Pharmaceutical sciences
New technologies and research developments in pharmaceutical sciences are breaking barriers in everything from vaccines to cancer to genetic disease treatment. And the pharmaceutical and biotech industries are complex and fast-growing, with a high demand for professionals who understand the drug development process and can help research teams deliver safe and effective drugs.
When you earn an M.S. in Pharmaceutical Sciences online from Oregon State University, you’ll gain a scientific understanding of how preventative, therapeutic and diagnostic drugs are brought to market — from research and discovery to manufacturing and approval. You’ll also develop an in-depth understanding of pharmaceutical research methods and instrumentation, as well as how regulatory agencies and organizations intersect within the legal and regulatory processes of drug development.
Skills you’ll gain in OSU’s online master’s in pharmaceutical sciences
As a student in Oregon State’s online M.S. in Pharmaceutical Sciences degree program, you’ll gain the in-demand skills you need to stand out in the job market. You’ll learn from world-class faculty and research teams in OSU’s Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences who lead innovation in drug discovery, gene regulation and disease, and targeted drug delivery.
- Pharmaceutical theory
- Immunology research
- Diagnostic, therapeutic, and preventative principals
- Mass spectrometry data analysis
- Scientific literature evaluation
- Medicinal and computational chemistry
Program details
The coursework in Oregon State’s online master’s in pharmaceutical sciences program emphasizes basic and applied research in drug delivery and targeting, medicinal and computational chemistry, pharmaceutics, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, immunology, and molecular and cell biology. This is a non-thesis master’s degree that does not require traditional lab work and can be completed fully online.
The online master’s in pharmaceutical sciences program is offered by Oregon State’s College of Pharmacy.
Degree requirements
A total of 45 quarter credits is required to graduate with your master’s degree in pharmaceutical sciences. Degree requirements and curriculum information are available on Oregon State's academic catalog.
This program is designed for people with educational backgrounds in biology, chemistry or related fields who are interested in careers within the pharmaceutical or biotechnology industries. Although there is no formal list of prerequisites, applicants are typically expected to have completed coursework in chemistry and biology, such as an introductory series equivalent to CH 121-123 and BI 221-223.
Additional program features
Capstone
Your capstone project will give you hands-on experience in reading, analyzing, interpreting and presenting pharmaceutical science data. The project will also demonstrate your ability to interpret research literature and present scientific information, which is very important to prospective employers.
Once you are enrolled in the capstone course, a faculty mentor will be assigned to you and will support you throughout your project. They will also help you workshop and develop your résumé, so you can transition smoothly into a career upon graduation.
This is not a licensure program
Earning a degree from this program does not lead to licensure as a pharmacist and is not a direct pathway to a pharmacist degree (Pharm.D.). To learn about Oregon State’s in-person Pharm.D. program, please visit the College of Pharmacy website.
Admission requirements
Explore the detailed admissions information for the master’s in pharmaceutical sciences online program, including any application deadlines and required documents, on the College of Pharmacy website.
Explore certificates and microcredentials
You can gain highly specialized skills that are in demand by employers — and do it with less of a time and financial commitment — when you earn a certificate or microcredential online from Oregon State. Choose from a large collection of short-form offerings that can help you upskill quickly.
Pharmaceutical sciences careers
The knowledge you acquire in Oregon State’s online master’s in pharmaceutical sciences degree program will prepare you to thrive in pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries, research institutions, and regulatory agencies. You’ll graduate ready for careers in drug research and development, regulatory affairs, drug formulation and delivery, and more.
Job market outlook
Use the interactive tool on this page to discover employment trends, top occupations and salary details for professionals who have skills related to pharmaceutical sciences. Please be aware that completing a program related to the job market information shown here does not guarantee employment or a specific salary.
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Program specific questions
Get answers to your questions about pursuing an online pharmaceutical sciences degree.
Contact the College of Pharmacy
For questions about the program or admissions process, please contact Theresa Filtz, associate dean of academic programs in the College of Pharmacy, at onlinepharmsciences@oregonstate.edu or 541-737-5802.
