Course Description
Applied study of a topic or problem in Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences related to the student’s interests.
Athena Title
Applied Project in PBS
Non-Traditional Format
This course pertains to the project requirement for the non-thesis MSc program in Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences. Credit hours are variable, but a minimum of 6 credit hours are needed for degree completion. Students may engage in laboratory work, discussions, library work, problem-based learning, case-based learning, and/or fieldwork.
Semester Course Offered
Offered fall, spring and summer
Grading System
S/U (Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory)
Course Objectives
This course provides the student with the opportunity to design a project or to investigate a problem that has application to his/her professional interests or area of specialization that meet the rigor and quality established by the student’s faculty advisory group. The faculty supervisor works with the student on a one-on-one basis so that the undertaking is customized to the student’s particular interests. When completed, it is expected that the student will produce an in-depth examination of a particular problem or study topic which is considered relevant to today's or future direction in Pharmaceutical sciences or Biomedical research.
Topical Outline
This component will vary according to the nature of the assignment undertaken and be unique to each student. The project must align with areas pertaining to pharmaceutical and/or biomedical sciences. Early in the program, the student is expected to have an initial discussion with their faculty advisor regarding possible project ideas to develop their pre-proposal, timeline, and the process for project completion. Examples include: 1) Literature review providing a critical summary of published research on a topic. Its purpose is to create familiarity with research on a particular area and to identify previously overlooked or understudied areas. 2) Experiential project: a small research project including a critical analysis report. 3) Systematic Review addressing a defined research question by collecting and summarizing all empirical evidence. May also include a meta-analysis of a topic. Project Proposal: Once a topic is selected, the student will need to present the topical outline to the faculty advisory committee for comments and possible revision. Final Project: The final paper should be an expanded and well-written version of the proposal. The student must then submit the final project document to the faculty advisory committee members for review. The final paper should be written in a journal format. The paper should be at a minimum of 30 pages double-spaced including figures and tables, citing appropriate references through numbered format in the order they appear in the text. The bibliography section does not count towards page requirements. Additional guidelines should be used for the final paper: Title, abstract, and table of contents do not count towards the page requirements. Title page: Includes name, address, email, agency, or organization; each following page to contain a running head (topic) and student last name. Abstract: summarization of the project. Table of Contents: listing headings/subheadings. Margins, font, and spacing: Allow 1" (2.5 cm) margins and use either Arial or Times New Roman 12 pt. Type. Presentation: Upon completion of the project, the student will conduct a 20-30 minute presentation followed by a questioning period with the faculty advisory committee. At this time, the committee can suggest revisions prior to the approval of the final project.