{"id":24580,"date":"2026-05-22T17:24:15","date_gmt":"2026-05-22T21:24:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bumc.bu.edu\/ppb\/?page_id=24580"},"modified":"2026-05-22T17:27:49","modified_gmt":"2026-05-22T21:27:49","slug":"curriculum","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.bumc.bu.edu\/ppb\/education\/ms-in-pharmacology\/curriculum\/","title":{"rendered":"Curriculum"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Theme<\/span><\/h3>\n

The MS in Pharmacology curriculum is organized around four thematic pillars that build progressively from foundational science to professional readiness.<\/p>\n

1. Foundational science & pharmacology principles<\/h5>
<\/p>\n

Establishing the core biological principles required to understand drug action<\/p>\n

\n

GMS PM 620 \u00b7 Fall (3 units<\/em>)
\nFoundations in Life Sciences<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n

GMS PM 650 \u00b7 Spring (4 units<\/em>)
\nHuman Systems Physiology & Pharmacology<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n

GMS PM 702 \u00b7 Spring (2\u00a0units<\/em>)
\nMolecular Neurobiology and Pharmacology<\/strong>
\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

2. Drug discovery & translational research<\/h5>
<\/p>\n

Mastering the pipeline from molecular target to therapeutic development<\/p>\n

\n

GMS PM 630 \u00b7 Fall (3 units<\/em>)
\nIntroduction to Drug Discovery<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n

GMS PM 670 \u00b7 Spring (2 units<\/em>)
\nInnovations in Pharmacology<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n

GMS PM 881 \u00b7 Fall\/Spring (elective<\/em>)
\nDrug Discovery and Developmen<\/strong>t
\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

3. Research methods & computational skills<\/h5>
<\/p>\n

Developing technical, analytical, and data-driven skills used in modern laboratories<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

GMS PM 640 \u00b7 Fall (3 units<\/em>)
\nModern Research Methods<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n

GMS MS 700\/750 \u00b7 Fall (2 units<\/em>)
\nBiostatistics<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n

GMS PM 660 \u00b7 Spring (elective<\/em>)
\nAdvanced Research Methods<\/strong>
\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

4. Professional development & research application<\/h5>
<\/p>\n

Bridging academic training to professional career success<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

GMS PM 610 \u00b7 Fall (2 units<\/em>)
\nProfessionalism and Skills for Success<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n

GMS PM 680 \u00b7 Spring (2 units<\/em>)
\nPharmacology Capstone Seminar<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n

GMS PM 931\/932 \u00b7 Summer \/ Year 2 (4 units<\/em>)
\nResearch in Pharmacology<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n

Seminar \u00b7 All semesters (non-credit<\/em>)
\nPharmacology & Physiology Research Seminar<\/strong>
\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

\n
Electives & specialized topics<\/h5>
<\/p>\n

Students must complete a minimum of 5 elective units. Additional BU Graduate Medical Sciences courses may also count toward the requirement.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

GMS PM 660 \u00b7 Spring
\nAdvanced Research Methods<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n

GMS PM 881 \u00b7 Fall\/Spring
\nDrug Discovery and Development<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n

GMS PM 810 \u00b7 Fall\/Spring
\nCurrent Topics in Pharmacological Sciences<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n

GMS GE 706 \u00b7 Fall\/Spring
\nDeconstructing Systemic Bias: Where Biology Ends and Bias Begins<\/strong>
\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

\n

By Semester<\/span><\/h3>\n
Fall Semester \u2022 13-15 units<\/h5>

\nGMS PM 610\u00a0 (3 units<\/em>)
\nProfessionalism and Skills for Success<\/strong>
\nCommunication, ethics, and professional identity in biomedical science<\/p>\n
\n

<\/em>GMS PM 620\u00a0 (2\u00a0units<\/em>)
\nFoundations in Life Sciences<\/strong>
\nCore concepts in cell biology, biochemistry, and physiology<\/p>\n

\n

<\/em>GMS PM 630\u00a0 (3 units<\/em>)
\nIntroduction to Drug Discovery<\/strong>
\nModern drug development from molecular target to therapy<\/p>\n

\n

GMS PM 640\u00a0 (3 units<\/em>)
\nModern Research Methods<\/strong>
\nLab techniques, experimental design, and data analysis<\/p>\n

\n

GMS MS 700\/750\u00a0 (2\u00a0units<\/em>)
\nBiostatistics<\/strong>
\nStatistical tools for biomedical research<\/p>\n

\n

Seminar\u00a0 (non-credit<\/em>)
\nPharmacology & Physiology Research Seminar<\/strong>
\nWeekly cutting-edge research talks
\nnon-credit<\/p>\n

\n

Electives\u00a0 (0-2\u00a0units<\/em>)
\nSelect from approved elective list<\/strong>
\nTailor your training to your career goals<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

Spring Semester \u2022 13-15 units<\/h5>
<\/p>\n

GMS PM 650\u00a0 (4\u00a0units<\/em>)
\nHuman Systems Physiology & Pharmacology<\/strong>
\nHeart, brain, kidney, endocrine \u2014 integrated systems approach<\/p>\n

\n

GMS PM 670\u00a0 (2\u00a0units<\/em>)
\nInnovations in Pharmacology<\/strong>
\nTranslational science and emerging therapeutic strategies<\/p>\n

\n

GMS PM 702\u00a0 (2\u00a0units<\/em>)
\nMolecular Neurobiology and Pharmacology<\/strong>
\nNeuropharmacology at the molecular level<\/p>\n

\n

MS PM 680\u00a0 (2\u00a0units<\/em>)
\nPharmacology Capstone Seminar<\/strong>
\nWorkshops, collaborative training, and networking events
\n2 units<\/p>\n

\n

Seminar\u00a0 (non-credit)<\/em>
\nPharmacology & Physiology Research Seminar<\/strong>
\nWeekly cutting-edge research talks
\nnon-credit<\/p>\n

\n

Electives\u00a0 (3-5\u00a0units<\/em>)
\nSelect from approved elective list<\/strong>
\nTailor your training to your career goals<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

Summer - Capstone Track \u2022 4 units<\/h5>

\nGMS PM 931\/932\u00a0 (4\u00a0units<\/em>)
\nResearch in Pharmacology<\/strong>
\nSummer mentored capstone research project with a faculty mentor<\/p>\n
\n

Seminar\u00a0 (non-credit<\/em>)
\nPharmacology & Physiology Research Seminar<\/strong>
\nWeekly cutting-edge research talks
\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

Thesis Track - Year 2 \u2022 8 units<\/h5>

\nStudents on the thesis track complete the following courses during Year 2 (Fall and Spring) in place of the Summer capstone.<\/p>\n
\n

GMS PM 931 \u00b7 Fall Year 2\u00a0 (4\u00a0units<\/em>)
\nResearch in Pharmacology I<\/strong>
\nOriginal experimental research under dedicated faculty mentorship<\/p>\n

\n

GMS PM 932 \u00b7 Spring Year 2\u00a0 (4\u00a0units<\/em>)
\nResearch in Pharmacology II<\/strong>
\nContinuation of thesis research; preparation of written thesis and oral defense<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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