Pharmacology M.S.

Program Overview

UVM’s Department of Pharmacology offers graduate programs tailored to a wide range of learners and career goals, including thesis-based and course-only Master of Science degrees, as well as a fully online degree.  

Flexibility is key 

Our asynchronous online program gives students the freedom to complete their M.S. on their own time, whether they’re looking to further their career in the lab, or to bolster their credentials in a related field. 

Interdisciplinary study 

The research experience at UVM is top-notch — and students aren’t limited to working with faculty in the Pharmacology Department. They often work across disciplines, diving into molecular genetics, plant biology, or even psychology.   

Exceptional faculty 

When you’re a student in UVM’s Pharmacology Department, you’ll work closely with our world-renowned researchers, who study cardiovascular diseases, brain health, neuroscience, cancer research, cell biology, and cell motility. 

Osama Harraz, Ph.D., was named a Pew Biomedical Scholar in June 2026. The Bloomfield Professor of Cardiovascular Research is an Assistant Professor of Pharmacology at UVM's Larner College of Medicine. His work centers on this fundamental question: How does the brain ensure that its billions of neurons receive precisely the blood flow they need, moment to moment, and what goes wrong in this process during aging and disease?

Read more about Professor Harraz

Curriculum

Thesis-based M.S. (in-person)

Students who choose a thesis-based M.S. program must earn 30 credits: at least 15 in coursework and 9-15 in master’s thesis research. Research interests include cardiovascular pharmacology, cerebrovascular pharmacology, physiology, neurovascular coupling, signal transduction, and medicinal chemistry.  

Thesis-track students must write and defend a thesis. 

You may select a thesis advisors from within the Pharmacology Department faculty, or from another UVM department, with the approval of the program director. Our M.S. students have done their thesis work in Genetics, Psychology, Psychiatry, and Medicine.  

Most people complete the program in 2 to 2.25 years, however students can take up to five years from their admissions date if needed.  

Click here for the First Thesis Committee Meeting form

Non-thesis track M.S. (in-person)

Our course-only M.S. program requires 30 coursework credits without a thesis or defense. Core courses are mandatory, while electives can be chosen from various departments throughout UVM. Students taking this track may also gain research experience through our Pharmacological Techniques course (PHRM 6391). 

Typically, it takes student 1.5 to 2 years to complete all 30 credits, however the degree can be spread out up to five years from admissions date. 

Online master’s 

Advance your understanding of pharmacology without putting your career on hold. Our online Pharmacology M.S. offers a flexible, fully online pathway for working professionals, healthcare providers, and lifelong learners seeking graduate-level training.   

Through engaging coursework and instruction from expert faculty, students build a strong foundation in pharmacology and biomedical science while developing skills that support career growth and professional advancement. 

Accelerated master’s pathway (AMP) 

Our AMP program allows UVM undergraduate students to obtain up to 9 graduate credits while also applying these credits toward their bachelor's degree. Students should apply for admission into the AMP during their junior year. 

Learn more about the AMP. 

All Pharmacology M.S. students 

All students are required to pass a written comprehensive exam that will be taken once they have completed all the core course requirements. The questions are based on the required courses, which are common to the thesis- and non-thesis tracks.   

Grading is on a 1-10 scale for each question. An average score of 7 or better is required to pass. The comprehensive exam should be completed by the end of the second semester of the last year of the two-year Master of Science program. A single re-take is permitted for the comprehensive exam. 

Find the full Pharmacology M.S. curriculum in the catalogue. 

Deadlines

The Pharmacology Department considers applications on a rolling basis.

Admissions

Students must meet the Graduate College requirements for a Master's Degree. They must have a course background in the sciences (biology, chemistry, physics, etc.). The GRE is not required.    

Admission into this program requires the following: 

•  A minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.00 is recommended. 

• Completion of the Graduate College Application Form. 

Costs and Funding

Tuition depends on the applicant's Vermont residency status. Please visit the Graduate College Admission and Fees website for up-to-date information.   

Please note that the Pharmacology Masters Program does not offer tuition scholarships, teaching/research fellowships or stipend support. 

More

Learn about UVM's Pharmacology faculty, and find links to their research, in our directory.

If you are interested in the Pharmacology Masters Program, please contact the Program Director, Dr. Gerald Herrera.