Highly motivated Georgetown College of Arts & Sciences students can complete the requirements for the M.S. in Pharmacology in one semester after completing the bachelor’s program.
The Master of Science in Pharmacology program offers a foundation of rigorous coursework as well as the option to do research or tailor the curriculum with a selection of elective courses from across our biomedical departments.
Our typical cohort of 15-20 students benefits from a small class size in our main pharmacology courses and receives personalized attention from our faculty, whether in the classroom or in the laboratory. Core courses are taught by a team of departmental faculty and researchers, many of whom also teach in the medical school. In fact, Program Deputy Director Dr. John Partridge also directs the Medical Pharmacology curriculum for first- and second-year medical students at Georgetown.
Our alumni continue on to further education (Ph.D., medical, and other health sciences) or take positions in the public and private sphere, such as at the NIH, FDA, pharmaceutical companies, biotech companies, and university laboratories. Of students pursuing further education, 65% are accepted either during the program or within 1 year of graduation; 85% are accepted within 3 years.
Application
Undergraduate students in the College of Arts & Sciences who meet the master’s program admission requirements are eligible to apply to this accelerated program by July 1 after their junior year. Students who wish to apply should inquire with their undergraduate advising dean and the director of the M.S. in Pharmacology program.
For more information about our program and admissions, please contact us.
Timeline
Undergraduates start taking master’s courses in their senior year, earning the master’s degree in the fall after completing their bachelor’s degree.
Note: Some programs will have different distributions of undergraduate and master’s courses to accommodate schedule conflicts.
Example Degree Plan
The degree plan below shows how you as an accelerated student can start taking graduate-level courses during your senior year in order to complete the 30-credit master’s program in the fall semester after your bachelor’s. Up to 50% of the graduate credits for the master’s degree may be taken during senior year.
Senior – Fall
| Course Name | Graduate Credit(s) |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate courses | — |
| PHAR 6000 Principles of Pharmacology: Pharmacodynamics and Pharmacokinetics | 2 |
| PHSL 6501 Fundamentals of Human Physiology | 5 |
| 7 Graduate Credits |
Senior – Spring
| Course Name | Graduate Credit(s) |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate courses | — |
| PHAR 6001 Graduate Pharmacology | 8 |
| 8 Graduate Credits |
- Note: Full-time undergraduate status requires a minimum of 12 total credits. Graduate credits count toward this total.
- Upon completion of the undergraduate degree requirements, you will receive your bachelor’s degree and may participate in Commencement with your undergraduate class. Contact your advising dean for more information.
Master’s – Fall
Complete the Biomedical Graduate Education Orientation at the start of the semester.
| Course Name | Graduate Credit(s) |
|---|---|
| PHAR 6000 Principles of Pharmacology: Excitable Membranes | 2 |
| PHSL 6534 Cell & Molecular Physiology | 4 |
| Graduate fall electives Laboratory Research Track: Take PHAR 7950 Pharmacology Research Pre-health/pre-medical students should take PHSL 6602 Biomedical Career Pathways | 9 |
| 15 Graduate Credits |
Students interested in pursuing a Ph.D. and/or a laboratory-based career are encouraged to take the Laboratory Research Track. The Pharmacology Research course will immerse you in a “wet lab” experience alongside research professors, postdocs and Ph.D. students.
- Students pay the per-semester flat rate.
- Students must complete a total of 30 graduate credits in order to graduate.
- Follow the Biomedical Graduate Education Graduating Student Checklist to apply for graduation and to register for Commencement the following spring if you wish to attend.
Master’s Courses
Visit M.S. in Pharmacology Courses to browse our required and elective courses.
Learn More
Accelerated Programs FAQ
Answers to questions about the accelerated program.
Career Readiness
Our students benefit from the services of the Biomedical Graduate Education career office, including one-on-one advising, skills workshops, leadership programs and more.