Pharmacology and Toxicology

MSc Program (Thesis-Based Option)

Minimum Admission Requirements

• Applicants are admitted under the General Regulations of the School of Graduate Studies. Applicants must also satisfy the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology's additional admission requirements stated below.

• Appropriate bachelor's degree from a recognized university with a final-year average of at least a B+.

• Applicants are normally required to have taken courses in physiology, biochemistry, or applied sciences sufficient to form a foundation for their work in pharmacology.

• All successful applicants are responsible for obtaining research supervision and financial support before they are permitted to officially register in their program.

Completion Requirements

• Coursework. Students must successfully complete 0.75 full-course equivalent (FCE) as follows:

  • PCL3000H Foundational Pharmacology Principles

  • PCL3001H Pharmacology Research and Communication Skills in Year 1

  • 0.25 elective FCE.

• Each student will present a departmental seminar after approximately one year in the program.

• Each student will participate in a research program and present the results of the investigation as a written thesis. The thesis will be evaluated and defended to the satisfaction of a thesis examination committee.

• MSc students in pharmacology who intend to continue their studies in the PhD program may choose to be evaluated during their MSc oral defence.

• Minimum period of one full year of residence, during which time the student is required to be on campus full-time and consequently in such geographical proximity as to be able to participate fully in the department's activities associated with the program.

Mode of Delivery: In person
Program Length: 6 sessions full-time (typical registration sequence: FWS-FWS); 9 sessions part-time
Time Limit: 3 years full-time; 6 years part-time

 

MSc Program: Applied Clinical Pharmacology Field (Course-Based Option)

Minimum Admission Requirements

• Applicants are admitted under the General Regulations of the School of Graduate Studies. Applicants must also satisfy the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology's additional admission requirements stated below.

• An appropriate bachelor's degree from a recognized university with a final-year average of at least a B+.

• Applicants are normally required to have taken courses in physiology and biochemistry, or applied sciences sufficient to form a foundation for their work in pharmacology.

Completion Requirements

Coursework. Students must successfully complete a total of 8.0 full-course equivalents (FCEs). The curriculum is designed in an integrated fashion such that each subsequent course reinforces and builds upon prior knowledge. Students are expected to complete the required courses in Year 1. Elective courses may be taken in either year with practicum opportunities offered following successful completion of the required courses.

• Year 1 required courses (5.5 FCEs); these courses are spread throughout the first 12 months of the program:

  • PCL1004Y Clinical Pharmacology

  • PCL1100H Applied Skills in Clinical Pharmacology

  • PCL1300H Selected Topics in Clinical Pharmacology

  • PCL1400H Systems Pharmacology I

  • PCL1402H Pharmacology and Toxicology in Drug Development

  • PCL1491H Clinical Pharmacology: Principles in Practice

  • PCL1500H Systems Pharmacology II

  • PCL2200Y Major Research Project

  • PCL3302H Ethical Considerations and Regulatory Affairs in Drug Development

  • PCL3303H Statistics, Bioinformatics, and AI in Clinical Pharmacology.

Plus

• Elective courses (2.5 FCEs). Elective coursework is selected through consultation with the program director with the intention to allow individual students to tailor their degree towards their interests (e.g., behavioural pharmacology, toxicology) and career goals. Popular elective courses include:

  • PCL2100Y Practicum in Clinical Pharmacology

  • PCL2101Y Practicum in Clinical Pharmacology I

  • PCL2102Y Practicum in Clinical Pharmacology II

  • PCL2201Y Research Project Extended Study

  • PCL3100H Behavioural Pharmacology I

  • PCL3101H Behavioural Pharmacology II

  • JNP1019H Biomedical Toxicology

  • JNP1020H Interdisciplinary Toxicology

  • PCL3301H Introductory Concepts in Clinical Pharmacology

  • APS1001H Project Management

  • CHL5201H Biostatistics I

  • RSM2017H Pharmaceutical Strategy.

Mode of Delivery: In person
Program Length: 6 sessions full-time (typical registration sequence: FWS-FWS)
Time Limit: 3 years full-time

 

MSc Program: Applied Clinical Pharmacology Field (Course-Based, Advanced-Standing Option)

Minimum Admission Requirements

• Applicants are admitted under the General Regulations of the School of Graduate Studies. Applicants must also satisfy the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology's additional admission requirements stated below.

• An appropriate bachelor's degree from a recognized university with a final-year average of at least a B+.

• Applicants are normally required to have taken courses in physiology and biochemistry, or applied sciences sufficient to form a foundation for their work in pharmacology.

• At the discretion of the program director, applicants who demonstrate advanced pharmacology knowledge that significantly overlaps with the Applied Clinical Pharmacology curriculum may be considered for advanced standing with either:

  • a bachelor's degree specializing in pharmacology or biomedical toxicology or

  • a professional degree (MD or PharmD) with coursework in pharmacology.

Completion Requirements

Coursework. Students must complete at least 4.0 full-course equivalents (FCEs) as follows:

• PCL1004Y Clinical Pharmacology.

• PCL1100H Applied Skills in Clinical Pharmacology.

• PCL1300H Selected Topics in Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology.

• PCL2200Y Major Research Project, starting in the Fall of Year 1.

• PCL3302H Ethical Considerations and Regulatory Affairs in Drug Development.

