Master’s Degree in Medical Physiology and Pharmacology
Overview
Degree Plan
Course Path Examples
Application
Explore Your Online Path to Your Dream Medical Science Career
Ready to strengthen your resume without hitting pause on life? UF’s online master’s degree in Medical Physiology and Pharmacology gives you flexible, high-quality training from a top 50 national university. Entirely online and no GRE required.
Program Breakdown
Our 30-credit master’s degree is offered through UF’s College of Medicine and developed in collaboration between two standout departments:
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics
- Department of Medical Physiology and Functional Genomics
What makes our program different from the rest?
- Fully online, designed for busy students
- Hands-on, real-world applications through case studies and research projects
- Transferable credits from graduate certificates
- Practical, career-ready skills that field experts say are ideal for starting out in biotech

Can I Transfer Credits?
Already earned credits from UF’s graduate certificates? You can transfer up to 15 credits toward this master’s degree if you earned a “B” or higher. Certificates that qualify include:
- Medical Physiology
- Medical Physiology (Cardiovascular/Renal)
- Medical Pharmacology and Therapeutics
How Long Will It Take?
Complete your degree in as little as two semesters. Courses are offered in spring, fall and summer, and students are accepted year-round.
Why Choose UF for Your Education?
Our program gives you the knowledge and skills to succeed in medicine, biotech and other medical sciences careers. You’ll build a strong foundation in:
- Human body systems
- Drug effects at the cellular and molecular levels
- Normal and abnormal physiological conditions
Watch Dr. Sayeski, professor and program director, break down what makes this graduate credential stand out as an online program.
Curious about the different career paths people pursue with a master’s in medical physiology and pharmacology? Learn more in our career insights.
What You’ll Learn as a Graduate Student
Our master’s degree is a flexible, online way to build real-world knowledge for a career in medicine. You’ll also prep for the MCAT, National Board exams and other similar tests.
Key outcomes:
- Master drug nomenclature, pharmacodynamics, and pharmacokinetics
- Explore drug discovery and pharmacogenetics
- Analyze human systems in health and disease
- Understand physiology and pharmacology of hypertension, pulmonary function, cancer, and more
Is This Program Right For You?
This degree is perfect for:
- Students prepping for the MCAT or PA or nursing school
- Professionals in medicine, pharmacy or biotech
- Nurses, physicians, researchers or clinical scientists
- Anyone seeking advanced knowledge in physiology and pharmacology
Prepare for the MCAT While Earning Your Degree
Balancing MCAT prep with everything else in your life can feel overwhelming (maybe even impossible) at times. Luckily, our coursework gives you a head start.

Your courses cover physiology and pharmacology concepts that directly align with the MCAT, so you can:
- Build a strong science foundation
- Apply knowledge in real-world case studies
- Keep your schedule manageable while preparing for exam day
Dr. Sayeski explains how our courses target key MCAT sections, so you can earn your degree and prep for the exam at the same time — two birds, one stone.
*The transcript will read: Master of Science, Major Medical Sciences, Concentration Medical Physiology and Pharmacology.
Degree Plan
To graduate from the program, students must complete 30 credit hours: 15 credit hours in medical pharmacology and 15 credits in medical physiology. There are 24 credits of required coursework and 6 credits of coursework that must be selected from the list of electives. In order to graduate, students will be required to pass a comprehensive exam during their final semester and obtain a 3.0 or higher GPA.
Required and elective courses are listed below.
Required Courses
| Course # | Course Title | Credits | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GMS 6551 | Fundamentals of Medical Pharmacology & Therapeutics | 1 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
| GMS 6520 | Medical Pharmacology & Therapeutics I:The Nervous System | 2 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
| GMS 6530 | Medical Pharmacology & Therapeutics II: Cardiovascular, Renal and Respiratory Systems | 2 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
| GMS 6531 | Medical Pharmacology & Therapeutics III: Endocrine, Musculoskeletal, GI and Integumentary Systems | 2 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
| GMS 6540 | Medical Pharmacology & Therapeutics IV: Cancer, Antimicrobial and Antiparasitic Agents | 2 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
| GMS 6504 | Advanced Medical Pharmacology | 2 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
| GMS 6552 | Cell Signaling & Therapeutics | 2 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
| GMS 6510 | Pharmacology of Cannabis, Tobacco and Vaping | 2 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
| GMS 6440 | Fundamentals of Medical Physiology | 1 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
| GMS 6401 | Medical Renal Physiology | 2 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
| GMS 6402 | Medical Respiration Physiology | 3 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
| GMS 6474 | Medical Cardiovascular and Muscle Physiology | 3 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
Elective Courses (Choose 6 Credits)
| Course # | Course Title | Credits | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GMS 6419 | Medical Endocrinology and Reproduction | 3 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
| GMS 6479 | Medical Gastrointestinal Physiology | 2 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
| GMS 6410 | Physiology of Circulation of Blood | 2 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
| GMS 6413 | Advances in Hypertension Research | 2 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
| GMS 6414 | Advanced Renal Physiology and Pathophysiology | 2 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
| GMS 6470 | Advanced Respiration Physiology 1 | 3 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
Course Path Examples
The curricula presented below are examples only. The examples provided assume the program will take you three semesters to complete. They may be adjusted to accommodate more or fewer semesters. You may take courses in any order you wish. Approximately 10 credits per semester will require you to spend 30 hours per week on coursework. If you adjust your credits, your time commitment with change proportionally.
