Master of ScienceDegree RequirementsPrior to full admission in the School of Pharmacy, graduate students in the pharmaceutical science or pharmacology and toxicology areas will have completed coursework in calculus, organic chemistry, physical chemistry, biochemistry, microbiology, human anatomy and physiology in University departments and schools outside the School of Pharmacy, when these courses are appropriate to their interests. They may also elect advanced courses related to their areas of interest. Because many courses have prerequisites, the sequence of emphasis area courses and elective courses is determined by the academic background of each student and their research interests and requires the concurrence of the faculty adviser.
Graduate students whose emphasis area is pharmaceutical science will be given a placement examination, administered by division faculty, to assess undergraduate preparation for graduate-level study. Deficiencies existing on admission must be discussed with the interim faculty adviser during the first semester of graduate work. Course equivalency is determined by the pharmaceutical science discipline faculty on a case-by-case basis. Students are required to pass the discipline placement exams before appearing for the comprehensive exams administered by the supervisory committee.
Minimum Requirements for M.S. Degree
Emphasis Area RequirementsFollowing are the emphasis area requirements for the M.S. degree in pharmaceutical science:Courses Hours Pharmaceutical Science Courses 10 Other Coursework 11 Statistics 3 PHARM 5580A Seminar 2 PHARM 5599A Research and Thesis Pharmacy -or- PHARM 5599B Research and Thesis Pharmaceutical Chemistry 6Other graduate-level courses offered by the division or coursework in the Division of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Chemistry Department or the School of Biological Sciences may be taken with prior approval.
Following are the requirements for the M.S. degree in pharmaceutical science with emphasis in pharmacology and toxicology:PHARM 5509 Basic Toxicology 3 PHARM 5519 Pharmacology I 4 PHARM 5520 Pharmacology II 5 PHARM 5615 Methods in Pharmacology and Toxicology 3 PHARM 5580C Seminar* 2 PHARM 5599C Research and Thesis 6 EDUC 5505 Statistical Methods I 3 A minimum of six credit hours must be chosen from the following optional courses:PHARM 5521 Advanced Organic Medicinal Chemistry 3 PHARM 5531 Physical Pharmacy Equilibria 3 PHARM 5515 Drug Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism and Excretion 3 PHARM 5590AB Receptor Pharmacology and Signal Transduction 3* One credit hour of Pharmacy 5580C must be successfully completed in each academic year enrolled beginning with the second year. Attendance at all seminars is mandatory regardless of enrollment. Other graduate-level courses offered by the division or coursework in the Division of Pharmaceutical Science, Department of Chemistry or School of Biological Sciences may be taken with prior approval. Students with professional degrees in pharmacy will be required to take other advanced graduate-level courses that are offered.
M.S. Supervisory Committee and Program of StudyThis committee comprises the faculty adviser and two other graduate faculty members recommended to the School of Graduate Studies by the student and faculty adviser. The faculty adviser, who serves as chairperson of the committee, and a majority of the members of a master's student supervisory committee must be full members of the graduate faculty. Therefore, no more than one member of a master's supervisory committee may be an adjunct graduate faculty member. A majority of the faculty making up the supervisory committee must be from the student's emphasis area. An adjunct member may not be counted toward the mandated representation from the emphasis area discipline. The supervisory committee must approve the plan of study and thesis research protocol submitted by the student.Graduate credit for courses requires that the courses be at least 300- or 400-level and that a grade of B or better be obtained. A grade lower than B in a required 5500- or 5600-level course may be allowed to stand; however, the student's adviser and supervisory committee may require that the course be repeated. Students enroll in courses with the approval of their faculty advisers. Within the first 12 hours of degree-seeking graduate study, the student has advanced to the point where a supervisory committee is appointed and the planned program of study is developed. The program of study must receive the approval of the supervisory committee and graduate programs committee. A majority of the coursework applicable to any graduate degree at UMKC must be completed at UMKC. See the General Graduate Academic Regulations and Information section of this catalog for more information.
Comprehensive Examination for M.S. Candidates in Pharmaceutical ScienceStudents are required to pass written and oral comprehensive examinations on questions provided by the supervisory committee during the semester before the degree is to be conferred. However, the oral comprehensive exam may be incorporated with the thesis defense or final project. Generally, the written examination covers knowledge which should have been obtained in performance of coursework. The oral examination encompasses knowledge which should have been obtained in performance of research, as well as coursework.The first comprehensive examination is written. Questions are submitted by each member of the supervisory committee, as guided by the chairperson. For students with an emphasis in pharmaceutical science, the division faculty, in conjunction with the supervisory committee, will submit questions for comprehensive exams. Once the written examination has been taken, the supervisory committee must convene to determine whether the student has passed. In the event that this examination is failed, the student may retake the examination within the next semester, but no sooner than 10 weeks after the first attempt. Failure to pass the second written examination results in dropping the student from the program. On passing the written examination, the student and his or her major adviser will schedule an oral comprehensive examination at a time mutually agreeable to the supervisory committee. The general requirements of the oral comprehensive examination will be presented to the student in writing at least six weeks in advance of the date of the examination. A determination of pass or fail on the oral examination will be made by vote of the committee after the oral examination has been completed. In the event the oral examination is failed, the student will be given a second oral examination to take place no later than the semester following the failed examination. Failure to pass the oral examination a second time will mean the candidate is dropped from the program. More than one negative vote on an M.S. oral or written comprehensive exam constitutes failure of the examination. A minimum of three members of the supervisory committee must be present at the oral examination for the examination to be held. If the examination is canceled for lack of the required number of examiners, it should be scheduled again as soon as possible. M.S. candidates whose emphasis is pharmacology and toxicology are not required to take written or oral comprehensive exams. However, the supervisory committee may examine a candidate's basic pharmacology knowledge at the time of the final oral thesis defense.
Thesis DefenseThe final requirement for conferral of the M.S. degree is defense of the thesis, where the supervisory committee is the examining body. The thesis must be submitted in complete typewritten form to the adviser and supervisory committee at least six weeks before the date the advanced degree is to be conferred. See the Thesis and Dissertation Preparation and Approval Process listed under the School of Graduate Studies section of this catalog for regulations pertaining to thesis preparation. The defense is conducted only after the thesis has been certified for acceptance by the dean of the School of Graduate Studies and may not be administered when UMKC is not officially in session, nor on a weekend. The defense must be announced with an abstract at least two weeks in advance of the scheduled date of the defense.The defense of the thesis is approved when a majority of the supervisory committee members recommend approval and sign the report of results form. Students must comply with all rules and regulations governing theses outlined under Minimum Academic Regulations Specific to Master's Degrees in the General Graduate Academic Regulations and Information section of this catalog.
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