Online Graduate Certificate in Cosmetic Science

Introduction to Skincare and Haircare Science

Lectures and homework assignments covering basic skin and hair structure, properties of skin and hair, basic biophysical methods for evaluation of skin, basics of topical delivery, basics of hair growth, introduction to product technologies for skin cleansing, skin care, hand hygiene and hair care technologies and an intro to skin disease states.

Introduction to Surface, Colloid and Membrane Science

This introductory course will focus on fundamentals underpinning cosmetic formulations including wetting, spreading, contact angle, surface excess and adsorption, interfacial and solution chemistry of surfactants, surface tension, micellization, mixed surfactant systems, silicone surfactants, basic rheology, polymers and polyelectrolytes, silicone polymers, foams, foam stability and rheology, solid-liquid interface and an intro to bilayers and stratum corneum membrane.

Pharmaceutical Sciences Journal Club

The course involves the reading and discussion of published or unpublished scientific research in arena relevant to the student's graduate studies. Many of the discussions will be student-led. The literature review sessions may be supplemented with scientific presentations by students, faculty visiting scientists.

Biostatistics & Research Methods

The course begins with basic statistical concepts, introduces essential descriptive and inferential statistical tests, demonstrates some data analysis tools and collection instruments, then discusses common research methodology for pharmaceutical and cosmetic sciences. Students will learn how to use statistics and research designs to evaluate scientific evidence to make individual and population-based decisions. Students will conduct some simple statistical analysis based on given data sets and interpret the results, as well review clinical research literature.

Ethics in Scientific Research- Pharmacy

Students will learn about the various ethical and moral issues that are often encountered in scientific research including ways to identify and analyze them in the practice of research. The course is designed as an option to meet the NIH and NSF requirements for training in RCR (Responsible conduct of research). Topics to be covered include: RCR principles and guidelines, mentorship, collaborative research, conflict of interests, authorship and plagiarism, intellectual property and data handling, research involving human and animal subjects, scientific integrity and misconduct and social responsibility.

Safety Assessment of Cosmetic & Topical OTC Drug Products- Pre Clin & Clinical

This course will review the principles and guidelines for pre-clinical and clinical safety evaluation of new cosmetic and OTC drug products. The course will include a review of the regulatory requirements for safety testing, the role of the toxicologist, the importance of exposure in safety testing, specific types of safety studies (preclinical and clinical), and the use of the data for a risk assessment for marketing clearance of new products. Current hot topics and practical approaches to safety program design and management will be covered. Course work will include workshops to design safety programs, evaluation of the results to confirm safe exposure limits, and post marketing safety monitoring requirements.

Pharmacology-Basics and Cosmetic & Personal Care Product Applications

This introductory course will cover core principles of pharmacology including absorption, distribution, metabolism and elimination of drugs. In addition, this course twill provide a fundamental understanding of pharmacodynamics and toxicodynamics, pharmacokinetics, principles of how agonists an antagonists interact with drug receptors to modulate physiologic function and the importance of the dose-response relations in drug development and therapy. Dermatological pharmacology pertaining to topical drugs and cosmetics will be reviewed with regard to major drug classes as well as " non-drug actives" and mechanisms of action. Novel models used in the evaluations of topical pharmacology and cosmetic products will also be addressed. In addition, the pharmacology of selected therapeutics relevant to OTC drugs such as respiratory, gastrointestinal and analgesia will be introduced.

Consumer Understanding for Formulators-Overview and Practice

This introductory course will cover the role of consumer understanding and consumer research in the development of a product, beginning with either a new technology or the identification of a currently unmet consumer need. We will explore the need for the use of consumer understanding to develop the core consumer concept, claims, product performance design and qualifications for market. We will also discuss and understand the role of Market data, public relations issues and success criteria in a consumer centric product ts company. Both Qualitative and Quantitative consumer research approaches will be overviews and each student will design and administer both a qualitative and quantitative research study in an area of their personal interest, with individual feedback and coaching playing a major part in their learning experience.

