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Guide to Master's Degree

How to Get a Master's Degree in Pharmacy

An aging population and advances in drug therapies are driving opportunities across the pharmaceutical and pharmacy sectors. A master's degree in pharmacy prepares you to take on leadership roles in pharmaceutical science or administration. Develop new therapies in the lab, enhance patient clinical care, improve public regulation, or lead pharmaceutical business management.

WorldWideLearn.com's guide to the master's degree in pharmacy prepares you to claim your role in the developing pharmacy sector. Use this resource to plan your career path and identify the academic resources to help you achieve your goals.

Guide to Master's Degrees in Pharmacy

Pharmacy brings together healthcare and chemistry, tapping the power of biochemical and synthetic substances to heal the body. The discipline encompasses both the development and distribution of chemical medications:

The master's degree in pharmacy or pharmaceutical science generally leads to careers in pharmaceutics or pharmacy administration. Pharmacy as a licensed professional practice requires a Doctor of Pharmacy, or PharmD. The master's degree is not required for entry into a PharmD program--most students enter with a bachelor's degree, and some schools require only two years of undergraduate preparation for the professional doctorate. Learn more about the Doctor of Pharmacy at WorldWideLearn.com.

For more information on the pharmacy discipline in general, see the site's Guide to College Majors in Pharmacy.

Master's Degree Options

A two-year master's degree in pharmacy can serve either as a stepping stone into pharmaceutical science research and development, or as a powerful credential for pharmacy administration roles. The right master's degree for you will depend on your career goals.

Master of Science in Pharmaceutical Science
This degree is modeled on the traditional science master's, with an emphasis on deep scientific expertise and lab research. If you are heading into pharmaceutical R&D or academic scholarship, this is the degree for you. Aspiring pharmacy professors typically continue on to a PhD in pharmacy.

Master of Science in Pharmacy Administration
The MS in pharmacy administration takes a step closer to the professional practice of pharmacy, with emphasis on the business and public administration issues surrounding pharmaceutical production and distribution.

Master of Business Administration in Pharmaceutical Business, Pharmacy Management, or Pharmacy Administration

The joint MS-MBA or MBA in pharmacy fields focuses on the management, marketing, industrial production, and public regulation of pharmaceuticals and their distribution.

All of these degrees are available through both campus and digital formats, making it easy for professionals to earn a master's degree online without putting their career on hold. Learn more about your master's degree options at WorldWideLearn.com's The Master's Degree Explained and Master's Degrees Online.

Specializations in Pharmacy

At the master's degree level, pharmacy specializations focus on the science or business of drug therapies. Clinical patient care and licensed dispensation falls under the purview of the professional PharmD program.

Pharmaceutical Science

Scientific specializations focus on the research and development of pharmaceuticals and drug therapies.

Industry applications
Applied pharmacy R&D specializations use scientific knowledge to solve specific problems, develop products, and provide diagnostic services.

Pharmacy Administration
Administrative specialties focus on the unique challenges of producing, selling, and regulating pharmaceuticals.

Pharmacy specializations are continually evolving to reflect changes in the field. If you have a particular interest of value to pharmacy research or administration, chances are you can find the faculty and institutional resources to break new ground in your field.

Career Track for Pharmacy Professionals

A master's degree in pharmacy qualifies you for careers in commercial R&D, public administration, or pharmacy management and marketing. Combined with a PharmD, the MS can lead you to leadership positions in pharmacist practice. With a PhD, the MS can set the stage for a career in academic teaching and scholarship.

WorldWideLearn.com's Career Pathways resource offers career planning and assessment tools to help you identify the career path that suits you best.

Plan for a Master's Degree in Pharmacy

A graduate degree in pharmacy could take you in any number of directions, both in your research and your professional development. Planning your educational journey well in advance will set you up to take advantage of the opportunities that offer the most mileage toward your pharmacy career goals.

Find the Right Graduate Pharmacy Program

Begin by lining up the right academic resources. The following steps lead you to the master's degree program that makes most sense for you, given your interests and ambitions.

