The MS program is offered to students as a foundation for continuing toward the PhD program and is designed to be completed in two years. If one is applying and would be entering UW–Madison without holding a master’s degree, one would pursue a master’s in HSRP along the way to the PhD.

During the first semester of the MS program, students will have the opportunity to spend time with School of Pharmacy faculty in the Social and Administrative Sciences Division. Students are required to select an advisor/major professor no later than the end of the second semester of their MS program.

Students must complete a master’s thesis based upon original research. The student is responsible, in consultation with their advisor, to form a thesis (oral examination) committee. There is no written examination for the MS degree. After the oral examination and approval by the thesis committee, a copy of the thesis is filed at the Memorial Library.

• Thesis Oral Defense & Thesis
• 32 Total Minimum Credits

All students in the PhD program are required to have a major professor/advisor. The Director of Graduate Studies serves as your temporary advisor in the summer prior to matriculation and is typically in place for the student’s first semester. Students entering the program with a master’s degree from another university must select a permanent major professor before the end of the second semester enrolled in the program.

The PhD degree requires a minimum of 51 credits, a doctoral minor, written preliminary examination, dissertation proposal defense (oral preliminary examination), dissertation and final PhD examinations. More detailed information is included in the student handbook.

The PhD program is designed so that a well-prepared and focused student can complete the PhD program in approximately 4-5 years.

• Written Preliminary Examination
• Oral Preliminary Examination (Dissertation Proposal Defense)
• Dissertation & Dissertation Oral Defense (Final PhD Examinations)
• 51 Total Minimum Credits