Pharmaceutical and Chemical Sciences | University of the Pacific

Master of Science or Doctor of Philosophy

Choose between five in-demand focus areas to fine-tune your skillset and earn either a Master of Science (MS) in Pharmaceutical and Chemical Sciences in two years or a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Pharmaceutical and Chemical Sciences in five years.

In-person at the Stockton campus

Fall or spring semester start

100 percent job placement rate

Revolutionize the future of health care

Equip yourself for a career in evolving pharmaceutical, chemical and biotechnological environments. Through the Pharmaceutical and Chemical Sciences degree program, students not only develop proficiency in core pharmaceutical skills, but they also receive training and experience in:

Basic and clinical sciences related to the pharmaceutical industry
Ethical and legal aspects of scientific inquiry
Industrial process and methodology
Instrumentation and laboratory techniques
Laboratory management, risk management and safety
Professional presentation and data summaries
Statistics and experiential design

Roshanak Rahimian in lab with Pharmaceutical and Chemical Sciences Program graduate student

Pharmaceutical and Chemical Sciences Program graduate student presents research poster

Research alongside expert pharmaceutical scientists

Faculty from the departments of chemistry, pharmaceutics and medicinal chemistry, physiology and pharmacology and pharmacy practice bring their research interests and expertise directly to you.

Both the MS and PhD degrees emphasize real-world application and research experience. You have ample opportunities to conduct research with your faculty mentor or intern at other pharmaceutical research institutions.

Meet our faculty

Focus areas

The Pharmaceutical and Chemical Sciences Program allows students to select one of these highly sought after focus areas through five of the University's science departments.

Bioanalytical Chemistry, Physical Chemistry and Biochemistry

In this focus area, students investigate chemical, biochemical and biomedical questions by employing a wide range of computational and experimental tools, including state-of-the-art instrumentation, synthetic methods and molecular techniques.

Faculty advisors
Skylar Carlson, PhD
Anthony D. Dutoi, PhD
Joseph Harrison, PhD
Mike M. McCallum, PhD
David Ojcius, PhD
Georgios Pantouris, PhD
Jianhua Ren, PhD
Balint Sztaray, PhD
Jerry W. Tsai, PhD
Liang Xue, PhD

Biopharmaceutical Sciences

The biopharmaceutical sciences focus area involves the study of applied and basic sciences in drug targeting/delivery/disposition/discovery and chemical biology. This focus area also emphasizes the selectivity of drug delivery, the understanding of cellular mechanisms for novel drug discovery and design and the exploration of molecular mechanisms contributing to drug pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics.

Faculty advisors
Mamoun M. Alhamadsheh, PhD
William K. Chan, PharmD, PhD
Melanie A. Felmlee, PhD
Xin Guo, PhD
Bhaskara R. Jasti, MPharm, PhD, FAAPS
Xiaoling Li, PhD
Miki Susanto Park, PhD
Atefeh Rabiee, PhD
Wade A. Russu, PhD
Jim A. Uchizono, PharmD, PhD

Chemical Synthesis, Drug Discovery and Design

In this focus area, students engage in the discovery and development of new chemical entities from synthetic and natural product sources as potential drugs, as well as develop new methods for chemical synthesis and structural elucidation.

Faculty advisors
Skylar Carlson, PhD
Andy H. Franz, PhD
Jianhua Ren, PhD
Wade A. Russu, PhD
Vyacheslav V. Samoshin, PhD
Liang Xue, PhD
Qinliang Zhao, PhD

Health Care Outcomes and Clinical Services

The Health Care Outcomes and Clinical Services focus area is designed to promote the development of students by providing them with the knowledge and analytical skills necessary to evaluate the delivery and use of pharmaceutical/health care products and services. Its primary aim is to teach each scholar about improving medication use, enhancing patient-specific outcomes, and reducing health care costs.

Faculty advisors
Bhaskara R. Jasti, MPharm, PhD, FAAPS
Myo-Kyoung Kim, PharmD, EdD, BCPS, APh
Jenana Maker, PharmD, BCPS
Linda L. Norton, PharmD
Atefeh Rabiee, PhD
Marcus C. Ravnan, PharmD, FCSHP, FASHP
Raj Sevak, PhD, RPh
Sachin A. Shah, PharmD, FACC, FAHA
Deepti Vyas, PharmD

Molecular-Cellular Physiology and Pharmacology

A research-focused area, this track employs cellular biochemical/biophysical and molecular techniques to investigate physiological and pharmacological regulation of fundamental biological processes and pathological states underlying a spectrum of disease phenomena relating to cardiovascular and neurobiological systems, as well as metabolic and immune system dysfunction, cancer and stem cell biology.

