Program at a Glance
| Feature | PharmD-MSCR Dual Degree |
| Degrees earned | Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) and Master of Science in Clinical Research (MSCR) |
| Program length | 4 academic years |
| Program model | Integrated dual degree pathway |
| First PharmD-MSCR cohort | Summer 2027 |
| Application pathway | Apply during the PharmD admissions cycle through PharmCAS |
| Research training | Clinical research, epidemiology, biostatistics, research design, data management, and dissemination |
| Practice training | PharmD coursework, IPPEs, APPEs, and longitudinal clinical practice experience |
| Research products | Literature critique, scientific abstract, and first-author manuscript |
| Licensure preparation | Meets PharmD curricular requirements for pharmacist licensure eligibility |
Why combine a PharmD with an MS in Clinical Research?
Medication use increasingly depends on evidence generated from clinical trials, real-world data, pharmacoepidemiology, implementation science, comparative effectiveness research, and health services research. Pharmacists are uniquely positioned to ask clinically meaningful research questions about medication safety, effectiveness, access, equity, and implementation.
The PharmD-MSCR program prepares students to bridge patient care and research by developing both the clinical knowledge and practice experience of a pharmacist and the methodological training of a clinical researcher.
Who should consider this program?
This program may be a strong fit for students who are interested in:
- Clinical research involving medications, therapeutics, health outcomes, or patient care
- Careers in academic pharmacy, clinical research, regulatory science, government, biotechnology, or the pharmaceutical industry
- Pharmacoepidemiology, comparative effectiveness research, clinical trials, implementation science, health data science, clinical informatics, or health disparities research
- Developing a substantial research portfolio during professional school
- Working with faculty mentors across UCSF's schools, departments, clinical programs, and research centers
Because the program is intensive and full-time, it is intended for students who are prepared to commit to a demanding integrated curriculum across pharmacy practice and clinical research.