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Online Certificate in Pharmacogenomics & Personalized Healthcare

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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.

Pharmacogenomics & Personalized Healthcare Graduate Certificate 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:


For the online Pharmacogenomics and Personalized Healthcare Graduate Certificate, the curriculum includes a total of 15 required semester credit hours to satisfy requirements.

Required Courses
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

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
  • Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution
    • 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
  • Application fees are waived for Summer 2026 applications submitted by March 1st, 2026
  • Application fees are waived for Fall 2026 applications submitted by July 1st, 2026
  • Fee waivers are automatically applied for applicants who: 
    • are currently serving in the US armed forces
    • are veterans of the US armed forces

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).

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
Office of Admissions
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.

At the University of Cincinnati, we offer multiple start dates to accommodate your schedule. 
Term Application Deadline Classes Start

Summer 2026

Fall 2026

Spring 2027

April 30, 2026

August 1, 2026

December 1, 2026

May 11, 2026

August 24, 2026

January 11, 2027

The University of Cincinnati's online course fees differ depending on the program. On average, students will accrue fewer fees than students attending on-campus classes.

The one fee applied across all UC Online programs is the distance learning fee. Students living outside the state of Ohio must also pay an additional “non-resident” fee to enroll in courses at UC Online. This fee is lower than the out-of-state fee for traditional on-campus programs.

To view tuition information and program costs, visit the Online Program Fees page.

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