3+1 Pharmacogenomics

The 3+1 BS in Biology/MS in Pharmacogenomics program is an accelerated track of the Biology major that provides a pathway for qualified students to be admitted to the WNE MS in Pharmacogenomics (MSPGx) program in the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. Interested students should reach out to their advisor prior to their junior year to make sure they are on track to complete both degrees through the dual degree pathway. The program guarantees admission to Biology majors with a 3.0 or higher GPA, and a successful meeting with the program coordinator. Students who successfully complete the program will receive a BS in Biology and an MS in Pharmacogenomics. Interested students should reach out to Lori Berg, Director of Admissions, Health Professional Programs at lori.berg@wne.edu.

Curriculum

The 3+1 BS in Health Sciences/MS in Pharmacogenomics program is an accelerated track of the Health Sciences major that provides a pathway for qualified students to be admitted to the WNE MS in Pharmacogenomics (MSPGx) program in the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. Interested students should reach out to their advisor prior to their junior year to make sure they are on track to complete both degrees through the dual degree pathway. The program guarantees admission to Health Sciences majors with a 3.0 or higher GPA, and a successful meeting with the program coordinator. Students who successfully complete the program will receive a BS in Health Sciences and an MS in Pharmacogenomics. Interested students should reach out to Lori Berg, Director of Admissions, Health Professional Programs at lori.berg@wne.edu.

Curriculum

The 3+1 BS in Neuroscience/MS in Pharmacogenomics program is an accelerated track of the Neuroscience major that provides a pathway for qualified students to be admitted to the WNE MS in Pharmacogenomics (MSPGx) program in the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. Interested students should reach out to their advisor prior to their junior year to make sure they are on track to complete both degrees through the dual degree pathway. The program guarantees admission to Neuroscience majors with a 3.0 or higher GPA, and a successful meeting with the program coordinator. Students who successfully complete the program will receive a BS in Neuroscience and an MS in Pharmacogenomics. Interested students should reach out to Lori Berg, Director of Admissions, Health Professional Programs at lori.berg@wne.edu.

Curriculum

Personalized or precision medicine refers to using patient-specific information to optimize their treatment. Pharmacogenomics is one aspect of personalized medicine that evaluates a patient’s genetic makeup and determines how that may affect their response to medication therapy.

The fields of pharmacogenomics and personalized medicine are growing fast, with a number of traditional and innovative career opportunities rapidly expanding as the costs of genetic tests decrease and more knowledge is gained about the potential for pharmacogenomics to transform patient care. 

Career opportunities for graduates

Graduates from our program can expect to follow a number of different career paths once they complete our program. Our curriculum was designed to provide solid foundational knowledge, as well as build a broad range of skills, so alumni can enter the workforce in various areas within the field, or continue their education, for example in Genetic Counseling or in a Doctoral Program, to expand upon their expertise.

• Laboratory researcher or technician – these types of positions could be at academic, government, or clinical institutions, as well as industrial pharmaceutical or genetic testing facilities to study how genetic variation affects response to medication, analyze genetic data, or to develop and perform genetic tests.
  
• Clinical research – these types of positions could be at academic institutions or health care systems, as well as insurance companies to study the benefits of using genetic testing to optimize patient care.
• Clinical implementation – these types of liaison or administrative positions, at clinical institutions that are implementing pharmacogenomics for their patients, serve as experts who are aware of all aspects of this process and can work closely with genetic counselors, physicians, and/or pharmacists.
• Education – these types of consulting or academic positions are needed to educate students currently in professional clinical programs, as well as active clinicians who may not have received education in this field as students in the past.
• Regulatory Institutions – these types of positions would be within government offices, such as the Food and Drug Administration’s Division of Translational and Precision Medicine, which oversees precision medicine strategies in drug development.

For more information on careers in Pharmacogenomics and average salaries, check out these articles:

• Careers in Pharmacogenomics (Indeed) 
• Highest Paying Genetics Jobs (SCI Journal)
• Division of Translational and Precision Medicine (FDA)

You’ll learn from our experienced graduate program faculty who are dedicated to your success. They will guide you through coursework, laboratory, and clinical research experiences, and help you align your studies with your career aspirations. The personal attention and support you’ll receive is unparalleled. All members of the graduate program faculty have doctoral degrees and wide-ranging expertise, including molecular pharmacologists, pharmacokineticists, practicing clinical pharmacists, and certified genetic counselors.