MSc Degree Requirements

The School of Pharmacy offers thesis based graduate training at the M.Sc. (Masters) level.

Master of Science (M.Sc.)

The objective of the M.Sc. in Pharmacy is to prepare students for further academic study or for careers in the pharmaceutical industry or health professions, including those in hospitals, other healthcare facilities and government. There is a recognized shortage of high-quality personnel in the pharmaceutical industry with master’s level of training who can answer questions related to physical pharmacy, dosage form design and manufacture, pharmacokinetics, pharmaceutical engineering, and developing disciplines such as pharmaceutical nanotechnology. There is also a shortage of pharmacists with clinical pharmacy and pharmacy practice skills who can evaluate the impact of expanding scopes of practice and drugs on disease state management programs with respect to patient or population outcomes and economics.

M.Sc. Degree Requirements
• Three one-term (0.5 unit weight) graduate courses
• Milestone 1: Academic Integrity Workshop
• Milestone 2: Pharm 601 M.Sc. Thesis Proposal
• Milestone 3: M.Sc. Thesis Defense

The minimum requirements for the M.Sc. in Pharmacy are satisfied when candidates have successfully completed a minimum of three one-term (0.5 unit weight) courses accepted for graduate credit by the School of Pharmacy and achieved all M.Sc. Program milestones. This includes the preparation and oral defense of the thesis embodying the results of their research on a topic approved by their supervisor and Advisory Committee.
 
Among the three courses taken, one 400-level course may be accepted toward this requirement if approved by the supervisor and Advisory Committee. The main criterion for acceptance will be based on gaining knowledge in an area that is outside the background of the student but will benefit his/her research program.
A minimum of 60% must be obtained in any graduate course taken by an M.Sc. student to be granted pass standing, and the candidate must obtain an average of at least 70% in the courses presented in fulfillment of the M.Sc. degree.

Part-time studies

The M.Sc. may be offered part time on a case-by-case basis upon consideration of the circumstances by the Associate Director of Research and Graduate Studies, School of Pharmacy, and the Associate Dean of Graduate Studies, Faculty of Science.

Degree Timelines
Master’s degree in Pharmacy — maximum of 6 terms (2 years)

Year I
Terms 1, 2 and 3 
Select supervisor and research topic
Select Advisory Committee
Determine individual program of studies, including graduate courses necessary to fulfill requirements (courses selected in consultation with supervisor and Advisory Committee)
Milestone 1: Academic Integrity Workshop
Begin course work; course work can extend into term three, but should be completed before end of term 4
Begin research
Annual committee meeting #1 - Milestone 2: MSc Research Proposal (by end of term 3)

Year II
Terms 4, 5 and 6 
Continue with research
Annual committee meeting #2: Prepare progress report and hold Advisory Committee meeting for permission to write thesis (usually in term 4 or 5)
Complete any outstanding research
Write and defend thesis (Milestone 3: MSc Thesis and Defence)