M.S. in Pharmaceutical Affairs

This course focuses on the application of economic analysis as it relates to provision of health care and emerging health care trends in the United States and throughout the world. The course also focuses on understanding how healthcare markets differ from other markets, specifically on the economics of the health care sector and its major players, e.g., the government, insurers, providers, and patients. Economic concepts and tools will be used to analyze the health care system, and to examine implications and issues in health policy. (48-0-3).

This highly interactive course introduces students to: (1) the fundamental concepts and frameworks used for the study of population health and public policy; (2) the financing and managing of health systems at the local and international levels; and (3) the formulation and analysis of public health policies. The course will emphasize the intersection of public health and the determinant of drug use and pharmacy-related policies. Students will have the opportunity to analyze and critically evaluate existing health policies, public health actions, and reforms. Students are expected to contribute and participate in the discussion of current research, case studies, and policies. Student learning will be assessed through oral exams, written assignments, presentations, and an analytical paper. This course will provide skills for the conceptualization of research projects addressing current health issues related to pharmacy. (48-0-3)

This course provides strategies, skills, and tools to help students be successful in graduate school. These include study skills, time management, communication, teamwork, and active learning. Course materials also include an introduction to the U.S. and global health care models and systems and basic medical terminology. In-class activities challenge students to connect theory to practice, enhancing skills using assessments, reflective exercises, group activities, and student presentations. (32-0-2)

This course focus is on the structure and function of vitamins, carbohydrates, proteins, hormones, nucleic acids, and lipids as well as bioenergetics and major catabolic pathways at the cellular level. It establishes the biochemical basis for cell structure and emphasizes an integrated approach to the understanding of cellular metabolism; provides a biochemical, genetic, and molecular basis for understanding disease and drug functioning; and examines the mechanisms for genetic information flow in prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. (48-0-3).

This course applies the concepts of organic chemistry to understand drug action at the molecular level. It introduces students to basic pharmacological principles that explain drug effects as it pertains to mechanisms of action and drug disposition into different organs and tissues. In addition, this course describes drug actions at physiological receptors focusing on compounds that act on the autonomic nervous system. (32-0-2).

This course surveys the development of society’s drug utilization practices as medication throughout history, from ancient application of medicinal substances for healing purposes to modern medicinal compounds. Cultural, economic, political, and religious issues affecting drug medication practices are discussed. Current topics pertaining to the discovery, adaptation, production, distribution, and consequences of drug medication are explored. (32-0-2)

This is the first of a sequence that prepares the student to retrieve, evaluate, and use the medical and scientific literature and other drug information resources. It is designed to prepare students to apply drug information skills for the delivery of patient-centered care using evidence-based principles to improve outcomes. Students learn the strengths and weaknesses of the various references and how to apply their use in practice. Active learning experiences include retrieving scientific literature, utilizing electronic resources, performing literature searches, and formulating responses to basic drug information requests. (16-0-1)

This course provides students with the foundation in pharmacokinetic concepts and application. The principles involved in drug absorption, distribution, metabolism and elimination in the human body are discussed and mechanisms and rates of these processes are studied. The influence of physiologic and biochemical process on the fate of drugs in the body are explored and pharmacokinetic principles are applied in dose optimization of drugs (64-0-4)

This is the second of a sequence that prepares the student to retrieve, evaluate, and use the medical and scientific literature and other drug information resources. This course is designed to expose students to the fundamentals of research design and methodology and applied biostatistical data analysis. It focuses on familiarizing the students with general methodologic approaches used in experimental design, statistical analysis of data, investigator’s responsibilities, ethical considerations in research, protection of human subjects, and Institutional Review Boards. (32-0-2)

This course provides an exposure to the important and critical area of drug regulatory matters. It describes the role of Federal laws, regulations and the structure and operation of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. It also compares similar agencies in other countries. (48-0-3)

This course provides students the opportunity to integrate and apply concepts and skills acquired throughout the MS in Pharmaceutical Affairs program to solve a pharmacy-related health issue. Students will select a current health challenge for analytical purposes and determine actions for its solution. Students are expected to collectively gather data and information to evaluate and discuss the problem from different perspectives using ideas and frameworks covered in previous courses such as population health, health economics, bioethics, marketing, and regulatory affairs. Students will present their project at the end of the semester. (96-0-6)