2018 NSU Fact Book

59 time has been set aside to develop skills essential for monitoring drug therapy, including certifications. The final year of the curriculum is composed of full-time pharmacy practice experiences where students gain additional experience in the diverse areas of pharmacy practice, including patient care management, clinical pharmacy, medication therapy management, and pharmacy administration. In an effort to meet the growing demands of the pharmacy profession, the college developed a three- year program of study leading to the Pharm.D. degree for international pharmacy graduates. The Advanced Standing program is designed exclusively for graduates of pharmacy degree programs outside of the United States jurisdiction, allowing them to build upon their pharmacy education and prepare them for clinical pharmacy practice. All lectures, handouts, reading materials, and exams are in English and prepare students for the North American Pharmacist Licensing Examination (NAPLEX) and the Multistate Pharmacy Jurisprudence Examination (MPJE). M.S. Degrees Two master’s degree programs, the Master of Science (M.S.) in Pharmaceutical Affairs and the Master of Science (M.S.) in Pharmaceutical Sciences, both two years, prepare students for positions in academia; managerial or sales positions in the pharmaceutical industry, contract research organizations, managed care organizations, the health care system, and government agencies. Graduates will be able to critically analyze issues related to the production and use of pharmaceuticals and act as leaders in the field. The M.S. degrees also act as a bridge for students interested in additional preparation prior to pursuing a Pharm.D. or Ph.D. degree. Ph.D. Degree The College of Pharmacy offers a unique program of graduate study and research leading to the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Pharmaceutical Sciences. Students choose from one of three sequences: (1) Social and Administrative Pharmacy, (2) Molecular Medicine and Pharmacogenomics, or (3) Drug Development (Pharmaceutics). The social and administrative pharmacy sequence focuses on coursework and research skills that address the dynamic and complex nature of the use and distribution of pharmaceutical products and the provision of pharmacy services. Students choose one of two sections: (1) sociobehavioral and cultural pharmacy or (2) pharmacy economics and outcomes. Students who pursue either section will be primarily under the tutelage of faculty members in the Department of Sociobehavioral and Administrative Pharmacy, a group with expertise in pharmacoeconomics, health disparities and vulnerable populations, cultural competency, development and implementation of sustainable pharmacy services, patients’ decision making, pharmacy marketing, outcomes research, and related areas. The Molecular Medicine and Pharmacogenomics sequence emphasizes coursework, laboratory, and literature research skills that are integral to elucidation of the mechanism of action of drugs, and the extent and characteristics of drug actions. Students who pursue this sequence will be advised by faculty in the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, a group with expertise in areas such as pharmacology, medicinal chemistry, toxicology, and biochemistry. Particular areas of expertise include cardiovascular pharmacology, molecular pharmacology, anti-inflammatory steroids, and cancer pharmacology. The Drug Development (Pharmaceutics) sequence emphasizes the coursework, laboratory, and literature research skills that are integral to the theory and practice associated with the incorporation of drug entities into the forms and formulations that best deliver the drugs to the site of the intended medical action. Students who pursue this track will be advised by faculty members in the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, a group with expertise in pharmaceutical-related disciplines. Particular areas of expertise include a variety of drug formulations and novel drug delivery systems. Upon completion of the Ph.D. program, students will be able to demonstrate the knowledge base expected at the Ph.D. level in their specialty, design and conduct independent research that adds to the understanding of their specialty, prepare and defend rational and structured proposals seeking support for research efforts, and prepare and present lucid manuscripts on their own research, as well as the research of others.