What Is This Program?

The online master’s degree in medical physiology and pharmacology* is offered through the College of Medicine at the University of Florida. This program was developed as a collaboration between UF’s Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics and Department of Medical Physiology and Functional Genomics. The resulting master’s degree is a unique joint offering consisting of 30 credits, offered entirely online. The GRE is not required for admission.

Up to 15 credits may be transferred from UF’s online graduate certificates in medical physiology, medical physiology with a specialization in cardiovascular/renal physiology or medical pharmacology and therapeutics as long as you are admitted to the master’s degree program and you received a “B” or higher in the coursework you wish to transfer.

Students can complete this master’s degree in as little as two semesters. Courses are offered in the spring, fall and summer semesters and students are accepted year-round. Upon completion of this program, students will receive a Master of Science in Medical Sciences with a concentration in Medical Physiology and Pharmacology.

Why a Master’s Degree in Medical Physiology and Pharmacology?

Our master’s degree is a convenient, affordable way to gain practical knowledge in preparation for careers in the medical field. This online degree program also prepares students for the MCAT and other similar exams, as well as National Board examinations.

The curriculum requires 15 credits focused on medical physiology and 15 credits focused on medical pharmacology, ensuring students gain an advanced scientific understanding of major human body systems, the impact of drugs on living organisms at the cellular and molecular levels and normal and abnormal conditions within human body systems.

What Students Can Expect From the Program

Student Learning Outcomes

By the end of this program, students should be able to pass a comprehensive exam that evaluates their knowledge and understanding of the student learning outcomes listed below.

• Develop an in-depth comprehension of the nomenclature of drugs and biologics
• Understand and define the principles of pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics and neuropharmacology
• Explore and identify the stages of drug discovery, principles of drug-target interactions and pharmacogenetics as it relates to the individual responses to drugs
• Gain working knowledge of human systems of the body as they relate to physiology and pharmacology
• Analyze and discuss the physiology and pharmacology of hypertension and the quantitative measurements involved in pulmonary physiology
• Discover pharmacology as it relates to cancer, integument, antimicrobials and antiparasitics

Who Is This Program For?

This master’s degree can benefit:

• Students preparing to take or retake the MCAT or other standardized tests
• Physician assistant school applicants
• Nursing school applicants
• Students looking to pursue a career in medicine, pharmacy or research
• Professionals in pharmacy, drug development, biotechnology or pharmacology
• Nurses
• Physicians
• Clinical Scientists
• Professors
• Researchers

How This Program Prepares Students for the MCAT

*The diploma and transcript will read: Master of Science, Major Medical Sciences, Concentration Medical Physiology and Pharmacology.