Introduction to Cosmetic Regulations

The course will introduce the basic concepts and processes relating to regulations that impact cosmetics, their constituent chemicals, packaging, labeling and advertising. Discussion will focus on the key jurisdictions that students interact with, especially the USA (and States), Canada and the EU. Topics covered in this course will include:

Fragrance Science

This course will focus on all aspects of fragrance as a science and as a commercial endeavor, including the sense of smell, the history of fragrance, fragrance creation and duplication, natural products and aroma chemicals used in fragrances, fragrance applications in personal care and household products, the physical chemistry of fragrance solutions, safety and regulatory requirements, the emotional and psychological effects of odors, and marketing considerations.

Advanced Surface, Colloid, and Formulation Science

This course will focus on fundamentals underpinning creation, characterization and stability of complex fluids with multiphase systems. Topics covered will include the following: Phase behavior of surfactants and phase diagrams, polymer-surfactant and protein surfactant interactions, Emulsifiers and emulsification including various types of emulsions such as micro- nano- and mini-emulsions, DLVO theory of colloidal stability, Hansen solubility parameter, partitioning and release of actives in multicomponent systems.

Color Cosmetics

Color Cosmetics is a two credit graduate course that provides a comprehensive look at the broad spectrum of color additives that are used in decorative cosmetic and personal care products, including water soluble dyes, standard organic andinorganic pigments as well as pearlescent, metallic, fluorescent and treated ones.

Color Cosmetics II

This Color Cosmetics II is a two credits graduate course that is a continuation of Color Cosmetics I (PCEU 8041) and provides a comprehensive review of color cosmetic formulations. Topics in Color Cosmetics II include powder products, pigmented emulsions, anhydrous wax, and solvent-based formulation. Raw materials, product development, and processing procedures will be reviewed. Shade matching in these major classes of color cosmetic formulations will also be covered.

Skin, Hair, and Oral Products

The class is designed to provide a practical overview of the formulation approaches used for cosmetic and selected OTC drug products broadly intended for use in skin care, hair care, and oral care, including stability and performance evaluations. Sufficient background information regarding the anatomy and physiology of the skin and associated appendages, the hair, and the oral cavity as well as solution and colloid (emulsion) chemistry will be provided for appropriate understanding of the contexts of the formulation approaches. In addition, an overview of pertinent FDA regulations regarding cosmetic and OTC products will be included as well as descriptions of the development processes for these products, record keeping, and intellectual property protection.

Clinical and Instrumental Testing of Skin

This course covers principles of skin clinical testing, including human subject protection, study design and testing on special populations such as infants. The principles behind the instruments for studying skin in-vivo are covered along with their use in clinical protocols. Methods covered include skin water loss measurements, electrical measurements, mechanical measurements, laser Doppler blood flow, ultrasound imaging, surface contour imaging, optical coherence tomography, skin color measurements, confocal microscopy, skin spectroscopy and magnetic resonance imaging Instruments for measurement of skin topography to analyze skin features such as wrinkles are covered in detail. Protocols and protocol development for testing moisturizers, cleansing products, anti-aging products, sunscreens, antiperspirants, and deodorants are among the ones that are covered in the course. New methods including multi-photon tomography and fluorescence lifetime imaging will be covered. The use of non-invasively obtained biomarkers in conjunction with traditional biophysical measurements to investigate skin condition and for claim support will be covered. Students will learn to write standard operating procedures (SOPs) and clinical protocols.

Molecular Biology of Skin

This is an advanced course focusing on the molecular biology of skin. The molecular structure of the epidermis, dermis and dermal epidermal junction will be covered in detail along with key cell signaling pathways in the skin.

