Master of Science in Pharmacology & Toxicology
Our innovative program provides a comprehensive introduction to a broad range of theoretical concepts that comprise pharmacology and toxicology. Students will learn the historical contexts of these fields and master hands-on technical skills in state-of-the-art laboratories. Our students come from a wide range of scientific backgrounds with the goal of advancing their careers, entering a new field, or preparing for a professional or advanced degree. They may be recent college graduates, military personnel, or employees in industrial research organizations. There are a wide range of career opportunities in the pharmaceutical industry, particularly the areas of research and development; government labs and regulatory agencies; and university research laboratories. The program prepares students for careers in industry, government, or for further education and has a unique relationship with the U.S. Air Force and Navy Toxicology laboratories at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.
What is pharmacology?
Pharmacology is the study of the therapeutic value and/or potential toxicity of
chemical agents on biological systems. It targets every aspect of the mechanisms for the chemical actions of both traditional and novel therapeutic agents. The American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics provides more information in this PDF document.
What is toxicology?
Toxicology is the study of the adverse or toxic effects of drugs and other chemical agents. It is concerned both with drugs used in the treatment of disease and chemicals that may present household, environmental, or industrial hazards. The Society of Toxicology (SOT) provides more information about this exciting field.
 What can I do with this degree?
This program differs from other undergraduate majors or master's level programs currently offered at Wright State University both conceptually and with respect to employment and career options. It provides a comprehensive introduction to the broad range of theoretical concepts that comprise pharmacology and toxicology, providing both historical context and state of the art technical approaches to solving pharmacological and toxicological problems. This goal of providing students with a career-oriented yet theoretically based education will be accomplished within the core curriculum through the combination of text and literature based lectures, complemented by laboratory instruction and journal club type seminars, and culminating with a thesis research project.
What is required for admission to the program?
Applicants must fulfill the requirements for admission established by the School of Graduate Studies. You must have a baccalaureate degree in physical, chemical, or life sciences, and three letters of recommendation. Submission of GRE (MCAT) scores is preferred but not required for admission. Preference is given to applicants with a GPA of 3.0 or greater. For international students, a TOEFL score of 600 (paper-based) or 250 (computer-based) also is required.
Where to apply:
What does it take to earn this degree?
To qualify for the master of science degree a student must satisfy the requirements of the School of Graduate Studies as well as the program requirements. The program consists of 22 credit hours of course work in the areas of research techniques, biostatistics, biokinetics, biodynamics and molecular toxicology as well as laboratory rotations and research projects. During the second year, students, under the mentorship of a faculty member, will develop a research-based thesis culminating with an oral thesis defense. PTX 990 (Seminar) is required each academic year quarter.
Common core course requirements are:
a. Research Techniques (PTX 700 - 3 Credits)
b. Biostatistics (STT 664 - 4 Credits)
c. Principles of Biokinetics I (PTX 710 - 4 Credits)
d. Principles of Biodynamics II (PTX 750 - 4 Credits)
e. Seminar (PTX 990 - 3 Credits)
Total: 18 Credits
Is there financial aid available?
Funding is not guaranteed by the program. However, a limited number of two-year tuition fellowships are awarded on a competitive basis to the top applicants each year. In addition, first year students often negotiate stipends and tuition waivers with externally funded faculty beginning in the third quarter.
What research facilities are available?
The Pharmacology and Toxicology Department occupies the second floor of the Health Sciences Building on the main campus of Wright State University. Resources include seven well-equipped biomedical research laboratories and common equipment facilities.
 Wright-Patterson Air Force Base is located immediately adjacent to Wright State University, where the facilities of the Air Force and Naval Toxicology Laboratories are available to students in the program. In addition to providing a training site for thesis research, these sites also serve as a window to potential career opportunities for graduates of this program. The laboratories at WPAFB conduct research on the health effects of a wide variety of agents for military and other government agencies including the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR). The university has an agreement of cooperation with WPAFB promoting educational and research interactions applicable to this M.S. program.
Proteomics Analysis Laboratory & Confocal Imaging Core Facility
 Students will have the opportunity to learn the latest molecular biology techniques in core facilities within the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology. This laboratory contains the equipment needed to perform a variety of molecular biology procedures including: transfection of competent bacteria with plasmid and viral vectors; nucleic acid isolation; restriction enzyme analysis; DNA sequencing; polymerase chain reaction; reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction; subcloning of DNA fragments; receptor autoradiography; in situ hybridization; affinity, ion exchange, and gel filtration, standard and high pressure liquid chromatography; Northern, Southern, and Western blot analysis. Several imaging systems and computer workstations are available for storage, quantification, and analysis of data. A sophisticated protein (SELDI-TOF mass spectrometry) and DNA microarray analyzer are available. The department has an Imaging Suite that features a laser scanning confocal microscope (Leica SP-2) and an epifluorescence microscope (Leica DM-5). Computer workstations for storage, quantification, and analysis of data, and high-resolution printers for making images, are available.
Who are the faculty?
Professors
Associate Professors
Assistant Professors
Yanfang Chen Ph.D., M.D., neurosciences, molecular biology and cardiovascular physiology
Khalid Elased, R.Ph.,Ph.D., Renin-Angiotensin System (RAS) relevant to hypertension and diabetes
Courtney E.W. Sulentic, Ph.D., mechanisms of immune modulation by 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin and other chemicals with particular emphasis on immunoglobulin heavy chain gene regulation
Program administration Responsibility for program administration lies within the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology at Boonshoft School of Medicine. A program advisor will initially advise new program entrants until such time as a research advisor is selected by the student and approved by the program director. A Thesis Committee consisting of three graduate faculty members in addition to the research advisor will be selected by the student in consultation with the research advisor.
For more information, contact:
Terry Oroszi, Interim Director
Master of Science Program in Pharmacology and Toxicology
Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology
235 Health Scienes Building
Wright State University
3640 Colonel Glenn Highway
Dayton, OH 45435
Phone: (937) 775-2395
E-mail: pharmtoxms@wright.edu
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