Where Can an Online Pharmacy Master’s Take You? UC’s Online Pharmacy Programs

Many prospective students don’t realize the power of a master’s degree in pharmacy. While you must earn your Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) to become a pharmacist in the United States, a master’s degree opens many opportunities in research, development, testing, and manufacturing.

At the UC James L. Winkle College of Pharmacy, we offer numerous master’s degrees and graduate certificates in pharmacy. Even better, many of these programs can be completed through hybrid enrollment or 100% online. Let’s explore UC’s online pharmacy programs and see which one is the perfect fit for you!

UC’s Online Pharmacy Programs: An Overview

You have many options for studying pharmacy at UC. Depending on your career goals and interests, you can choose a master’s degree that best suits your needs. Each of UC’s pharmacy programs provides a well-rounded pharmaceutical education while emphasizing a specific focus area.

At UC, you can earn any of the following master’s degrees:

• MS PharmSci in Health Outcomes and Pharmacoeconomics (MHOPE)
• Master of Science in Pharmacy Leadership
• MS PharmSci in Healthcare Operational Excellence (HOPEX)
• Master of Science in Cosmetic Science
• MS PharmSci in Drug Development
• MS PharmSci in Pharmacogenomics & Personalized Healthcare (PGx)

MS PharmSci in Health Outcomes and Pharmacoeconomics (MHOPE)

With an MS PharmSci in Health Outcomes and Pharmacoeconomics, you’ll be well prepared to make a difference in pharmaceutical research. Through a blend of health economics and health outcomes research, MHOPE graduates play a major role in health policy and decision-making. They do this by providing evidence-based insights, backed by real-world data analytics and pharmacoepidemiology.

MHOPE exposes students to a variety of topics, such as health outcomes research, pharmacoeconomics, health technology assessment, and policy analysis. The degree’s curriculum covers biostatistics, research methods, data analytics, and regulatory strategy, and it ensures graduates can conduct and analyze health outcomes research. Students also learn how to develop and implement interventions to improve health outcomes while advocating for policies and programs that promote health. The final capstone project focuses on real-world health outcomes or pharmaeconomic evaluation—giving students the opportunity to apply their knowledge in a practical way.

With the recent shift in the health care industry to value-based care, MHOPE is of immense value. Demonstrating a drug’s impact on patient outcomes and health care costs is critical, particularly when this information can affect both policy and individuals’ lives. For professionals seeking career advancement in insurance, managed care, pharma outcomes research, medical affairs, or public health policy organizations, MHOPE is a strong choice.

Master of Science in Pharmacy Leadership

If you dream of becoming a leader in the pharmaceutical industry, a Master of Science in Pharmacy Leadership can help you make that dream a reality. This master’s program centers on leadership principles, management, health care systems, strategy, and operational oversight within pharmacy contexts. For working pharmacists or PharmD graduates, this degree provides ample preparation for moving into leadership or management roles—whether that’s in health systems, community pharmacy, or managed care.

As one of the first 100% online pharmacy leadership master’s programs in the U.S., UC’s program is designed with both flexibility and success in mind. The curriculum blends extensive leadership training with coursework in communication, human resources, economics, and operations. Even though the program is facilitated online, that doesn’t stop students from securing their dream careers upon graduation.

One way that graduates accomplish this is through their capstones. Taught in three sequential courses, the capstone series culminates in a project suitable for publication. Some graduates of UC’s Pharmacy Leadership program have even leveraged their capstone papers into a career, such as graduate Maybeth James.

With a solid foundation in pharmacy leadership, pharmacists can do more than practice. They’re able to fill critical skill gaps in leadership, strategic planning, and team management in a variety of pharmaceutical settings. If you aspire to a career like this, then an MS in Pharmacy Leadership is your first step.

MS PharmSci in Healthcare Operational Excellence (HOPEX)

You may be wondering: what is HOPEX? At the heart of an MS PharmSci in Healthcare Operational Excellence is a desire to improve how health care organizations operate.

By utilizing cutting-edge technology, efficiency strategies, and lean management techniques, HOPEX graduates improve pharmaceutical and health care systems. The core coursework for HOPEX includes biostatics, research ethics, and pharmacoeconomics. Electives further immerse you in a wide range of topics, such as pharmacy, nursing, public health, and operational systems.

