Online Certificate in Pharmacogenomics & Personalized Healthcare
Program Overview
The Masters of Pharmaceutical Sciences: Pharmacogenomics and Personalized Healthcare program offers an opportunity for students to gain in-depth knowledge about Pharmacogenomics and understand the effects of genomics, environment, patient-specific factors on drug response, allowing for therapy and optimal clinical outcomes.
What Is Pharmacogenomics and Personalized Healthcare?
Pharmacogenomics – a combination of the words pharmacology (the study of medications) and genomics (the study of genes and functions) – in health care is the study of how a person’s genes affect how they respond to medications. The field’s goal is to help doctors select the drugs and doses best suited for each patient. Pharmacogenomics is interwoven with the field of precision medicine, which aims to treat every patient.
Pharmacogenomics is a sub-specialty of healthcare that’s used in several ways. From drug development to cancer therapy to food digestion, pharmacogenomics impacts any field involving human life.
Program Highlights
High Quality Education
This Pharmacogenomics Masters Program not only empowers students to integrate genomics inpatient care but opens up ample opportunities for employment in academia, the pharmaceutical industry, and direct clinical care. It also provides knowledge of state-of-the-art genomics research, innovative Precision Medicine approaches, and implementation of Genomic Medicine.
For UC’s Pharmacogenomics online program, the curriculum includes a total of 30 required semester credit hours to satisfy degree requirements.
Flexibility
- 100% online
- No campus visits required
- Customizable curriculum
- Led by nationally recognized faculty
Support from Application through Graduation
At UC, you’ll have a full support team behind you:
Enrollment Services Advisor: Your partner through the application process, getting enrolled, and starting your program
Student Success Coordinator: Helping you prepare for classes and stay on track
Access to Resources: Access to university resources that will support you through your program including online learning expectations and resources, health and wellness resources, and academic support
Curriculum
For the online Pharmacogenomics and Personalized Healthcare Graduate Certificate, the curriculum includes a total of 15 required semester credit hours to satisfy requirements.
| Course | Title/Description | Credit |
|---|---|---|
| PSCI7103 | Metabolism, Molecular Biology and Pharmacogenomics Basics of Cellular Metabolism, Molecular Biology and Pharmacogenomics. Provide the pharmacy student with foundational knowledge of cellular metabolism, biological information processing, and an introduction to pharmacogenomics. |
3 |
| PHGX8080 | Human Genetics Human Genetics is the root of pharmacogenomics. Students must be able to understand human genetics to fully grasp Pharmacogenomics as many inheritance patterns, genome organization, and clinical techniques depend on the human genome. Techniques used in human genetics will be integrated with principles and concepts presented during lecture. |
2 |
| PHGX8090 | Advanced Pharmacogenomics Advanced pharmacogenomics utilizes the basic understanding of pharmacogenomics and allows the students to expand upon their existing knowledge using pharmacokinetics and basic coding. The expansion of knowledge in pharmacogenomics allows the students to develop more sound hypotheses pertaining to scientific literature, while taking a deeper dive into how pharmacogenomics is used in research and development. |
2 |
| PHGX9000 | Cancer Genomics The science behind cancer genomics is growing at an exponential rate. Students should understand the not only the history of cancer genomics, technology, and targeted therapy, but also be able to adapt to new technology, clinical trial implications and newly approved diagnostics and therapies. This class provides the learner the ability to assess and implement the theory of techniques into real-world data. |
3 |
| PHGX9010 | Nutrition and Exercise Genomics This course provides not only the fundamentals in human macronutrient metabolism and its role in health and disease but also the genetics related to nutrition and athleticism. Just as Pharmacogenomics studies how drug therapy interacts with genes in the human body, nutrigenomics, and exercise genomics is the science of how food and training can impact the human body |
3 |
| PHGX9020 | Implementation Science Implementation Science is defined as the scientific study of methods to promote the systematic uptake of research findings and other evidence-based practices into routine practice, and, hence, to improve the quality and effectiveness of health services. In this class students will work across healthcare disciplines to solve multiple clinical case studies. |
2 |
| PHGX9090 | Career's in Pharmacogenomics This class has a wide variety of companies that will be presenting on the work they do. This class will provide an area for students to network with employers, to ask questions about the job market, and the learn what types of jobs are available to them. |
1 |
| PHDD8001 | Seminar in Drug Development The course requires the student to present a seminar on a contemporary issue in the developmentof drugs/biologicals/devices. Each student is expected to conduct an in-depth analysis on current issues in drug development and apply the best practices in making scientific presentations. |
1-2 |
| PHID8015 | Pharmaceutical Biotechnology This course provides students with the basic knowledge of Molecular Biology and technologies commonly used in Pharmaceutical Sciences. Emphasis is placed on the development of biological drugs andcell/animal models. Genome-wide techniques are discussed, particularly those related to disease development and response to drug therapy. |
3 |
| PCEU7010 | 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. |
3 |
| PHTH9140 | Clinical Application of Pharmacogenetics The course builds and expands on foundational topics of genetics and molecular biology that are taught to first year pharmacy students in the course of “Metabolism, Molecular biology and Pharmacogenomics”. Students will progressively learn how to apply pharmacogenetic knowledge to patient cases, integrating clinical and genomic data to drive clinical decisions. This course aims to provide student pharmacists with pharmacogenetic knowledge and enable them to use genomic data alongside other clinical data to optimize clinical care. In this course, students will review foundations of genetics and will be introduced to principles of population genetics and genomic medicine. The knowledge acquired will allow them to understand ethnic/racial differences of drug response. Students will be familiarized with logistics and important infrastructure for implementing pharmacogenetics in clinics. The course will focus on high evidence and clinically implemented gene-drug pairs. |
1 |
Admission Requirements
Applicants must satisfy the following requirements for admission to the MS in Pharmaceutical Sciences: Pharmacogenomics and Personalized Healthcare online program. Admission is based on a combination of factors including academic and professional achievement, strong communication skills, and a proven record of effective leadership.
