HCN News & Notes

WNEU Offers New Master of Science Degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences

SPRINGFIELD — The College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences at Western New England University announced a new master of science degree program in pharmaceutical sciences starting this fall. The thesis-based MS in pharmaceutical sciences program can be completed in five full-time semesters (fall, spring, summer, fall, spring). The curriculum builds on science-related undergraduate-degree programs, making it ideal for students holding bachelor’s degrees in biology, chemistry, health sciences, neuroscience, biomedical engineering, biochemistry, biotechnology, or health sciences.

Through coursework taught in state-of-the-art classrooms and labs, graduates of the program will be well-prepared for career paths in the pharmaceutical industry as a research scientist or in product development and/or quality assurance.

“The need for scientists who bring life-saving and life-changing medicines to market is clear,” said Dr. Joshua Spooner, professor of Pharmacy Practice and assistant dean at Western New England University. “The College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences has a reputation for the caliber of its learning experiences offering individualized attention, opportunities for collaborative research, and active student organizations to provide an ideal environment for students focused on their future. As a WNE graduate, students will also possess the skill sets prized by employers: divergent thinking, communication, teamwork, leadership, and an entrepreneurial mindset essential to careers in discovery and innovation.”

This new master’s-degree program joins the university’s respected doctor of pharmacy program, whose class of 2020 scored an impressively high pass rate (93.2%) on the NAPLEX (North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination), the third consecutive year the school’s pass rate has exceeded the national average.

As future scientists, students will benefit from mentorship and research opportunities with faculty who are not only outstanding classroom teachers, but actively engaged in a wide range of research. Dean John Pezzuto was recently named by Stanford University among the top 2% of the world’s most-cited scholars, ranking him 21st among 80,622 researchers in the medicinal and biomolecular chemistry field.

To learn more about the MS in pharmaceutical sciences and the admissions process, including the opportunity to join an information session on Thursday, April 22, visit wne.edu/pharmacy-and-health-sciences and register to speak with an admissions representative via video chat (virtual sessions are held every Thursday between 1 and 4 p.m.), or call (413) 796-2073 to speak with an admissions counselor.