1. List Accredited Programs
Access lists of pharmaceutical science and pharmacy administration master's degrees to survey your options. Make sure that the programs you consider are accredited by an independent program reviewer. Accreditation helps you vet a program's quality and factors into the value of your credential and your eligibility for financial aid. The U.S. Department of Education Web site posts a searchable database of approved accreditation agencies.

Resources
WorldWideLearn offers a starting point for your research, with links to accredited campus and online master's degrees in pharmacy. Start your search at Degrees by Subject, and narrow by degree level. The Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education features a comprehensive list of professional programs with an emphasis on the PharmD. Some of these institutions offer master's degrees in pharmacy as well.

2. Choose Program Format: Campus or Online Master's Degree? Digital learning formats have opened new horizons in graduate and professional education. The ability to earn a master's degree online is particularly valuable for working professionals balancing work and other commitments alongside their pharmacy education.

Today's educational delivery options include online, campus, and hybrid programs. Hybrid degrees combine virtual classroom education with hands-on training at a university lab, pharmacy, or through a business internship. Some require temporary campus residencies.

Choose the best program format for you based on:

Also take into account factors such as your learning style and finances. Face-to-face learners benefit from campus collaboration, for example. But your bank account may benefit from virtual learning, since you can continue working while you earn a master's degree online.

Resources
WorldWideLearn.com features Online Degree Programs and Campus Education sections to help you find the right program format. For local campus programs, search Degrees by Location.

3. Explore Academic Programs
The crux of your research happens at this stage, when you examine the unique features of the graduate pharmacy programs on your list. Take into account program resources such as:

Your career goals and specializations will drive this assessment. If you have a specific research topic in mind, for example, it will be especially important to find a faculty mentor and facilities to support your project. If you're targeting a specific employer, look to industry relationships or regional networking possibilities.

Resources
WorldWideLearn.com streamlines your program research by identifying pharmacy master's degree programs that meet your specifications. An online form allows you to connect with school representatives, who can answer specific questions about programs of interest.

School Web sites post most of the information listed above, with links to course catalogs, campus research labs, and faculty CVs and publications.

Informational interviews and campus visits offer a candid perspective on a particular school's approach to graduate pharmacy education. Learn about available resources from faculty, alumni, and current graduate students. Campus visits introduce you to the community and lab facilities--a valuable experience whether you choose to earn a master's degree online or on campus.

4. Evaluate Program Quality
Finally, rank the programs on your list by quality and selectivity, looking for programs that provide value and match your academic profile. Admissions selectivity typically depends on your grades and test scores, though experience can also impact your competitiveness as an applicant.

Features to consider include:

Ultimately, aim for about five or six finalists that meet your quality standards and selectivity profile.

Apply to Graduate Pharmacy Programs

The next steps in the application process challenge you to convince the admissions committee that your academic strengths and interests match the program.

1. Complete Prerequisites
Eligibility for graduate study in pharmaceutical science or pharmacy administration generally requires:

Meet these requirements with the help of test preparation advice, online learning tools, and prerequisite courses featured in the Education Resources Guide.

2. Prepare Application Materials
In addition to the online information form, most pharmacy master's degree programs require the following supporting documents:

Prepare these materials well in advance of the deadline to ensure that all pieces of the application arrive in time.

3. Finance Your Master's Degree in Pharmacy
Financial aid is available to most graduate students who need it. Sources of master's degree funding include the university, the federal government, your employer, and private foundations. Investigate your options by:

For more information on financing your master's degree, visit the WorldWideLearn.com resource page on graduate education funding.

Step Three: Build a Professional Network

The value of a graduate education has as much to do with the experts you meet as the knowledge you acquire. Networking resources available to you as a graduate student in pharmacy include:

Start building relationships with peers and mentors now, and you'll already have a strong professional support network when the master's program begins.

Conclusion

A master's degree in pharmacy catapults you into influential roles in administration or scientific research. As the population ages, demand for effective pharmaceutical therapies will continue to grow. Your graduate education will position you to advance health care through the development or distribution of medication. Set your sights on a career in pharmacy now by planning your path to the pharmaceutical science or pharmacy administration master's degree.

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