Pharmaceutical Sciences
Contact | Courses | Faculty | Overview | Programs: Collaborative, DegreeFaculty Affiliation
Pharmacy
Degree Programs Offered
Pharmaceutical Sciences – MSc, PhD
Collaborative Programs
The following collaborative programs are available to students in participating degree programs as listed below:
1. Addiction Studies
- Pharmaceutical Sciences, MSc, PhD
2. Aging, Palliative and Supportive Care Across the Life Course
- Pharmaceutical Sciences, MSc, PhD
3. Biomedical Engineering
- Pharmaceutical Sciences MSc, PhD
4. Biomedical Toxicology
- Pharmaceutical Sciences, MSc, PhD
5. Cardiovascular Sciences
- Pharmaceutical Science, MSc, PhD
6. Global Health
- Pharmaceutical Sciences, PhD
7. Health Care, Technology and Place
- Pharmaceutical Sciences, PhD
8. Health Services and Policy Research
- Pharmaceutical Sciences, MSc, PhD
9. Neuroscience
- Pharmaceutical Sciences, MSc, PhD
The Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences offers graduate programs leading to the Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy degrees. The Department offers research opportunities and courses in three principal areas:
1. Molecular Pharmacology and Toxicology: drug receptor interactions, molecular biology, electrophysiology, biochemistry, clinical, adverse drug reactions, and drug metabolism
2. Pharmaceutics and Pharmacokinetics: pharmaceutical and medicinal chemistry, pharmaceutical formulations, radiopharmaceutical synthesis, drug discovery, biophysical chemistry, basic pharmacokinetics and clinical research
3. Clinical, Social and Administrative Pharmaceutical Sciences: clinical and pharmacy practice, sociology of health, social psychology, health policy, and health economics
Contact and Address
Web: pharmacy.utoronto.ca/graduate
E-mail: pharm.sci@utoronto.ca
Telephone: (416) 978-2179
Fax: (416) 978-8511
Graduate Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences
Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy
University of Toronto
144 College Street
Toronto, Ontario M5S 3M2
Canada
Degree Programs
Pharmaceutical Sciences
Master of Science
Minimum Admission Requirements
Full-Time MSc
- Four-year University of Toronto BSc degree or its equivalent from a recognized university with at least a mid-B average in each of the last two years of undergraduate study.
- The Pharmaceutical Sciences Graduate Admissions Committee considers the applicant’s background and accomplishments, academic standing, and financial support from the potential supervisor.
- Applicants whose primary language is not English and who graduated from a university where the language of instruction and examination is not English are required to write the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) with the following minimum scores:
o paper-based TOEFL: 600 and 5 on the TWE
o Internet-based TOEFL: 100/120 and 22/30 on the writing and speaking sections.
- If the undergraduate degree was not obtained from a recognized Canadian or U.S. university, the applicant must write and achieve scores at the 50th percentile ranking or better on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE—General Test).
Part-Time MSc
- A limited number of students will be admitted to the MSc program on a part-time basis. All admission requirements are the same as for the full-time MSc.
Program Requirements
Full-Time MSc
- A program of study that provides the appropriate foundation for thesis research. The program depends on the student’s background and is planned in consultation with the supervisor and advisory committee, with the approval of the graduate chair.
- The student normally completes two full-course equivalents (FCE), but a minimum of one FCE is required.
- Yearly advisory committee meetings.
- One poster presentation given to all faculty and graduate students at Graduate Research in Progress (GRIP), and yearly attendance at GRIP.
- Regular attendance at Pharmaceutical Sciences departmental seminars.
- An oral presentation of own research work is given after the first 12 months of registration in the program.
- Final seminar to be given during the thesis defence.
- A thesis based on an approved research problem in a field of pharmaceutical sciences.
Part-Time MSc
- All requirements are the same as for the MSc full-time program.
Normal Program Length
- 6 sessions (full-time); 14 sessions (part-time)
Doctor of Philosophy
Minimum Admission Requirements
Full-Time PhD
- Appropriate University of Toronto MSc degree, or its equivalent from a recognized university, with a minimum overall B+ average.
- Under exceptional circumstances, students may be admitted directly to the PhD program with a four-year BSc degree or its equivalent. Factors considered include academic standing, ability to conduct research, and availability of financial support from the potential supervisor.
- The Pharmaceutical Sciences Graduate Admissions Committee considers the applicant’s background and accomplishments, academic standing, and financial support from the potential supervisor.