Faculty advisors
Mamoun M. Alhamadsheh, PhD
Skylar Carlson, PhD
William K. Chan, PharmD, PhD
Jesika S. Faridi, PhD
Robert F. Halliwell, PhD
John C. Livesey, PhD
David Ojcius, PhD
Atefeh Rabiee, PhD
Roshanak Rahimian, PharmD, MSc, PhD
Raj Sevak, PhD, RPh
David W. Thomas, PhD
Carlos A. Villalba-Galea, PhD

Endontology

The new Endodontics Residency + Doctorate Dual Degree Program will provide students an outstanding opportunity to develop their knowledge, scientific and laboratory skills on several cutting-edge research projects. By integrating our clinical and research expertise in microbiology, tissue engineering and materials science, we aim to investigate and develop approaches that will eradicate endodontic biofilms and promote regeneration of the dentin-pulp complex.

Faculty advisors
Adham Abdel Azim

The Pharmaceutical and Chemical Sciences Program employs the following goals across its curriculum to ensure you gain the tools to excel — both in your education and your health care career:

Prepare students to attain additional advanced degrees.
Provide the foundation needed to meet the challenges of both pure and applied research.
Inspire breakthrough discovery and knowledge in the chemical, pharmaceutical and health care sciences.
Encourage students to combine the vast talents of the faculty to develop a personalized interdisciplinary program that meets their individual educational goals.

Career Outcomes

The Master of Science (MS) in Pharmaceutical and Chemical Sciences offers meaningful career opportunities such as a quality control analyst, formulation scientist, junior clinical researcher, regulatory affairs specialist or chemist.

Earning your Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Pharmaceutical and Chemical Sciences opens up additional pathways to begin independent research and development or lead in senior positions. Many of these graduates work in laboratories studying biological and chemical processes as biochemists or biophysicists.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage for biochemists and biophysicists is $103,810. Additionally, the life, physical and social science occupations are projected to grow faster than the average for all occupations through 2032.

Graduates of both the Master’s and Doctor of Philosophy in Pharmaceutical and Chemical Sciences Program may find work across the following industries and fields:

Academia
Agriculture
Biotechnology
Chemical science
Clinical research
Environmental science

Health care
Medical writing
Non-profit research organizations
Pharmaceutical
Public health

Admission requirements

To be eligible for admission into the Pharmaceutical and Chemical Sciences degree program, you must meet the following requirements:

A bachelor’s degree with a B average (GPA of 3.0) or higher is required in all upper-division coursework, including all official transcripts.

The GRE® General Exam is required to determine an applicant’s readiness for graduate school. The minimum combined score for the Verbal and Quantitative sections is 303. The minimum Analytical score is 3.0. Scores can be no older than five years old. Learn more

An essay or personal statement focusing on career objectives and personal ideals. Grammar and writing skills are an important part of the evaluation. Additionally, applicants must indicate a focus area preference.

Three letters of recommendation, no more than one year old.

International applicants

All international applicants must meet the following requirements:

An evaluation of your academic records if you attended school(s) outside of the United States
- Transcripts must be reviewed by one of the following outside evaluation agencies: World Education Services (WES) or Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE). Student transcripts need to be translated into English before an evaluation can be processed. Please check with the evaluation agency for details on specific document requirements.
- Please request a course-by-course evaluation that includes a grade point average (GPA) and have an official copy sent directly to the Office of Graduate Admission.
- A Certification of Finances form with all required documents must be completed and sent with the application materials or upon notification of admission by PCSP.
- Proof of English proficiency for applicants whose native/principal language of instruction is not English.
  - Official test score reports are required and can be no older than two years old:
  - Minimum score of 80 (iBT) or 550 (paper) on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or 6.5 on the International English Language Testing System (IELTS).
  - If applying for a graduate assistantship: minimum score of 90 (iBT) or 575 (paper) on the TOEFL or 7.0 on the IELTS.

Steps to apply

We’ve simplified the process of completing your application to the Pharmaceutical and Chemical Science program to just three steps. Follow the instructions below to get started.

