Graduate Certificate Program
The graduate certificate in Safety Pharmacology is an online program designed to train individuals in a distinct scientific discipline that incorporates the concepts from pharmacology, physiology and toxicology.
The core program content educates students about the potential undesirable pharmacodynamic effects of substances on physiological functions in the cardiovascular, central nervous, and respiratory systems. By providing advanced science knowledge and training in safety pharmacology guidelines, program participants will be prepared to conduct risk-benefit assessments required for evaluation of drug safety.
Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree with at least one course in biology and one course in chemistry. They must also write a reflective essay about why this certificate program will be well suited for their future work. These requirements reflect candidate choices that demonstrate maturity in terms of self-directedness and readiness for the program.
For information on how to apply, please email phm@msu.edu
Course Overview
Students must:
- take, and successfully complete at least 11 graduate-level credits of courses listed below
- attain grades of at least 3.0 in the core courses (PHM 819, PHM 840, and PHM 858)
- maintain an overall grade point average of at least 3.0 to successfully complete the program
- generate a portfolio containing reflective essays and work that highlights their program participation.
Course Requirements for the Graduate Certificate in Safety Pharmacology
All of the following courses (7 credits)
- PHM 819 Principles of Drug-Tissue Interactions (2)
- PHM 858 Drug Development Process (3)
- PHM 840 Safety Pharmacology (2)
At least 4 credits chosen from the following courses:
- PHM 431 Pharmacology of Drug Addiction (3)
- PHM 450 Introduction to Chemical Toxicology (3)
- PHM 813 Cardiovascular Pharmacology and Toxicology (3)
- PHM 817 Neurotoxicology (2)
- PHM 829 Neuropharmacology (2)
- PHM 830 Experimental Design and Data Analysis (3)
- PHM 831 Endocrine Pharmacology and Toxicology (2)
- PHM 833 Gastro-Intestinal and Liver Pharmacology and Toxicology (2)
- PHM 834 Respiratory Pharmacology (2)
- PHM 835 Biopharmaceuticals: From Development to Manufacturing (3)
- PHM 841 Cellular and Molecular Toxicology (3)
- PHM 857 Project Management (2)
About the portfolio
The purpose of the portfolio is to help students showcase their work for future employment and for them to engage in reflective professional development; please consult with your academic advisor regarding its creation and preparation.
Core Disciplines of Public Health Graduate Certificate
The College of Human Medicine Division of Public Health also offers an 18 credit online graduate certificate in the Core Disciplines of Public Health. This certificate is designed to provide students with a basis for understanding the breadth and scope of the public health field. The core public health disciplines include biostatistics, epidemiology, health policy and management, social and behavioral sciences, and environmental health sciences.
Two of the required graduate certificate courses, HM 803 Epidemiology and Public Health and HM 806 Environmental Factors of Health, may also serve as electives toward the MS in Integrative Pharmacology or MS in Pharmacology & Toxicology.