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I. Overall Objectives:
The objective of the M.S. program is to encourage and facilitate the development of advanced pharmacy practitioners capable of conceiving, implementing, and evaluating patient care services that promote the rational, safe, effective, and economical use of drug therapy. As such, the program is structured to produce graduates that exemplify the highest standards of practice and that demonstrate a commitment to excellence and a dedication to optimizing patient care. As a foundation for achieving this level of performance, the program is designed to nurture and enhance student's knowledge in concepts and principles of pharmacotherapeutics, pharmacokinetics, pharmacoeconomics, drug literature retrieval and interpretation, and clinical research design and evaluation.
II. Prerequisites for Admission
A bachelor's degree in pharmacy or its foreign equivalent from a recognized college of pharmacy with minimal overall grade of "good" (cum. GPA>3.25) is required. Applicants graduated from King Saud University (KSU) must have completed all courses required for the professional pathway either in Clinical Pharmacy or Hospital Pharmacy with, at least, a grade of "good". A written examination and an interview with the Graduate Program Committee may be required prior to acceptance if deemed necessary by the department. The potential candidate will be evaluated based on his/her demonstration of interest, leadership, quality of performance in the professional activities including education, service, and research. A provisional acceptance of an applicant with either grade or course deficiency may be considered by the department and the Faculty board. In addition, the applicant must meet all the requirements according to the general regulations governing admission to graduate studies as set by the King Saud University, College of Graduate Studies.
III. Study Requirements:
The M.S. Degree in Clinical & Hospital Pharmacy program has five-semester curriculum to be completed in a three-year period. Exceptions for additional time to complete the program course work will only be considered by the Department under special circumstances (i.e., illness, military obligations.. etc.). The program work will be completed in KSU College of Pharmacy and hospitals affiliated with the College teaching program. The M.S. candidate must complete 27 credit hours of didactic lecture and seminar courses; 24 credit hours of experimental clerkship training courses; and 3 credit hours for the research project. The student will be evaluated in theoretical knowledge base by written examination for each required course and in skill achievements by continuous assessment and examinations for the experiential clerkship courses. The student's research project will be judged on the basis of the appropriateness of the hypothesis and research design, completeness of the background literature review, execution of the research methodology and data collection, appropriateness of the conclusion drawn from statistical inferences, and discussions of the findings, conclusions, significance and future research needs.
IV. Methods of Training:
The M.S. Degree program is designed to have four modes of training methods:
1. Formal lectures, practical, and seminars in a classroom setting;
2. Professional experiential clerkships under continuous supervision in a hospital environment;
3. Research activities under faculty supervision in a hospital and/or laboratory setting;
4. Oral presentation and written report of a research project that is of publishable quality.
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