M.A.
in Pharmacology
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Master
of Arts Program
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Curriculum
The curriculum
for MA candidates is designed to provide familiarity with the fundamentals
of pharmacology as well as opportunities to tailor the program of study
to the student's interests and career goals. A minimum of 16 credits
of formal coursework is required of all MA candidates. Students are
expected to consult with their advisors to plan the sequence of coursework
that best suits their needs. Specific departmental requirements include
regular attendance at departmental seminars and satisfactory completion
of two advanced (800-level) pharmacology courses. Courses offered by
other departments at Boston University may be substituted for advanced
Department of Pharmacology courses with the approval of the student's
advisor and the Graduate Education Committee.
Generally,
MA candidates take GMS BI 755, 756 Biochemistry;
GMS PH 542 Human
Physiology; GMS PM 700 Molecular
Neurobiology and Pharmacology; one semester of
GMS PM 810 Current Topics in Pharmacological
Sciences; and GMS PM 800 Advanced
General Pharmacology. Students may elect to take GMS
PH 740 Physiology and
GMS PM 720 General Medical Pharmacology
rather than Molecular Neurobiology and Pharmacology, and Advanced General
Pharmacology. MA candidates preparing for a career in the pharmaceutical
industry are also encouraged to take GMS MS 700
Elementary Biostatistics. MA students interested
in cellular and molecular science should also register for GMS
MS 753 Cell Biology.
There
are two tracks to the MA in pharmacology: (1) Research Thesis.
Students will complete at least 16 credits of formal coursework and
no more than 16 credits of laboratory research as well as write a laboratory
research thesis, which must be approved by first and second readers.
(2) Library Thesis. Students complete 24 credits of
formal coursework and write a critical synthesis of the research literature
on a pharmacological topic. The thesis must be approved by first and
second readers. Students must indicate at the time of application which
of the two tracks they wish to pursue. Transfer between the tracks requires
the approval of the student's advisor, the Graduate Education Committee,
and the Department Chairman.
After
satisfactory completion of the first-year curriculum with a GPA of B
(3.0) or higher, an MA candidate may submit a request for transfer into
the PhD program to the Graduate Education Committee. It is also possible
to transfer from the PhD program into the MA program.