- Applicants whose primary language is not English and who graduated from a university where the language of instruction and examination is not English are required to write the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) with the following minimum scores:
o paper-based TOEFL: 600 and 5 on the TWE
o Internet-based TOEFL: 100/120 and 22/30 on the writing and speaking sections.
- If the undergraduate degree was not obtained from a recognized Canadian or U.S. university, the
applicant must write the Graduate Record Examination (GRE—General Test) and achieve scores at the 50th percentile ranking or better on the Verbal and Quantitative components and a minimum score of 5.0 on the Analytical Writing component.
Transfer from MSc to PhD
- Students who have a high academic standing and a clearly demonstrated ability to do research at the doctoral level may be eligible to transfer to the PhD program after one year in the MSc program. The student must have completed at least one FCE with an average grade of A minus and have financial support.
- A transfer from the MSc program to the PhD program occurs normally within 15 months of the student's first registration in the MSc program.
Flexible-Time PhD
- The Department offers a flexible-time PhD program option for selected students. This program benefits professionals with career obligations and whose employment is closely related to their intended area of research.
- Applicants must meet all the admission requirements for entry to the full-time PhD program in Pharmaceutical Sciences.
- A letter of support from the employer.
- The departmental admissions committee reviews the applications; admission is highly selective with preference given to applicants who:
o are members in good standing of a regulated profession or scientific society, and
o hold a university appointment in Canada at an academic standard equivalent to the University of Toronto Lecturer.
Program Requirements
Full-Time PhD
- A program of study that provides the appropriate foundation for thesis research. The program depends on the student’s background and is planned in consultation with the supervisor and advisory committee, with the approval of the graduate chair. Students normally complete 2.0 FCEs. Students admitted directly to the PhD program with a BSc must complete 3.0 FCEs.
- Yearly advisory committee meetings.
- A qualifying examination.
- Research presentation(s) to all faculty and graduate students at Graduate Research in Progress (GRIP). Students entering the program with a MSc degree must complete one oral presentation. Direct-entry PhD students must complete one oral and one poster presentation.
- Annual attendance at GRIP, and an exit full-length research seminar to be given before the thesis defence.
- Regular attendance at a minimum of eight Pharmaceutical Sciences departmental seminars in each academic year.
- In addition to the departmental exit seminar held within three months of the final thesis defence, all PhD students are required to give an oral research presentation of approximately 20-30 minutes every year after the first 12 months of registration in the program, unless the student presents at GRIP.
- A thesis in conformity with the University regulations, based on research conducted while registered in a PhD program at the University of Toronto.
- Students are required to be on campus and participating full-time (including summer) until all program requirements are completed. Simultaneous registration in another full-time degree program is not allowed. Course work should normally be completed within the first three years of registration.
Transfer from MSc to PhD
- The transferred student must complete all remaining course requirements of the MSc program, except the thesis, in addition to the requirements of the PhD program. Credit is given in the doctoral program for research and graduate courses completed prior to the transfer.
Flexible-Time PhD
- The program requirements for the flexible-time PhD option are identical to the requirements for the full-time PhD program, except students in the flexible-time PhD program are required to complete a minimum of at least four seminars in each academic year.
- Students must ensure that they have adequate time on campus to attend classes and to fulfil the academic requirements.
- Full-time registration is required for the first four years for those entering the program with a master's degree; five years for those with a bachelor's degree. Thereafter, students may register part-time.
Normal Program Length
- 4 years (full-time PhD); 7 years (flexible-time PhD); 5 years (transfer from master's or direct-entry)
Course List
Please consult the Department’s timetable for courses offered in a given year.