• PCL3303H Statistics, Bioinformatics, and AI in Clinical Pharmacology.

• At least 0.5 FCE in elective coursework recommended and approved by the program director. (Elective coursework is selected through consultation with the program director with the intention to allow individual students to tailor their degree towards their interests and career goals. Students in the advanced-standing option are not eligible to participate in a practicum course.)

Mode of Delivery: In person
Program Length: 3 sessions full-time (typical registration sequence: FWS)
Time Limit: 3 years full-time

 

PhD Program

Minimum Admission Requirements

• Applicants are admitted under the General Regulations of the School of Graduate Studies. Applicants must also satisfy the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology's additional admission requirements stated below.

• Appropriate master's degree from a recognized university with an average of at least a B+ in master's degree courses.

• Applicants are normally required to have taken courses in physiology, biochemistry, or applied sciences sufficient to form a foundation for their work in pharmacology.

• The department determines the eligibility of prospective students. The department assesses the student's ability for advanced study and independent research in pharmacology.

• Applicants admitted without prior screening (i.e., with MSc degrees from other departments or universities, and students admitted with a bachelor's degree) will have their research ability reviewed after completion of one year. Upon successful completion of a departmental seminar and recommendation from the student's advisory committee, the student will be permitted to proceed with the PhD program.

• The department must be satisfied about the applicant's background, accomplishments, and financial support.

• All successful applicants are responsible for obtaining research supervision and financial support before they are permitted to officially register in their program.

Completion Requirements

• Coursework. Students must complete 3.0 full-course equivalents (FCEs) as follows:

  • PCL1003Y Seminars in Pharmacology

  • PCL3000H Foundational Pharmacology Principles in Year 1

  • PCL3001H Pharmacology Research and Communication Skills in Year 1

  • PCL3002H PhD Research Proposal in Year 1

  • 1.25 FCE (secondary subject).

• Any other courses advised by the Graduate Education Committee. The student's advisory committee should help the student determine the secondary course.

• As part of the course requirement for PCL1003Y Seminars in Pharmacology, the student must present thesis material in seminars to the department on two occasions, one of which will take place between two and six months prior to the Final Oral Examination.

• Each student will participate in a research program and present the results of the investigation as a written thesis. The thesis must be orally defended to the satisfaction of a thesis examination committee.

• Minimum period of two full years of residence, during which time the student is required to be on campus full-time and consequently in such geographical proximity as to be able to participate fully in the department's activities associated with the program.

Mode of Delivery: In person
Program Length: 4 years full-time (typical registration sequence: Continuous)
Time Limit: 6 years full-time

 

PhD Program (Transfer)

Transfer Requirements

• Students transferring from the master's program in Pharmacology to the PhD program may receive full credit for master's courses towards doctoral course requirements, with the department's permission.

Completion Requirements

• Coursework. Students must complete 3.0 full-course equivalents (FCEs) as follows:

  • PCL1003Y Seminars in Pharmacology

  • PCL3000H Foundational Pharmacology Principles in Year 1

  • PCL3001H Pharmacology Research and Communication Skills in Year 1

  • PCL3002H PhD Research Proposal in Year 1

  • 1.25 FCE (secondary subject).

• Any other courses advised by the Graduate Education Committee. The student's advisory committee should help the student determine the secondary course.

• As part of the course requirement for PCL1003Y Seminars in Pharmacology, the student must present thesis material in seminars to the department on two occasions, one of which will take place between two and six months prior to the Final Oral Examination.

• Each student will participate in a research program and present the results of the investigation as a written thesis. The thesis must be orally defended to the satisfaction of a thesis examination committee.

• Minimum period of two full years of residence, during which time the student is required to be on campus full-time and consequently in such geographical proximity as to be able to participate fully in the department's activities associated with the program.

Mode of Delivery: In person
Program Length: 5 years full-time (typical registration sequence: Continuous)
Time Limit: 7 years full-time

 

PhD Program (Direct-Entry)

Minimum Admission Requirements

• Well-qualified students with excellent research potential holding an appropriate bachelor's degree from a recognized university may be considered for direct entry to the PhD program. These applicants must have achieved a minimum final-year average of A–.

Completion Requirements

• Coursework. Students must complete 3.0 full-course equivalents (FCEs) as follows:

  • PCL1003Y Seminars in Pharmacology

  • PCL3000H Foundational Pharmacology Principles in Year 1

  • PCL3001H Pharmacology Research and Communication Skills in Year 1

  • PCL3002H PhD Research Proposal in Year 1

  • 1.25 FCE (secondary subject).

• Any other courses advised by the Graduate Education Committee. The student's advisory committee should help the student determine the secondary course.

• As part of the course requirement for PCL1003Y Seminars in Pharmacology, the student must present thesis material in seminars to the department on two occasions, one of which will take place between two and six months prior to the Final Oral Examination.

• Each student will participate in a research program and present the results of the investigation as a written thesis. The thesis must be orally defended to the satisfaction of a thesis examination committee.

• Minimum period of two full years of residence, during which time the student is required to be on campus full-time and consequently in such geographical proximity as to be able to participate fully in the department's activities associated with the program.

Mode of Delivery: In person
Program Length: 5 years full-time (typical registration sequence: Continuous)
Time Limit: 7 years full-time