Acceptance to a Master of Science degree program in pharmacology usually requires that applicants have a strong academic background in the sciences. Because the master's degree in pharmacology is a research-oriented program, students must be able to engage in scientific research at an advanced academic level. For this reason, schools are generally selective about which students they admit. For example, the University of Buffalo requires that applicants have a minimum grade point average of 3.0, high scores on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) and three letters of recommendation from undergraduate faculty members who are familiar with the student's academic aptitude. Some schools also require a personal statement or letter stating the student's academic objectives and research interests. Schools often choose applicants partly based on research interests, so it is always best that a student apply to a school with faculty members whose research interests match their own.
Curriculum requirements often vary according to what courses faculty members are able to offer. Students generally have to complete a number of core courses and are given various options to pursue elective courses as well. For instance, the M.A. program at Boston University requires students to take courses in molecular neurobiology, biochemistry, current topics in pharmacological sciences, cell biology, advanced general pharmacology and molecular neurobiology and pharmacology. Students usually have a certain number elective courses they can take as well. These can include courses in physiology, toxicology, receptor pharmacology, mechanisms of drug interaction and elementary biostatistics. Most schools also require that students obtain a minimum grade in all coursework. In most cases, a "B" is the minimum grade needed to pass a graduate course.
Some master's programs in pharmacology offer students the choice of a thesis or non-thesis track. Non-thesis students usually replace the credit hours needed for the thesis with additional coursework. Students electing to complete a thesis are usually allotted a certain number of credit hours for the thesis. In most cases, the thesis topic requires approval by a thesis adviser or committee. Thesis topics differ according to institutional requirements. For instance, Boston University requires a thesis that provides a critical analysis of a major topic in the pharmacological literature, while the M.S. program at the University of Buffalo requires that students complete an original piece of research worthy of publication. In some cases, the thesis also requires an oral defense.