Prerequisites
- Applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree from a college or university accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education for Title IV purposes, or the international equivalent.
- Biology, Chemistry, or science-related degree preferred
- A minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA
- For international students, a Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) of at least 90 (internet-based) or 235 (computer-based), or a Duolingo English Test of at least 110 is accepted.
Complete the online application and submit the application fee.
Standard Application Fees*:
- $65.00 for domestic applicants to most degree programs
- $70.00 for international applicants to most degree programs
- $20.00 for domestic applicants to Graduate Certificates
- $25.00 for international applicants to Graduate Certificates
- Fee waivers are automatically applied for applicants who:
- are currently serving in the US armed forces
- are veterans of the US armed forces
*Application fees are waived for Spring 2027 applications submitted by November 1st, 2026.
All applicants are required to upload unofficial transcripts during the application process, showing all undergraduate and graduate course work completed, including degrees granted and dates of conferral.
Official transcripts are not required until the student has received and accepted an offer of admission from the university. Once the offer has been confirmed, the student must submit official transcripts.
Students who have received degrees from the University of Cincinnati do not need to submit official paper copies of their UC transcripts.
Transcripts can be submitted electronically or by mail. To see if your transcript(s) can be ordered electronically, visit the links below and search for your previous school(s).
- Parchment
- Please select “University of Cincinnati – Main Campus” as the recipient of your transcript.
- National Student Clearinghouse
- Please have your transcript sent directly to grad.admissions@uc.edu.
If you do not see your past school(s) listed on either site, please contact the school(s) directly. Then, mail your sealed, unopened, official transcripts to:
Please mail sealed, unopened, official transcripts to:
University of Cincinnati
Graduate Admissions
2618 University Circle
PO Box 210091
Cincinnati, Ohio 45221-0091
Two letters of reference are required.
References should come from individuals who can attest to your academic and professional skills. Letters of recommendation from family, friends, current students, politicians, or clergy are not accepted.
One page addressing “Why you are interested in this program” and “how you will use this degree in your career.”
A professional and current resume.
Application Deadlines
| Term | Application Deadline | Classes Start |
|---|---|---|
Spring 2027 Summer 2027 Fall 2027
|
December 1, 2026 April 1, 2027 August 1, 2027 |
January 11, 2027 May 10, 2027 August 23, 2027 |
Tuition & Fees
The University of Cincinnati's online programs allow students to pursue degrees without having to quit their jobs. Our online courses offer the same quality education found on campus in a modern format that fits students’ tight budgets and busy schedules.
The University of Cincinnati's online course fees differ depending on the program.
To view tuition information and program costs, visit the Online Program Fees page.
Accreditation & Rankings
- The University of Cincinnati and all of its regional campuses are accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Careers & Outcomes
Who Is This Program For?
This program may be a good fit for:
- Pharmacists and clinicians interested in precision medicine.
- Laboratory and healthcare professionals.
- Scientists and researchers working with genomic information.
- Healthcare implementation and informatics professionals.
- Professionals seeking specialized pharmacogenomics knowledge.
Career Opportunities
The knowledge and skills developed through this certificate may support professionals working in or preparing for roles such as:
- Pharmacogenomics program specialist.
- Precision-medicine program coordinator.
- Clinical implementation specialist.
- Laboratory program specialist.
- Research associate.
Opportunities may be available in healthcare, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, clinical laboratories, contract research, consulting, government, and academia. The certificate alone does not confer clinical authority or qualify graduates for positions requiring a professional license, laboratory certification, advanced scientific degree, or clinical experience.
Career Outlook
BLS benchmark (national occupational data, not program or graduate outcomes): Medical scientists earned a median annual wage of $103,410 in May 2025. Employment is projected to grow 13% from 2025 to 2035, with approximately 10,500 openings annually. Medical scientists are a related broad benchmark; pharmacogenomics roles vary significantly by prior degree, licensure, laboratory qualifications, and experience. Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics
Build Your Credentials
Pharmacogenomics, laboratory, clinical-research, informatics, implementation-science, or project-management credentials may complement the certificate. Clinical practice and laboratory roles may require separate professional licensure or certification.
With the appropriate education, professional licensure, scientific or clinical experience, and additional credentials, professionals may advance into areas such as:
- Senior pharmacogenomics specialist.
- Precision-medicine implementation lead.
- Clinical program manager.
- Research program specialist.
- Pharmacogenomics consultant.
- Precision-medicine program director.
- Clinical implementation director.
- Research or laboratory leader.
Continue Your Education at UC
Graduates may continue their education through UC’s online Master of Science in Pharmacogenomics and Personalized Healthcare to develop advanced expertise in pharmacogenomics, precision medicine, clinical implementation, and research.
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