MPharm or PharmD?

[terpskins10]

Advertisement - Members don't see this ad

Hi all,

I am currently a doctoral student in Clinical Psychology, with my broad area of research being in psychopharmacology. In undergrad, I did not take most of the requirements necessary for acceptance into a PharmD program, but I believe after I finish my Ph.D., I would greatly benefit from either an M.S. in Pharmacy or PharmD in order to conduct drug-specific research.

What would you recommend? Taking prereqs at a CC after my Ph.D. and then applying for a PharmD, or applying for an M.S. (e.g. University of Florida) which requires fewer prereqs?

Thanks.

 

[pharm B]

In my mind, it's not about the number of pre-reqs as much as it is about the number of years in a program. The PharmD is a 4-year (for almost all schools) degree, while the MS is probably shorter by at least a year, if not two.

If you're not planning on being a pharmacist, I'd skip the PharmD, but that's just my two cents. 🙂

Although regarding your statement that the MS might help in drug-specific research, the UF site for this degree says:

...it provides the expertise and credentials needed to expand pharmacy industry careers in regulation, policy, sales, economics, benefits management, patient safety, risk management, leadership and more.

source:http://pharmreg.dce.ufl.edu/

And regarding the pre-reqs:

Prospective students should have a minimum 3.0 GPA in any undergraduate discipline and a minimum GRE score of 1,000 (500 verbal, 500 quantitative). Students holding advanced degrees (Pharm.D, Master's, MBA, J.D., Ph.D., etc.) are generally exempt from the GRE requirement.

So it sounds like you'd have fewer/no pre-reqs to do anyway.

The only research-oriented option I saw on there was about the regulation and ethics of research, rather than a practical track. Are you sure this is the degree you want?

Edit: I think you were being general in your description of the degree you'd be interested in pursuing. UF does offer an MS in Pharmaceutical Chemistry.
http://pharmchem.cop.ufl.edu/index.shtml

That sounds more along the lines of what you'd want. The pre-reqs are pretty much nil for you, since you'll be a doc shortly.

Minimum requirements for acceptance:

1. A baccalaureate degree in a science subject from an accredited institution. If your Bachelors degree is not in a science subject, please email Professor Oliver Grundmann at [email protected].
2. An upper-division GPA of 3.0 (B grade) or better. To calculate what your upper-division GPA is, please use the following form: Upper Division GPA Worksheet

 

[rxlea]

If you want to stick to research/academia, go for the MS or PhD. PharmD is for practitioners.

 

[Passion4Sci]

If you want to stick to research/academia, go for the MS or PhD. PharmD is for practitioners.

^^^^

Since your self-admitted focus is research, you need to be looking at a degree that'll show research pedigree and qualification in what you want: MS or PhD.

 

[terpskins10]

Thanks for the info, guys. I will certainly look into that other program.