Best Schools for a Master's in Pharmacology
Graduate programs in pharmacology (not to be confused with programs in pharmacy) offer a unique take on interdisciplinary study. Typically designed for individuals who have an undergraduate degree in biology, chemistry, or a similar subject, pharmacology programs introduce students to the world of drug interactions, brain chemistry, and cellular physiology. In a way, these degrees act as a bridge from academia to industry, helping students take their theoretical scientific knowledge and apply it to the field that needs it most: healthcare. Most graduates of the M.S. in Pharmacology programs either continue on to earn a Ph.D. (which allows them to teach or conduct more in-depth research), work at pharmaceutical or biotechnology companies, or for regulatory agencies like the FDA.
If you like what you've heard so far, then it's time to start thinking about where you want to go to school. Although the opportunities for master's degree students are far from endless, there are still plenty of options from which you can choose. To help narrow your focus, we created this best value pharmacology degree ranking. So how did we decide which schools to include?
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Top 25 Ranking Pharmacology Schools
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Factors Considered When Ranking Schools
Generally speaking, we sought to identify top pharmacology degrees that are high quality but won't leave you drowning in debt. We initially used College Navigator to acquire a list of all the colleges and universities that offer pharmacology degrees in master's degree form. To identify the select few that have mastered the high-quality, low-cost balancing act, we then looked for programs that, first and foremost, demonstrate commitment to continued growth by actively enrolling and graduating students (according to data provided by College Navigator). We also used the Thompson Reuters' "Essential Science Indicators" database to identify programs with high research output, i.e. those that boast a large citations-per-article ratio in pharmacology journals. In addition, we analyzed the schools' broader performance by evaluating their accreditation status with the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) and the American Board of Clinical Pharmacology (ABCP). Note that the ABCP specifically accredits fellowship programs at universities with associated hospitals, but those schools that qualify undoubtedly have plenty of extra perks to offer master's degree students, too! Lastly, we assessed each program on its annual cost by looking at tuition rates and fees for the most recent school year (for public schools, we used an average of their in-state and out-of-state rates).
Taking all the data together, we were able to determine the 25 top pharmacology degrees for 2019. They all have something a little different to offer in terms of both price and performance, and we leave it up to you to determine which one best fits your needs!
In addition to the schools' websites, you can find the other sources we used for this ranking at the end of the article.
Sources:
College Navigator
Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education
American Board of Clinical Pharmacology
Thompson Reuters Essential Science Indicators
