All classes are recorded and can be viewed at your convenience. From time-to-time some classes may be offered as “live” presentations and made available as recordings for later viewings.

The classes use a variety of technologies and are run through Carmen (carmen.osu.edu), Ohio State’s learning management system. For each of the classes in which you enroll, the information will be posted in Carmen, including a syllabus. The deadline for assignments, readings, discussion posts, etc. is typically Sunday at midnight. We recommend you login daily to ensure you’re keeping up with classes.

Yes!

You may take classes as a “Graduate Non-Degree” (GND) student. This application process is separate from the MS Translational Pharmacology application. You can find more information at the Graduate Non-Degree website. You may transfer up to seven credits of coursework (taken as a GND student) after you have applied, are accepted to, and have enrolled in a graduate program. This equates to two classes, as MS Translational Pharmacology classes are typically three-credit courses. If you are interested in taking one or two courses before entering one of the graduate programs, contact the program manager for a recommendation of courses in which to enroll.

When you begin the program, a faculty advisor will be assigned to you by our program director. Your advisor can “meet” with you in person (if you live in Columbus or Central Ohio), via phone, or Zoom. 

You will work with your advisor to develop a “Plan of Study,” which will determine the specifics of your educational experience in MCR – the amount of classes you take per semester, the specific classes you take each semester, and additional requirements needed to graduate in a timely fashion. You will also begin working with your advisor early in the program to plan your MCR culminating project or MS Translational Pharmacology culminating activity.

The MS Translational Pharmacology program is professionally-oriented; therefore, rather than a thesis, students will complete a culminating project or activity in clinical or preclinical research.

MS Translational Pharmacology students will be required to complete a remotely proctored exam during their semester of graduation. 

All students will be required to write a report and give a presentation to their advisor at the completion of the culminating activity.

You are not required to be in Columbus for the culminating project or activity. You may complete it online with a mentor in another location, or you can find a research organization near you. You will work with your academic advisor to plan your project.

Most of our classes will be limited to a maximum of 35 students to ensure instructors provide plenty of attention to each student.

The Ohio State University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA). There is no accreditation available for the MS Translational Pharmacology program, which is typically true of all science programs. Accreditation is usually only available for professional academic programs, like engineering, nursing, business, etc.

Our program requires a culminating project or activity in the last semester of a student's course of study. Nearly all of our students who are working full-time will perform a culminating project in conjunction with a clinical research site, although a couple have proposed working four 10-hour days per week or taking vacation time to perform a practicum one day per week on site. Whether you choose a culminating project, activity or a practicum (depending on your program of enrollment and areas of interest), we ask that you initiate the search to find a research site.

Most of our courses utilize online readings; however, we do require text books for some courses. Whenever possible, we use free eBooks from the Ohio State library. When required, most of our students purchase text books online.

Yes!

We hold an online orientation and will send you information in advance regarding how to participate. Participation in orientation is required; however, if you're unable to attend, we record the session for later viewing.

Yes!

You may switch specializations, preferably by the end of the first semester of the program. It is also possible to complete two specializations. You should work with your advisor before you decide to switch and/or if you have questions regarding the completion of two specializations.

The rule of thumb for coursework time commitment among all accredited universities is, for each credit earned, the student will put in 2.5 hours of work per week over 15 weeks. Our courses are three credits which translates to 7.5 hours per week of work (viewing lectures, reading, posting to discussion boards, doing assignments, taking quizzes, etc.). In the 24-month program plan, a student takes two classes per semester, so that's technically 15 hours per week. We say "technically" because some students are more efficient and can do the work in less time, while other students will require the full 15 hours to complete the coursework. Most of our working professionals say two classes per term is manageable but keeps them very busy.

Applicants who have attended Ohio State are not required to furnish Ohio State transcripts. However, you must submit transcripts of any courses completed elsewhere, even if these classes are listed on the Ohio State transcript as transfer credit.

You apply online using the "recent" student application or "Intra University Transfer" application. You can submit the following materials online, as well:

1. An updated CV or resumé,
2. A statement of purpose and goals, and
3. One letter of recommendation.

Graduate Admissions requires official transcripts (as of August 2016) to be sent when applying for a graduate program. Applicants may request that official transcripts be emailed to gpadocs@osu.edu or mailed to:  

Graduate Admissions
P.O. Box 182646
Columbus, OH 43218-2646

It is sometimes difficult to locate faculty or for faculty find time to write and submit their letters of recommendation. For this reason, we offer several options to submit recommendation letters: 

1. Online: This is our preferred method and most recommenders use the online system. In the application system, you may specify the names and email addresses of your recommenders. The system will send an e-mail to each recommender (AFTER the applicant submits the online application) that will allow him/her to answer a set of questions online and upload their letter of recommendation (preferably on letterhead).  
2. Mail: Some recommenders prefer to mail their letters. In that case, you may send the recommender the PDF version of the form, they can fill it out online, and send it with their letter. Alternatively, you may print the form for your recommender and they can fill it out the hard copy. The form and letter may be returned by email to Jessica Costic (costic.4@osu.edu), or if they would prefer to mail the letter, they can send it to: MCR Program, 500 W. 12th Ave., Parks Hall 217C, Columbus, Ohio 43210.

We are pleased to offer a fee waiver for applicants who meet the following criteria:

• Current Doctor of Pharmacy Students at The Ohio State University who wish to complete the combined PharmD and MS in Translational Pharmacology programs
• Current Graduate Non-Degree students

If you believe the above criteria applies to you, please email Ashley Sherf (sherf.3@osu.edu) at least 10 business days prior to the application deadline.

Fine print: please read!

• Take the required actions for your fee waiver request well in advance of your program's application deadline to allow for processing. If there are fewer than 10 business days left, we recommend you do not request a fee waiver. Here's why: If your waivers is denied and your program's deadline has passed, the application will be closed and you will not be able to apply for admission.
• We will not review your admission application until your waiver is approved or the application fee is paid.
• All waiver requests will be verified.
• Only one fee waiver is permitted per academic year.
• The application fee is NONREFUNDABLE. If you pay the application fee, even if in error, we can no longer honor your fee waiver request.

For other fee waiver options, please visit the Graduate and Professional Admissions website.

Letters of recommendation should come from individuals who are familiar with the applicant's academic ability, work experience, contributions to clinical and preclinical research (if any), and potential to succeed in the program. Recommendations should be requested from professors who are able to comment on your qualifications for graduate study. Recommendations from non-academic professionals are acceptable if you have extensive work experience with that individual and/or you have been away from academic institutions for some time.

** Each recommendation should include a letter signed by your recommender and written on academic or business letterhead stationery **

At Ohio State, all students enrolled in a completely online program will pay the in-state tuition and fee rates, minus the site-based fees (such as the Student Activity Fee, Recreational Fee, Student Union Facility Fee, COTA Bus Service Fee). Non-Ohio residents will pay an additional $5 non-resident fee each semester. You can view a break down of tuition and fees, as well as other expenses for the MCR and MS Translational Pharmacology programs on the Ohio State Online website.

Yes, students enrolled in the MS Translational Pharmacology program may apply for financial aid. Visit the university’s Student Financial Aid website for more information.

Currently, we do not offer funding (scholarships, fellowships, or teaching/research associateships) for our students. However, you may qualify for federal aid in the form of loans or grants. Be sure to complete the FAFSA. The Ohio State Student Service Center (SSC) can answer questions related to federal aid.