MS in Pharmacology

Although training efforts by the Department of Pharmacology are primarily directed toward the award of the PhD degree, training for the MS degree is offered also in a variety of contexts. For example, research assistants in the Department who seek educational advancement may pursue the MS degree via Plan A (thesis) or Plan B (coursework only). Medical students who seek to specialize in Pharmacology during the scholarly research component of their preclinical program may pursue the MS degree. Employees in the Biotechnology Industry may seek advanced training in Pharmacology by pursuing the MS degree at Case. Finally, a PhD candidate who is unable to complete the PhD requirements for extraordinary reasons may petition to have earned credits transferred to fulfill MS degree requirements. Masters Plan B (Coursework, MS direct admit) This program is aimed at students who seek a Master’s Degree but do not intend to specialize in research following their Master’s work. To satisfy the requirement for a Comprehensive Exam for the MS Degree, students register for 1 credit of EXAM 600 during their final semester and sit for a integrative essay question-style examination on the content of the required coursework. A total of 27 credit hours are required (see below). The advancement of understanding and practice of therapeutics is based on research. Therefore all students in degree programs in Pharmacology are expected to become involved in independent research and scholarship. Registration for PHRM 601 Independent Study and Research requires a pre-arrangement with a faculty mentor who will oversee the combination of study and bench research and proscribe the basis for satisfactory performance, including oral and written reports. With pre-approval of the Departmental Director of Graduate Studies, a student’s study plan may substitute additional specific advanced courses to replace PHRM 601 Independent Study and Research credits. Masters Plan A (Research, direct admit) In addition to the course requirements below, candidates for this degree are required to submit an acceptable written thesis based on their original research, and register for at least 9 credit hours of PHRM 651 Thesis M.S. (master’s dissertation research). The acceptability of the thesis will be determined by an oral examination administered by the student’s Thesis Advisory Committee. This committee must be chaired by a member of the primary Faculty of Pharmacology, and it should include the research mentor and two other faculty members (total of four faculty members, two from the Department of Pharmacology). As above, a minimum of 27 credit hours are required. For these students, passing the final exams in PHRM 401 Principles of Pharmacology I: The Molecular Basis of Therapeutics and PHRM 402 Principles of Pharmacology II: The Physiological Basis of Therapeutics satisfies the requirement for a Comprehensive Exam for the MS Degree. Description of Program Students will earn a Plan B Masters from Case Western Reserve University. The degree program is comprised of core courses in Pathology with elective course work from related disciplines, a course on research ethics, attendance of the departmental seminar series, and a comprehensive final project in the form of a review paper that will ideally be suitable for publication. The topic of the review paper will be determined by the student and their academic advisor. The core of the Program is geared toward providing the student a solid basis in cell biology and pathology. This begins with courses in histology and cell & molecular biology (ANAT 412 Histology and Ultrastructure/ANAT 413 General Histology Laboratory and PATH 475 Cell and Molecular Foundations of Pathology) followed by courses in basic pathology and immunology (PATH 510Basic Pathologic Mechanisms and PATH 416 Fundamental Immunology).