Master of Science in Pharmacogenomics

College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences

Master of Science in Pharmacogenomics

Harnessing the Power of Precision Medicine

Pharmacogenomics is a fast-growing field that explores a patient’s DNA sequence to determine how they are most likely to respond to medications. Pharmacogenomics supports personalized or precision medicine, which connects a patient’s genetics, epigenetics, environment, and lifestyle to design a treatment plan that will best suit the patient. The goal of this modern approach to medication therapy is to optimize response and beneficial outcomes while limiting adverse effects and toxicities.

With a Master of Science in Pharmacogenomics degree from WNE, you will be ready to make the most of emerging opportunities from basic or industrial research to clinical implementation through a well-rounded program that aligns with your personal career goals.

Why Choose the Master of Science in Pharmacogenomics?

The design of the WNE Master of Science in Pharmacogenomics has purposely integrated all major aspects of this field, from basic genetics to clinical implementation. This results in the program including introductory and advanced medical genetics and pharmacogenomics, pharmacology and pathophysiology, genetic data analysis and laboratory techniques, healthcare outcomes and statistical analysis, research design and application, genetic counseling, and clinician or patient interactions at medical sites.

Having such broad experience will provide graduates with insight into how to study genetic variant effects on patient response, implement the advancing knowledge of pharmacogenomics into clinical practice through collaboration with clinicians and patients, and gain financial support for these services based on improved healthcare outcomes data.

Now with an in-person (MSPGx) and online hybrid pathway (MSPGx-HP), gaining expertise in pharmacogenomics can be done from anywhere in the US. The in-person program is optimal for students who prefer a traditional educational setting. The MSPGx-HP curriculum requires students to spend only a short immersive session following the fall semester and 6 weeks during the summer (the last semester of the curriculum) on campus, where they will apply the knowledge they have learned throughout the year in didactic courses to laboratory and clinical experiences. Check out our FAQ page to learn more!

What to Expect

Hear from Shannon Kinney, program coordinator for the MS in Pharmacogenomics, explain possible career paths, program curriculum, laboratory and clinical experience, and the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences environment on campus.

What Will You Study?

The 38-credit MS in Pharmacogenomics program can be completed in one calendar year (three full-time semesters—fall, spring, and summer). Through foundational and advanced courses in Biochemistry, Pharmacology, Pathophysiology, Medical Genetics, Genetic Counseling, Pharmacogenetics, Genetic Research, and Data Analysis, and others, as well as skill-building experiential courses in the laboratory and clinic, you’ll be well-versed to enter the field of precision medicine.

Courses are taught in the state-of-the-art classrooms and labs of the Center for the Sciences and Pharmacy, and online, depending on which pathway you choose, and will prepare you for career opportunities in basic research, the pharmaceutical industry, within regulatory institutions, at clinical and genetic testing laboratories, or clinical sites. Graduates can also continue their education in PhD, genetic counseling, physician assistant, medical doctor, and other programs.

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Academic Calendar Dual Degrees

Top Five Reasons to Choose the MS in Pharmacogenomics

Earn a unique degree in a growing field

We offer the only degree of this type in New England, both in-person and through a new online Hybrid Pathway, which prepares graduates for careers that will revolutionize the future of healthcare.

A well-rounded education

Our curriculum is designed to prepare graduates for a wide array of careers in the field of Pharmacogenomics, from basic laboratory research to clinical implementation of personalized healthcare.

Hands-on experience

Our program provides multiple opportunities for students to work with state-of-the-art instrumentation and complete a broad range of laboratory techniques through structured and independent guided courses, so they feel comfortable in the laboratory or the clinic and confident in their skills and abilities.

Students with professor in hospital setting

Exposure to a clinical environment

Students will work directly with clinical pharmacists and other practitioners at healthcare facilities that utilize genetic testing, which will allow students to develop skills and expertise necessary for careers in medical institutions.

Individualized Attention

WNE is committed to giving our students the opportunity to develop strong relationships with their peers and professors, as well as receive any necessary support along the way.

Dr. Shannon Kinney, PhD

What is your related educational background and current research focus?

I earned a Doctor of Philosophy degree from Roswell Park Cancer Institute in association with the State University of New York at Buffalo. My thesis research focused on epigenetic changes in prostate cancer. I also completed a postdoctoral fellowship at New England Biolabs, where I continued to study epigenetic gene regulation. I now run a research lab where I study the roles of DNA modifications in gene expression in normal and cancer models. I also complete educational research on best practices for teaching pharmacogenomics.

What piqued your interest in pharmacogenomics?

When I was a first-year graduate student, my father was diagnosed with leukemia. He was treated with chemotherapy and had very severe toxicities that resulted in his being admitted to the ICU. He eventually did recover, but dealt with the long-term effects of the treatment. Although I am grateful for the years that I still had with him, as I learned more about the links between genetics and response to medication, I began to wonder if the use of pharmacogenomic testing could have limited the toxicities that he experienced. Now, when I teach others about pharmacogenomics, I try to emphasize that genetics may only be one point to consider while treating a patient, but for some patients, it could be the difference between life or death.

What is the best aspect of the WNE Master of Science in Pharmacogenomics program?

I learn from doing, so for me, the best part of this program is how hands-on it is. Many courses are designed to be interactive and problem-based. In addition, students get into the laboratory for a pharmaceutical techniques course during the fall semester and then spend six weeks during the summer semester in the lab and working with clinicians at their sites. Students apply what they’ve learned in the classroom to real-life situations, and learn the skills they need to work in whatever area of pharmacogenomics best suits them. Now that we have a hybrid pathway, I'm dedicated to ensuring our MSPGx-HP curriculum includes interactive and skill-based learning.