Cosmetic Microbiology

This course will teach cosmetic science and microbiology graduate students up-to-date information on cosmetic microbiology, product preservation, skin microflora, and regulations pertaining to cosmetic and over-the-counter drug products. The approach is a practical one based on industry experience with the preservation of skin care products. Topics discussed include the historical developments in cosmetic microbiology, a basic review of microbiology, product preservation, preservatives, microbiological issues in the manufacturing plant, problems with Pseudomonas spp., modulation of skin microflora with products and probiotics, and the Food, Drug & Cosmetic Act and Regulations pertaining to cosmetic and over-the-counter drug products.

OTC Drug Product and Dietary Supplement Product Development

The class is designed to provide a practical overview of: (1) pertinent FDA regulations regarding OTC drug products and dietary supplements; (2) the physiology of application sites with regard to drug or dietary supplement release from dosage forms and absorption; (3) product development considerations for systemically and locally acting over-the-counter (OTC) drug products; and (4) product development considerations for dietary supplements.

Advanced Skincare Science

Lectures and homework assignments covering basic skin anatomy, epidermis and dermis, dermatological terminology, SC barrier homeostasis, skin penetration, skin immune system, skin color, sunscreens, phototoxicity, skin microbiome, multi-ethnic skin, skin surfactant interactions, Skin irritation and dryness, eye irritation, molecular basis for skin moisturization and anti-aging products.

Advanced Hair Care Science

Lectures and homework assignments covering hair growth and structure, hair properties, chemistry of waving, straightening, relaxing and depilation, hair coloring, hair care treatments such as shampoos, conditioners, and fixatives, hair evaluation and claims support, treatment of damaged hair and toxicology of hair care products.

Manufacturing Hygiene: Facilities, Utilities, and Plant Engineering

The course will introduce the scientific principles and the practical application of designing, building and operating a manufacturing plant for the successful manufacture of personal care products. The focus will be on the equipment, facilities and utility systems of the plant. This includes the various clean design requirements for different types of equipment and buildings and critical utility systems, including the water system and heating, ventilation and air conditioning a well as other essential utility systems.

Manufacturing Hygiene: Microbiology, Product/Package Design, & Quality Assurance

The course will define the technical fundamentals that establish the need for manufacturing hygiene and put the work of the Manufacturing Hygienist into context. The technical elements will establish a basic understanding of microbiology, define quality expectations and relevant methods by which product quality and systems monitoring are conducted, risk assessments that identify critical control points, investigations and remedial actions regarding quality compromises. The course will put the work of the Manufacturing Hygienist into context. The context will cover the goals of business and the social and regulatory environment in which businesses operate. The role of regulators will be explained as they relate to maintaining control of manufacturing hygiene. People skills needed for an effective manufacturing hygienist to play a leading role, construct and support effective systems to maintain control of product quality, will be covered by the lesson plan.

Global Regulatory and Development Strategies of Drugs and Medical Devices

This course provides graduate students with an overview on legal and regulatory aspects relevant to drug and medical device development. This includes intellectual properties protection, global legal and regulatory requirements, protection of human subjects and ethics in clinical research and essential elements of management of global projects. Case studies will be included to underline how regulatory strategiesimpact product marketing and life cycle management. Throughout the course, students will integrate knowledge using specific industry examples with the goal to identify critical decision points in the development that impact success of a new drug or medical device on the market.

Pharmaceutical Economics and Management

This course will provide students a background in project management issues in the conduct of global clinical trials, financial aspects of drug development and pharmacoeconomics of approved drug/drug products. The first module will focus on logistic and strategic issues of project management encountered in modern drug development. It includes exposure to principles of project management of complex programs involving: pharmaceutical development, operations, and regulatory affairs. In addition, the corporate challenges involved with portfolio management and optimization will be presented focusing on tools used for optimum decision making. This knowledge base will be applied towards selective case presentations with the goal to identify critical decision points in the process that dramatically impact the successful launch of a new product. The second module will emphasize the business and financial aspects of drug development, including biotechnology and other innovative small pharmaceutical companies that derive their funding primarily from venture capital funding, business strategies, outsourcing and merger and acquisitions. Valuation of the new chemical/molecule as it evolves in the drug development pipeline will be discussed.