A major focus of HOPEX program is Lean Six Sigma, which incorporates Lean principles (focused on eliminating waste in patient care) with Six Sigma techniques (focused on variation and defect reduction). The overall goal of Lean Six Sigma is to improve operational efficiency, making it transformative for patient care.

Interested in a career in pharmaceutical operations, supply chain management, quality assurance, or process improvement? A master’s in HOPEX will help you get there. The degree is also well-suited to operations, systems optimization, and process excellence in regulated environments. Ultimately, HOPEX is a strong choice for students who want to drive efficiency, quality, and innovation within pharmacy.

Master of Science in Cosmetic Science

As one of the oldest cosmetic science programs in the U.S., UC’s Master of Science in Cosmetic Science highlights the ins and outs of the cosmetic industry. The program acts as a bridge between the study of cosmetics and topical pharmaceuticals. Since these products are applied directly to the skin or body, they require regulation to avoid harm. That’s where cosmetic science professionals come into play.

A key focus of the cosmetic science degree is the regulatory aspect of OTC and cosmetic products. Coursework also covers product formulation, cosmetic chemistry, skin and hair physiology, and microbiology. Through learning about cosmetic evaluation, stability testing, and product testing, students graduate ready to enter the workforce or the research space. In fact, past students have pursued publication of their capstone projects on current cosmetic science topics, such as dermatology or skincare innovations.

The master’s in cosmetic science is ideal for those aiming for careers in cosmetics, personal care, skincare, fragrance, or OTC topical products. While this is an online degree program, an optional one-week in-person lab also paves the way for hands-on learning.

MS PharmSci in Drug Development

Do you want to better understand the lifecycle of drug development? Is your goal to contribute to biotechnology, pharmaceutical, and regulatory agencies? If so, then an online MS PharmSci in Drug Development may be perfect for you.

Taught by faculty with extensive industry and FDA regulatory experience, this master’s degree covers the end-to-end drug development process. From formulation to regulatory affairs and clinical trials, the curriculum emphasizes real-world applications of what you learn in class. Another area of focus in the program is pharmacokinetics. This branch of pharmacology studies how the human body affects a drug from the time it’s administered to the time at which it exits the body.

This degree is ideal for professionals in pharma research and development, regulatory affairs, contract research organizations (CROs), and clinical development. Whether you’re more interested in regulatory or cross-functional roles, you’ll gain a holistic view of how drugs travel from molecule to market through this program.

MS PharmSci in Pharmacogenomics & Personalized Healthcare (PGx)

Through the MS PharmSci in Pharmacogenomics & Personalized Healthcare, students explore how genetic variation impacts drug response. Understanding how not only genetics but also environment and patient-specific factors factor into drug response often results in better therapy and clinical outcomes.

Pharmacogenomics & Personalized Healthcare students gain experience working with genomic databases and applying genetic insights to real health care scenarios. The curriculum covers genomics, biomarkers, bioinformatics, and personalized medicine approaches, allowing for customization to suit each student’s interests and goals. Additionally, since the program is facilitated fully online, students are able to learn from a wide range of clinicians and researchers.

This master’s degree is ideal for individuals interested in precision medicine, clinical genomics, translational research, or tailoring therapies to individual patients. By bridging the gap between laboratory genomics and patient care, graduates of this program are equipped to thrive in the era of precision health care.

Pharmacy Graduate Certificates

Not sure if pursuing a master’s degree is for you? Consider enrolling in a graduate certificate program.

UC currently offers four options for earning your pharmacy graduate certificate:

• Cosmetic Science
• Clinical Trials Design and Research
• Global Regulatory Affairs in Drug Development
• Pharmacy Leadership

These programs immerse you in a specific aspect of pharmacy but take fewer credits to complete. Additionally, the credits you take for your certificate will often count toward your master’s degree if you eventually enroll.

Don’t Wait to Begin Your Pharmacy Career at UC—Contact Us Today

With so many options to choose from, one of UC’s pharmacy programs is sure to be the perfect fit for your needs.

If you have questions about any of UC’s master’s degrees or graduate certificates, your Enrollment Services Advisor is here to help. Whether you’re interested in operational excellence, research and development, or leadership, you can level up in your career by investing in your pharmacy education!