PHM 1107H Advanced Pharmacokinetics Course I
PHM 1108H Advanced Pharmacokinetics Course II
PHM 1109H Recent Developments in Dosage Form Design (prerequisite PHM 224Y or equivalent)
PHM 1110H Chemical Basis of Drug Metabolism
PHM 1111H Research and Statistical Analytical Methods
PHM 1114H Special Topics in Radiopharmaceuticals I
PHM 1115H Special Topics in Radiopharmaceuticals II
PHM 1117H DNA-Drug Interactions
PHM 1118H Drug Utilization: Patterns, Outcomes, and Issues in Drug Use Evaluation
PHM 1120H+ Selected Research Topics in the Pharmaceutical Sciences
PHM 1122H Fundamentals of Drug Discovery
PHM 1123H Thermodynamics of Macro¬molecular Interactions
PHM 1124H The Power and Politics of Global Pharmaceutical Policy
PHM 1125H Complementary/Alternative Medicine: Health Systems and Policy Issues
PHM 1126H The Economics of Health and Health Care
PHM 1127Y Biomolecular Interactions and Thermodynamics
PHM 1128H Introduction to Models and Methods of Research in Clinical, Social, and Administrative Pharmacy
JFK 1120H Selected Topics in Drug Development I
JFK 1121H Selected Topics in Drug Development II
JFK 1122H Drug Transport Across Biological Membranes
JNP 1014Y Interdisciplinary Toxicology
JNP 1016H Graduate Seminar in Toxicology
JNP 1017H+ Current Topics in Molecular and Biochemical Toxicology
JNP 1018H+ Molecular and Biochemical Basis of Toxicology
JPY 1007Y Neuropharmacology of Neurotransmitter Receptors
JRX 1124H Structure-Based Drug Design
PAS 3700H Multidisciplinary Aspects of Addictions
PPG 2010H Panel Data Methods for Public Policy Analysis
+Extended course. For academic reasons, course work is extended into session following academic session in which course is offered.
Graduate Faculty
Full Members
Allen, Christine - BSc, PhD, PhD
Angers, Stephane - BSc, PhD, Canada Research Chair
Austin, Zubin - BA, BScPhm, MBA, MISt, MEd, PhD
Ballantyne, Peri - BA, MA, PhD
Bendayan, Reina – DP (Associate Dean, Graduate Education)
Boon, Heather - PhD
Bowen, Barry - BScPhm, MScPhm
Busto, Usanda - BSc, DP
Chalikian, Tigran - PhD
Cheng, Yu-Ling - SB, PhD
Crandall, Ian - BSc, MSc, PhD
Einarson, Thomas - BScPhm, MSc, MPharm, MEd, PhD
Gariepy, Jean - BSc, PhD
Giaever, Guri - BS, PhD, Canada Research Chair
Grant, Denis - BSc, PhD
Grootendorst, Paul - BA, MEC, PhD
Hampson, David - PhD
Heerklotz, Heiko - PhD, Canada Research Chair
Henderson, Jeffrey - PhD
Hindmarsh, K Wayne - BSP, MSc, PhD
Holbrook, Anne - BScPhm, MSc, MD, DP
Ito, Shinya - MD, BM
Kelley, Shana - BA, PhD
Kohler, Jillian - BA, MA, PhD
Koren, Gideon - MD
Kotra, Lakshmi - BSc, PhD
Krahn, Murray - BA, MSc, MD
Lee, Ping - BScHE, PhD, GlaxoSmithKline Chair in Pharmaceutics and Drug Delivery (Coordinator of Graduate Studies)
Macgregor, Robert - BS, PhD
MacKeigan, Linda - BScPhm, PhD
Mann, Henry - BScPhm, DP (Dean)
Muzzin, Linda - BA, MA, MPSY, PhD
Pang, K Sandy - BSc, PhD
Pennefather, Peter - BSc, PhD
Piquette-Miller, Micheline - BScPhm, PhD
Reilly, Raymond - BSc, BSc, MSc, PhD
Saville, Bradley - BSc, PhD
Spino, Michael - BScPhm, DP
Sproule, Beth - BScPhm, DP
Taddio, Anna - BScPhm, MScPhm, PhD
Uetrecht, Jack - BSc, MSc, MD, PhD, Canada Research Chair
Walker, Scott - BScPhm, MScPhm
Wells, James - BSc, MSc, PhD
Wells, Peter - BScPhm, DP
Wu, Xiao Yu - PhD
Zheng, Gang - MSc, PhD
Members Emeriti
Marshman, Joan - BScPhm, MSc, PhD
Nairn, John - BScPhm, PhD
O'Brien, Peter John - BSc, MSc, PhD
Associate Members
Bajcar, Jana - BSc, MSc, MSc
Cadarette, Suzanne - BSc, MSc, PhD
Cummins, Carolyn - BSc, PhD
Hardy, Brian - BSc, BSP, DP
Scott, Fran - BSc, MSc, MD, MD
Seguin, Beatrice - PhD, PhD
Thompson, Alison - BA, MA, PhD