Suggestions:
- GMS 6440 should be the first physiology course you take.
- GMS 6551 should be the first pharmacology course you take.
- GMS 6504 and GMS 6552 should be the last pharmacology courses you take.
- The graduation exam you take in your final semester includes material from GMS6551, 6520, 6530, 6531, 6540, 6440, 6401, 6402, and 6474. You should plan to take these prior to your final semester if your timeline allows.
- Please note students must be enrolled in a minimum number of credits during their graduation semester. That requirement is 3 credits for the fall/spring semesters and 2 credits for the summer semester.
Professor and Program Director, Dr. Sayeski, Discusses Course Paths
Course Path Example 1: Physiology Courses First
Semester 1
Semester 2
| Course # | Course Title | Credits | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GMS 6414 | Advanced Renal Physiology and Pathophysiology | 2 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
| GMS 6402 | Medical Respiration Physiology | 3 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
| GMS 6551 | Fundamentals of Medical Pharmacology & Therapeutics | 1 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
| GMS 6520 | Medical Pharmacology & Therapeutics I:The Nervous System | 2 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
| GMS 6530 | Medical Pharmacology & Therapeutics II: Cardiovascular, Renal and Respiratory Systems | 2 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
Semester 3
| Course # | Course Title | Credits | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GMS 6531 | Medical Pharmacology & Therapeutics III: Endocrine, Musculoskeletal, GI and Integumentary Systems | 2 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
| GMS 6540 | Medical Pharmacology & Therapeutics IV: Cancer, Antimicrobial and Antiparasitic Agents | 2 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
| GMS 6510 | Pharmacology of Cannabis, Tobacco and Vaping | 2 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
| GMS 6504 | Advanced Medical Pharmacology | 2 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
| GMS 6552 | Cell Signaling & Therapeutics | 2 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
Course Path Example 2: Pharmacology Courses First
Semester 1
| Course # | Course Title | Credits | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GMS 6551 | Fundamentals of Medical Pharmacology & Therapeutics | 1 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
| GMS 6520 | Medical Pharmacology & Therapeutics I:The Nervous System | 2 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
| GMS 6531 | Medical Pharmacology & Therapeutics III: Endocrine, Musculoskeletal, GI and Integumentary Systems | 2 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
| GMS 6540 | Medical Pharmacology & Therapeutics IV: Cancer, Antimicrobial and Antiparasitic Agents | 2 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
| GMS 6510 | Pharmacology of Cannabis, Tobacco and Vaping | 2 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
| GMS 6440 | Fundamentals of Medical Physiology | 1 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
Semester 2
| Course # | Course Title | Credits | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GMS 6530 | Medical Pharmacology & Therapeutics II: Cardiovascular, Renal and Respiratory Systems | 2 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
| GMS 6504 | Advanced Medical Pharmacology | 2 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
| GMS 6552 | Cell Signaling & Therapeutics | 2 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
| GMS 6401 | Medical Renal Physiology | 2 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
| GMS 6414 | Advanced Renal Physiology and Pathophysiology | 2 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
Semester 3
Course Path Example 3: Courses By Topic
Semester 1
| Course # | Course Title | Credits | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GMS 6440 | Fundamentals of Medical Physiology | 1 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
| GMS 6402 | Medical Respiration Physiology | 3 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
| GMS 6474 | Medical Cardiovascular and Muscle Physiology | 3 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
| GMS 6551 | Fundamentals of Medical Pharmacology & Therapeutics | 1 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
| GMS 6530 | Medical Pharmacology & Therapeutics II: Cardiovascular, Renal and Respiratory Systems | 2 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
Semester 2
| Course # | Course Title | Credits | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GMS 6470 | Advanced Respiration Physiology 1 | 3 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
| GMS 6510 | Pharmacology of Cannabis, Tobacco and Vaping | 2 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
| GMS 6419 | Medical Endocrinology and Reproduction | 3 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
| GMS 6531 | Medical Pharmacology & Therapeutics III: Endocrine, Musculoskeletal, GI and Integumentary Systems | 2 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
Semester 3
| Course # | Course Title | Credits | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GMS 6401 | Medical Renal Physiology | 2 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
| GMS 6540 | Medical Pharmacology & Therapeutics IV: Cancer, Antimicrobial and Antiparasitic Agents | 2 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
| GMS 6520 | Medical Pharmacology & Therapeutics I:The Nervous System | 2 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
| GMS 6504 | Advanced Medical Pharmacology | 2 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
| GMS 6552 | Cell Signaling & Therapeutics | 2 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
Application Information
Click below to begin your master’s degree application.


