ACP Program Information

Program Requirements (two-year program)

Students must complete 8.0 Full Course Equivalents (FCEs). It is recommended that students complete their required courses in year one of the program. Please note that some elective courses may be offered in alternate years.

Required Courses (6.0 FCEs):

  • PCL1002Y: Graduate Pharmacology
  • PCL1004Y: Clinical Pharmacology
  • PCL1100H: Applied Skills in Clinical Pharmacology 
  • PCL1101H: Technology, Techniques, and Translation in Pharmacology & Toxicology
  • 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

Elective Courses (2.0 FCEs) from the list below:

  • PCL1300H: Selected Topics in Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology
  • PCL2201Y**: Major Research Project Extended Study 
  • PCL2101Y***: Practicum in Clinical Pharmacology I
  • PCL2102Y***: Practicum in Clinical Pharmacology II
  • PCL2100Y***: Practicum in Clinical Pharmacology III (2.0 FCEs)
  • APS1001H: Project Management
  • CHL5201H: Biostatistics I
  • JNP1014Y: Interdisciplinary Toxicology
  • JPM1005Y: Behavioural Pharmacology
  • RSM2017H: Pharmaceutical Strategy

NOTE: Other graduate courses may be accepted as electives. Please consult with the program director (Dr. Cindy Woodland) for approval of other elective courses not listed here.

*Major Research Project: Students usually begin a major research project (PCL2200Y) by the summer of Year 1 and no later than the fall of Year 2. Students are supervised by faculty members of their selection and participate in goal-oriented independent research in their area of interest.

**Major Research Project Extended Study: This course is an opportunity to complete further study under the supervision of the same graduate faculty member as PCL2200Y. It is intended for students who wish to pursue more in-depth study of their research question(s), generally with the intention of publishing their research findings. It can only be taken subsequent to completion of PCL2200Y. 

*** Clinical Practicums: Students may wish to include a 4-month (PCL2101Y or PCL2102Y) or 8-month (PCL2100Y) placement option with an approved employment site (e.g., pharmaceutical company, contract research organization (CRO), consulting business, government agency, healthcare partner). The placement is an opportunity for students to explore and immerse themselves in areas such as drug development, medical writing, adverse event reporting, pharmacokinetic analysis, and clinical trial design and management.

Program Requirements (advanced-standing, one-year program without practicum)*

Students must complete at least 4.0 full-course equivalents (FCEs).

Required Courses (3.5 FCEs):

  • PCL1002Y: Graduate Pharmacology
  • PCL1004Y: Clinical Pharmacology
  • PCL1100H: Applied Skills in Clinical Pharmacology
  • PCL2200Y: Major Research Project

Elective Course (0.5 FCE) from the list below:

  • PCL1101H: Technology, Techniques and Translation in Pharmacology & Toxicology
  • PCL1300H: Selected Topics in Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology
  • CHL5201H: Biostatistics I (exclusion: LMP1407H)
  • JNP1014Y: Interdisciplinary Toxicology
  • JPM1005Y: Behavioural Pharmacology

*This option is only available to students who have demonstrated excellence in an undergraduate pharmacology program.

Self-Directed Study

As with the thesis-based field of study, all students (regardless of their academic background) are required to undertake self-directed study, culminating in the demonstration of proficiency in pharmacological principles during the course of their graduate program. Evaluations take place throughout the MSc program at a variety of stages (including during PCL1002Y).

See:  Self Study Guide

ACP Monitoring and Progress

Students enrolled in the course-based Applied Clinical Pharmacology field will meet formally at least once annually with the Director of the program to ensure adequate student progress in the program.

Students or the Research Project Supervisor may report problems directly to the Program Director, the Graduate Coordinator or the Department Chair.

Students enrolled in the course-based Applied Clinical Pharmacology program are not eligible to transfer to the PhD program; however, they are eligible to apply for the PhD program in Pharmacology upon completion of the MSc program.