Alisha Ghoussein, Class of 2026

Pictured from left to right: Dr. Christine Anderson, Dr. Shannon Kinney, Dr. Arin Whitman, and Alisha Ghoussein, Class of 2026, in the center. Dr. Kinney is the MS in PGx program coordinator and is a key faculty member across several courses, including the 6-week applied PGx lab experience.

Dr. Anderson and Dr. Whitman led the 6-week clinical pharmacogenomics experience, providing students with hands-on, real-world application of PGx principles.

At 麻花视频 University College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, I had the opportunity to enroll in a dual-degree program that allowed me to obtain both a Doctor of Pharmacy and a Master’s in Pharmacogenomics (PGx). I have recently completed the MS in PGx program over the summer and am expected to graduate with both degrees in May 2026.

During my second and third pharmacy professional years, I completed a variety of courses within the master’s program, including Data Analytics and Biostatistics, Advanced Genetics and Genomics, Intro to Gene and Genetic Counseling, Bioinformatics, and an Analytical Techniques Lab. I also had the opportunity to complete a 6-week applied pharmacogenomics experience, where I performed PCR testing on my DNA as well as others to detect a specific gene variant, providing me with hands-on lab experience. I really enjoyed this course because it provided me with an opportunity I wouldn’t typically experience in the pharmacy curriculum. I have also recently completed a 6-week clinical pharmacogenomics course where I was able to apply everything I had learned throughout this program to a real-world setting.

During the clinical experience, I had the opportunity to go to an oncology ambulatory care clinic and experience how genetics and pharmacogenomics are used in patients' daily care. Alongside my fellow classmates, we began creating a pharmacogenomics clinic at WNE, which is expected to open in the summer of 2026. During the rotation, we even created a PGx Podcast, called SNPs and Scripts, where we discuss anything and everything relevant to genetics and pharmacogenomics. Be on the lookout for the podcast to air on Spotify shortly! Finally, I was provided with the opportunity to present at a CE conference focused on pharmacogenomics. Topics varied from pediatrics, psychiatry, and oncology. My presentation was on the “Representation, Risk and the Reality of PGx in Oncology".

Overall, this dual degree program has provided students like me the chance to expand on my PGx knowledge beyond what is taught in the pharmacy curriculum, and receive firsthand insight into how PGx can be used to personalize medication therapy and make treatment truly patient-centered. Pharmacogenomics is the future of precision medicine, and the WNE Master’s in PGx program is equipping students with the tools to explore this new era of medicine.

The College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences has partnered with the to further elevate its Master of Science in Pharmacogenomics (MSPGx) program.

The MSPGx program is designed to equip students with the knowledge and skills necessary for careers in various sectors, including research, pharmaceuticals, regulatory bodies, genetic testing labs, and clinical environments. By integrating the expertise and resources of APGxA, the program will offer a comprehensive foundation for students aspiring to excel in this rapidly evolving field.

The partnership will facilitate internships for students at leading companies, providing invaluable professional growth and industry experience. This hands-on approach aligns with the University's mission to produce work-ready and world-ready graduates, poised to make meaningful contributions to their fields upon graduation.

Additional benefits for COPHS students:

The APGxA will grant an award to one MSPGx graduate annually to acknowledge their achievements and encourage excellence amongst our students.
The APGxA will feature the availability of interns from our program on their platforms and assist in matchmaking processes between students and valuable internship opportunities.
The APGxA will provide a complimentary one-year membership to our MSPGx graduates (for a value of $350), offering them immediate access to the resources and community of the APGxA.

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, including the options listed below. In addition, graduates often 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 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.
Clinical laboratory or genetic testing facility analyst – these types of positions would be in clinical or industrial genetic testing laboratories where patient samples are evaluated for genetic variants, including disease risk, pharmacogenomic, or organ transplant variants.

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

The College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences has partnered with Bay Path University to create new opportunities for students pursuing advanced study in the rapidly growing fields of genetic counseling and pharmacogenomics.

Genetic counseling plays a vital role in today’s healthcare system. Counselors work with patients and families to interpret genetic testing results, assess inherited risks, and guide treatment and prevention strategies. Their expertise is increasingly critical in fields such as oncology, prenatal and reproductive health, rare disease diagnosis, and precision medicine. Pharmacogenomics—the study of how genes affect a person’s response to medications—complements genetic counseling by enabling more personalized prescribing practices that improve outcomes and reduce adverse effects. Graduates of both programs will be able to work in clinical settings as highly skilled professionals, ready to contribute to advances in personalized medicine and patient care.

Benefits for COPHS students

Bay Path University will reserve at least five (5) interview seats in each annual cohort of students entering its MSGC program for qualified graduates (e.g. a 3.5 minimum cumulative GPA) of the 麻花视频 University MSPGx program who apply by December 15. In addition, these students will be guaranteed 6 transfer credits from MSPGx courses (PHRSC 551 Introduction to Genetics and Genetic Counseling and PHAR 522 Pathophysiology) where students earned a grade of B or higher.

Benefits for Bay Path students

麻花视频 University will reserve at least two (2) seats in each annual cohort of students entering its MSPGx/MSPGx-HP programs for qualified graduates (e.g. a preferred 3.5 minimum cumulative GPA) of the Bay Path University MSGC program who apply by April 1. In addition, these students will be guaranteed 6 transfer credits from MSGC courses (GEN600: Medical Genetics I and GEN615: Pathophysiology) where students earned a grade of B or higher.

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