Two graduate students conducting research

Applicants should indicate on the application that they are interested in applying to the Pharmaceutical and Chemical Science Program and their desired area of focus (e.g. Chemical Synthesis, Drug Discovery and Design). We encourage prospective students to visit the individual faculty pages featured in the focus areas section above for students to discover their research interests.

When filling out the graduate application, please note that each department evaluates applicants based on their record of academic performance, Graduate Record Examination® (GRE) scores, personal statement and the availability of faculty as advisors to determine individual qualifications and potential.

To complete the application, first-time users must create a University of the Pacific account to start a new graduate admission application.

All returning users may log in to continue their application.

Additionally, if you are interested in financial assistance, please make sure to indicate your interest on the graduate admission application. Graduate assistantships at Pacific are available to fall and spring applicants.

After submitting your application, please allow us up to eight to ten weeks to process your application. If any documentation is missing, we will contact you. However, once you have received your university ID number, we encourage you to monitor the receipt of items online using the Graduate Application Checker.

Once your completed application has been reviewed by the Department, the Office of Graduate Admission will notify you of your admission decision by email.

Official admission decisions will be in writing on letterhead from the Office of Graduate Admission. Any verbal or written statements about admission, either expressed or implied from any other source, will not be official.

The Office of Graduate Admission will also notify you by email if you have been awarded financial assistance, including teaching and research assistantship awards.

Federal Education Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA)

Please be aware that the Federal Education Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA) prevents us from discussing your application with any third party.

Program start date

Your acceptance for enrollment in the program applies only to the term noted on the admission letter. If you wish to change your entry date, you must request the change from the Office of Graduate Admission.

Professor Miki Park with PCSP graduate student

Access to industry experts

Pacific’s groundbreaking Jie Du Center for Innovation and Excellence for Drug Development promotes innovation in drug development through education, training and mentorship. Courses offered through the Jie Du Center are available for Pharmaceutical and Chemical Sciences Program students.

Learn more

The Pharmaceutical and Chemical Sciences Program is closely aligned with industrial interests and guided by an external advisory board consisting of scientists, managers, practitioners and Pacific alumni from pharmaceutical, biotechnical and chemical companies as well as research institutes and other universities featured below:

Bret Berner, PhD | Chief Science Officer, Chrono Therapeutics, Inc.
Kondamraj “Raj” Birudaraj ’01, PhD | Director of Integration and Alliance Management, Roche
Simon Chin | President and CEO, Iris BioTechnologies, Inc.
David Cippola, PhD | VP of Research, Insmed Incorporated
Jeffrey Cleland, PhD | CEO and Founder, Versartis, Inc.
John E. Hearst, PhD | Professor Emeritus/Faculty Chemist, University of California Berkeley
Ruhong Jiang, PhD | Co-Founder, CEO and President, Applied StemCell, Inc.
Brian Johnston, PhD | Founder and CEO, SomaGenics, Inc.
Stephen N. Kirnon, EdD | Co-Founder and CEO, PharmaPlan LLC
Norman H. Kobayashi ’70, ’73, MS | Principal, Kobayashi & Associates, LLC
Sreenivasu Mudumba ’94, ’10, PhD | VP, Modality Innovation, Santen
Rajesh A. Patel ’87, PhD | Senior Vice President, Manufacturing Operations, Titan Pharmaceuticals
Pasit Phiasivongsa ’98, '02, PhD | Senior Vice President, Pharmaceutical Development, Kronos Bio, Inc.
Sanjeev Redkar, PhD | President and Co-Founder, Apollomics Inc.
Nirmal K. Saini, MS | Retired, Laboratory Director, California Department of Food and Agriculture, Center for Analytical Chemistry
Michael J. Seminerioteva, PhD, MBA | Global Therapeutic Lead, AbbVie
Scott Smith, PhD | Director of Formulation and Process Development, Gilead Sciences
Cynthia Stevenson, PhD | Pharmaceutical Development Consultant
Abraham U. Surjadinata '94, PharmD | MSL HEOR Market Access, MorphoSys AG
Guo-Liang Yu, PhD | Global CEO, Apollomics Inc.
D. “Tony” Zhang, PhD | President and CEO, BlueJay Mobile-Health, Inc.
Mike Zhou, PhD | President, Advancedseq
Nurulain Zaveri, PhD | Founder, President and CSO, Astraea Therapeutics

Dual degrees

Looking to boost your marketability in the field of academia? Gain the hands-on clinical experience of the PharmD Program and the vital lab research experience of the Pharmaceutical and Chemical Sciences Program by earning a dual degree. Choose between the following: