The objective of the Master of Science 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.
The Master of Science in Pharmacy (MSc Pharmacy) may be pursued with full-time or part-time attendance by a combination of both coursework and the completion and presentation of a thesis. Students must meet the normal criteria for admission to MSc studies, and a faculty member willing to act as supervisor must be identified. Admission and degree requirements are outlined in the following information.
Admission Requirements for Canadian Students
For students with an undergraduate degree from a Canadian University, admisison to the MSc Pharmacy program requires:
- A minimum 78% (B+) average in the last 2 years of a four-year Honours Bachelor’s of Science program or equivalent; and
- Two letters of reference from academic referees.
Admission Requirements for International Students
For students with an undergraduate degree from a University outside Canada, admission to the MSc Pharmacy program requires:
- Minimum equivalent qualifications and academic standing as that above - international applicants should refer to the University's Admission Guide for International Applicants to determine their eligibility.
- Two academic references.
- English Language Proficiency certification (unless ELP exempt)
- The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Test
Applicants will be required to provide certification of English Language Proficiency unless they have:
a) Completed three or more years of post-secondary work at a Canadian institution or at an institution at which English was the primary language of instruction; or
b) Been employed for a similar period of time in a position in which English was the primary language of business.
Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Test
Students applying to the MSc in Pharmacy with an undergraduate degree not obtained from a recognized Canadian or American university must write and achieve scores at the 50th percentile ranking or better on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Test.
Degree Requirements
• Three one-term (0.5 unit weight) graduate courses
• Milestone 1: Academic Integrity Workshop
• Milestone 2: MSc Thesis Proposal
• Milestone 3: MSc Thesis Defense
The minimum requirements for the MSc 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 MSc 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 MSc 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 MSc degree.
Part-time studies
The MSc 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.