical Chemistry in Pharmaceutical Laboratories (5655)*

*Only these RAQA courses count as electives towards the Non-Thesis MS program.

For the most current schedule of classes, click here.

Many instructors in the Pharmaceutics program are professionals in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. Courses are rotated each semester. If there is a particular requirement or elective that you want to take, we urge you to take it when you see it scheduled. Do not assume that every course is offered fall, spring, and summer. Courses are scheduled according to faculty availability and student survey requests.

For further information about the programs, please contact:

RAQA Graduate Program - for flyers about the program (QARA@temple.edu)

Almira Cutler, Administrative Assistant
Office of Graduate Studies
215-707-4948
phscgrad@temple.edu

Sophon Din, Administrative Assistant (Coordinates Applications)
Graduate Admissions
215-707-4972
tuspgrad@temple.edu

Swati Nagar, PhD, Director of Graduate Studies
215.707.4948
phscgrad@temple.edu

Michael Borenstein, PhD, Senior Associate Dean
tuspgrad@temple.edu

Temple University School of Pharmacy
Office of Graduate Studies
3307 North Broad Street
Philadelphia, PA 19140
215.707.4948
phscgrad@temple.edu
www.temple.edu/pharmacy

RAQA HOMEPAGE