Education

Overview

The UCSF School of Pharmacy’s education agenda includes graduate and postdoctoral degree programs in pharmacy and science for students who have the potential to excel in their respective fields. In addition, short courses prepare leaders in industry, regulatory agencies, academia, and health care to lead in medical product development and to apply advanced knowledge of pharmacokinetics.

Degree programs

PharmD Degree Program

The UCSF doctor of pharmacy (PharmD) degree curriculum is a science-based, integrated, experiential course of study that prepares ambitious minds for diverse and dynamic careers in pharmacy and beyond.

Students are at the center of their own learning in this curriculum, as they question the status quo, identify and solve problems, and explore the latest developments in science and the latest innovations in practice with renowned research and clinical faculty members. Ultimately, the curriculum prepares students to lead in a constantly changing health care environment while developing into skilled, compassionate, patient-centered pharmacists.

Faculty members in the three School of Pharmacy departments develop and deliver the PharmD degree program, which is administered by the Dean’s Office. Faculty members outside the School also teach in the program.

UCSF PharmD students are an important part of the entire body of health professions students at UCSF, along with those studying dentistry, medicine, nursing, and physical therapy.

Master of Science in Artificial Intelligence and Computational Drug Discovery and Development degree program (MS in AICD3)

The Master of Science in Artificial Intelligence and Computational Drug Discovery and Development (AICD3) graduate degree program trains students to apply computer science, data science, statistical analysis, machine learning, and other data-driven methods to redefine the discovery and development of new drugs and therapies. The program enables graduates to gain a competitive edge for some of the most desirable jobs in the biopharmaceutical industry and in academia, both of which increasingly require interdisciplinary training.

Master of Translational Medicine degree program

The School codirects the Master of Translational Medicine (MTM) degree program, designed to train students to apply translational research and engineering approaches to solve fundamental problems in health care delivery. The program links the Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences at UCSF with the Department of Bioengineering at UC Berkeley. A department faculty member codirects this program.

Combined degree programs

PharmD-PhD

PharmD-PhD dual degree - There is a growing need for clinical scientists in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries to design and carry out clinical studies. UCSF is one of only a few universities in a position to train top-flight PharmD-PhD scientists.

PharmD-MS programs

  • PharmD-MSCR - The Training in Clinical Research (TICR) program offers students in our PharmD program the opportunity to earn a master of science in clinical research (MSCR) degree.
  • PharmD-MSAICD3 - Our Master of Science in Artificial Intelligence and Computational Drug Discovery and Development (AICD3) program can be combined with the PharmD program in a sequential manner. It is not a combined or expedited degree. However, students will be able to transition directly into the MS in AICD3 after completing the PharmD curriculum. We recommend the PharmD first because the pharmacy background is especially helpful for the AICD3.

PhD degree programs

The School of Pharmacy administers five PhD degree programs, all of which promote an interdisciplinary approach to science and education. The programs are delivered by faculty members in the School of Pharmacy and the School of Medicine. All are offered by the Graduate Division.

See all: Graduate Division Programs

The five PhD degree programs administered by the School sit under the broader umbrella of the Quantitative Biosciences Consortium (QBC).

Postdoctoral programs

Pharmacy residency program

  • Director: Mandy Brown, PharmD, BCPS, BCCCP

The Pharmacy Residency Program offers first-year general practice and second-year specialty residencies, administered by the UCSF Health Pharmacy Enterprise in partnership with Department of Clinical Pharmacy faculty.

Fellowship programs

Fellowships provide early-career PharmD, PhD, and MD graduates with specialized training ranging from the lab to the clinic, company, and government agencies. Explore fellowship opportunities supported by UCSF and the UCSF School of Pharmacy.

Postdoctoral research

Postdoctoral research fellowships support scholars whose work is critical to the research mission of UCSF. In the School of Pharmacy, faculty from our three departments (Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, Department of Clinical Pharmacy, and Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry) welcome inquiries from postdoctoral research fellows who have already received fellowship funding for postdoctoral study by an external agency.

At UCSF, faculty members usually prefer to receive the names of prospective postdoctoral scholars directly from research colleagues. See: Office for Postdoctoral Scholars and Finding a Postdoctoral Advisor. Some but not all postdoc positions are listed at OCPD Opportunities and Jobs Board.

Career-development courses

The School shares its expertise nationally and internationally through the following courses, offered to professionals in industry, regulatory agencies, academia, and health care.

Medical product development

American Course on Drug Development and Regulatory Sciences (ACDRS)

  • Executive Board Members: Kathy Giacomini, PhD

This course provides education and training in the field of medical product development at an advanced level. It provides an opportunity to gain in-depth knowledge while building an international network. See American Course on Drug Development and Regulatory Sciences.

Pharmacokinetics

Pharmacokinetics for Pharmaceutical Scientists (PK Course)

  • Directors: Leslie Benet, PhD, and Robert Upton, PhD

This course covers the basic principles of pharmacokinetics with emphasis on physiologic conceptualization and problem solving. Course content aims to greatly enhance pharmacokinetic knowledge and to integrate pharmacokinetic principles and concepts into everyday practice. See Pharmacokinetics for Pharmaceutical Scientists.

Tobacco cessation

Rx for Change: Clinician-assisted tobacco cessation

  • Contact: Robin Corelli, PharmD

A comprehensive tobacco cessation training program that equips health professional students and practicing clinicians, of all disciplines, with evidence-based knowledge and skills for assisting patients with quitting. See Rx for Change.

Interdisciplinary approach

PhD education is a highly interdisciplinary endeavor at UCSF—a natural outgrowth of UCSF’s hallmark interdisciplinary approach to research.

The education of health professional students is becoming increasingly interdisciplinary as issues of health care cost, quality, access, and disparities in the United States call for dramatic changes in how care is delivered.