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School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences - Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences - Overview

Programs of Study

Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences offers a range of master's degree programs in the health sciences, spanning areas that include pharmaceutics, diagnostics, management, and comparative effectiveness research.

Students interested in these disciplines may pursue graduate programs which offer any of the following graduate degrees: the MS in Pharmacy Administration, the MS in Health Outcomes Research, the MS in Pharmaceutical Sciences, the MS in Biotechnology, and the MS in Cytotechnology & Molecular Cytology. Each of these programs may be completed in 2 years by a full-time student, although other options exist for working professionals interested in pursuing degree programs part-time.

Regardless of the program, students will have opportunities to work side-by-side with faculty members on research across a range of subjects. Whether it's performing drug discovery and development, conducting molecular clinical case studies, or examining how individuals will pay for health care in the future, ACPHS has experts and resources to help students gain the knowledge necessary to succeed in their chosen careers.

The graduate programs at ACPHS are further differentiated from those of many other colleges and universities by small class sizes and the individualized attention afforded to each student. This environment allows students to work closely with faculty members who are most closely aligned with their interests and who are eager to help them reach their goals.

Graduates of these programs will be well positioned to accelerate their current career paths; transition to new careers in the health sciences; advance into executive level positions; or gain the foundations needed to pursue PhDs or MDs.

Research Facilities

The Pharmaceutical Research Institute at Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences is a research and development institute dedicated to cutting-edge research, pharmaceutical services, and education, in partnership with pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies and academic and research centers in New York State, nationally and worldwide.

ACPHS students benefit from the knowledge and experience of PRI-Albany Executive Vice President and Chairman Shaker A. Mousa, PhD, formerly a senior researcher at DuPont Pharmaceuticals Co. Dr. Mousa holds 30 US patents and 200 foreign patents, and his work has been reported in more than 600 publications.

PRI-Albany's primary objective is to enrich and advance pharmaceutical education by providing hands-on access to the full spectrum of drug development. The institute endeavors to demonstrate, through the full range of its capabilities and expertise, how medicines advance "from the bench to the bedside," presenting students with a broad array of career options.

The Biomedical Research Building houses the Pharmaceutical Sciences department. Laboratory space exists for research in pharmacology and pharmaceutics. In addition, the new animal lab facility resides in the building. Animals are used to research the causes and effects of medications on septic shock and kidney disease.

The Research Institute for Health Outcomes (RIHO) conducts research and disseminates findings in the areas of health outcomes, comparative effectiveness, pharmacoeconomics, and health technology assessment. Outcomes research is a type of study that measures the results of various medical interventions and options - including drug treatments, therapies, healthcare services and diagnostic tools - in actual clinical practice situations. The results of outcomes research can guide health care decision makers in selecting and using the most appropriate treatment strategies to optimize patient care.

Financial Aid

A limited amount of funding is available for graduate students. Students performing research for funded faculty members have more opportunities to secure funding. Funding decisions are made by the appropriate faculty members based on their research needs. Students may apply for financial aid through the federal student financial aid program as well as alternative lending sources. International students seeking loans through US lenders must have sponsors or co-signers who are US citizens.

Cost of Study

For the 2011-2012 academic year, full-time tuition for MS students is $7650 per semester or $850 per credit hour. General fees, including the meal plan, are approximately $4500 per year. Cost of books will vary between programs.

Living and Housing Costs

Although most graduate students live off-campus, a limited amount of housing exists for graduate students on campus. For on-campus information, students should contact Residence Life at 518-694-7352. Requests for on-campus housing should be made no later than February for the fall semester. Students may contact the Graduate Admissions Office at 518-694-7149 for off-campus housing information.

Student Group

Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences has more than 1,600 students enrolled fulltime at its New York and Vermont campuses. ACPHS has a diverse student body representing 14 countries and 20 states. ACPHS encourages individuals from all races, religions, national origin, sex and sexual preference, marital status, disability, and age to apply to the college.

Location

Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences is a private, independent institution whose main campus is located in Albany, New York. Albany has garnered several honors in the past two years as an excellent place to live. These include being ranked by Business Week magazine as one of the top 20 "Cities for Generation Y" based on its high percentage of creative workers and high income growth; a #15 ranking on Forbes' list of America's Most Innovative Cities; and a #18 ranking by Portfolio.com for quality of life among the largest U.S. metro areas. The city's location at the "crossroads of the Northeast" puts it within a three to four hour drive from New York City, Montreal, Boston, and Philadelphia.

The College

Established in 1881, Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences is a private, independent institution with more than 1,600 students and approximately 100 full- and part-time faculty members. The college offers academic programs spanning the full spectrum of pharmacy and health sciences -- from drug discovery to patient care.

ACPHS has significantly expanded its research capabilities in recent years, leading to increased opportunities for students to work with faculty members on government and industry funded research.

Students interested in research have an array of resources at their disposal, including an animal research facility and two research institutes. The college also has interdepartmental groups of faculty members dedicated to the study of Infectious Disease and Nephrology.

ACPHS has a satellite campus in Colchester, Vermont.