Academic Catalog 2024–2025

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Master of Science in Pharmaceutical Development and Management

Mission

The Master of Science (M.S.) in Pharmaceutical Development and Management, with a focus on drug development and management, provides graduate students with the opportunity to follow a thesis (research) or non-thesis (project) track, with the aim of equipping them with the depth and breadth of advanced knowledge and practice experiences for a career in the pharmaceutical industry.

Program Objectives

Through the M.S. in Pharmaceutical Development and Management, graduate students will:

  1. foster problem-solving, decision-making, and management skills applied to the development, testing, production, packaging and marketing of pharmaceuticals, which may also be applied to other commercial settings,
  2. develop the ability to work effectively with scientists, clinicians, marketing experts, management teams, regulators, and other professionals as part of an academic, industrial, or corporate development or management team,
  3. assume leadership roles in pharmaceutical and other academic, corporate, industrial, or management positions at the national or international level, and
  4. continue graduate studies at the PhD level in related science and management fields.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the program, students will be able to:

  1. apply advanced knowledge of drug development and pre-formulation for ethical pharmaceutical products, 
  2. utilize advanced pharmacokinetics in the development of pharmaceuticals,
  3. utilize analytical and production processes and equipment in the development of pharmaceuticals,
  4. apply the concepts of biotechnology to the production of pharmaceuticals,
  5. apply the concepts of biostatistics to the development, production, and management of pharmaceutical products and clinical trials,
  6. apply the principles of management theory to the development, production, evaluation, regulation, distribution, and marketing of ethical pharmaceutical products, and
  7. apply international and national regulations and ethics to the development, manufacturing, bio-manufacturing, and management of ethical pharmaceutical products.

Admission Requirements

Applicants seeking admission to the master’s program in Pharmaceutical Development and Management must meet LAU’s general admission requirements and provide documented evidence for having the following minimum school-specific requirements:

  • Earned a professional degree in pharmacy (B.S. or Pharm.D.), chemistry or any of the biological sciences (e.g., biology, chemistry, and biochemistry) from a recognized university or program
  • A cumulative GPA of 2.75 (out of 4 points) or higher in their program

Additionally, applications should also include:

  • An updated CV
  • A personal statement briefly describing the applicant’s qualifications and interest in the program

Meeting these requirements does not guarantee admission into the program. Students with no Pharmacy degree may be conditionally accepted on a case-by-case basis and are required to complete at least 6 credits of remedial undergraduate courses in pharmacy at LAU. These primarily include, but are not limited to, the following courses: Dosage Forms; Pharmacokinetics and Biopharmaceutics; Medicinal Chemistry; and Pharmacology.

All applications are reviewed by the Admissions Committee.

Curriculum

Graduation requires the successful completion of 36 credits, distributed as follows:

  • Required Core Courses (21 credits)
  • Elective Courses (9-12 credits)
  • Thesis (6 credits) or Project (3 credits)

Required Core Courses (21 credits)

  • PHA752 Integrated Pharmaceutics/Biopharmaceutics: in Pharmaceutical Development/Formulation (3 cr.)
  • PHA754 Integrated Clinical Pharmacology: in Pharmaceutical Development (3 cr.)
  • PHA755/ MGT831 Management Theory (3 cr.)
  • PHA756 Instrumental Methods: for Pharmaceutical Analysis and Drug Production (3 cr.)
  • PHA758 Biomanufacture: for Pharmaceutical Development of Drugs (3 cr.)
  • PHA760 Biostatistics: in Pharmaceutical Development of Drugs (3 cr.)
  • PHA765/ MKT841 Marketing Management (3 cr.)

Elective Courses (9-12 credits)

  • PHA724 Ethics in Research (3 cr.)
  • PHA725/ MGT839 Organizational Behavior (3 cr.)
  • PHA726 Clinical Trials Design (3 cr.)
  • PHA728 Project Management for Clinical Trials (3 cr.)
  • PHA730 Regulatory Affairs (3 cr.)
  • PHA732 Quality Control/Quality Assurance (3 cr.)
  • PHA734 Advanced Pharmacoeconomics (3 cr.)
  • PHA735/ OPM880C Special Topics in Operations and Production Management (3 cr.)
  • PHA740 Special Topics in Pharmaceutical Science (3 cr.)
  • PHA745/ MGT880F Special Topics in Innovation and Entrepreneurship (3 cr.)

Thesis or Project:

  • PHA798 Master Professional Project (3 cr.)1
  • PHA799 Master Research Thesis (6 cr.)

1 Students who opt for the professional master’s (a professional project instead of research) will have to take an additional elective (3 credits).

Recommended Study Plan

Year One

Fall (12 credits)

  • PHA752 Integrated Pharmaceutics/Biopharmaceutics: in Pharmaceutical Development/Formulation (3 cr.)
  • PHA756 Instrumental Methods: for Pharmaceutical Analysis and Drug Production (3 cr.)
  • PHA760 Biostatistics: in Pharmaceutical Development of Drugs (3 cr.)
  • Elective Course (3 cr.)

Spring (12 credits)

  • PHA754 Integrated Clinical Pharmacology: in Pharmaceutical Development (3 cr.)
  • PHA755/ MGT831 Management Theory (3 cr.)
  • PHA758 Biomanufacture: for Pharmaceutical Development of Drugs (3 cr.)
  • Elective Course (3 cr.)

Year Two

Fall (12 credits)

  • PHA765/ MKT841 Marketing Management (3 cr.)
  • PHA798 Master Professional Project (3 cr.)/ PHA799 Master Research Thesis (6 cr.)1
  • Elective Course (3 cr.)

Spring

  • PHA798 Master Professional Project (3 cr.)/ PHA799 Master Research Thesis (6 cr.)1

1 Students who opt for the professional master’s (a professional project instead of research) will have to take an additional elective (3 credits).