A graduate certificate or diploma (the terms are used interchangeably in North America) in pharmacy denotes specialization in a sub-field or discipline of pharmacy gained through intensive graduate-level study. As such, it supplements an already established area of expertise (in pharmacy or not related to the field) and adds value to a previously earned Bachelor's or graduate degree. Delivered in various formats from residential to online, graduate certificates in pharmacy comprise 4 - 6 courses (typically 12 - 18 credit hours) taken in a prescribed sequence at the graduate level.
The concurrent graduate certificate or diploma in pharmacy allows students currently enrolled in a Master's or Doctoral degree program in the field to pursue an in-depth exploration of one aspect of their field. For example, a student working towards a Master's in Pharmacy with a specialization in Toxicology may take the Graduate Certificate in Patient and product Safety to augment their expertise.
The stand-alone, direct-entry graduate certificate/diploma program in pharmacy provides an opportunity for graduate-level study of theory and research to students who are not interested in pursuing a full graduate degree. This could include professionals with a Bachelor's degree working in the field or anyone who does not have the time or interest in a traditional graduate program in pharmacy. Then too, some students who take the stand-alone certificate already have a graduate degree and use their certificate to augment a particular area of interest.
A selection, but not inclusive list, of graduate certificates/diplomas in pharmacy includes
Graduate Certificate in Pharmacy Sciences (Generalist)
Graduate Certificate in Applied Natural Products
Graduate Certificate in Clinical Research Design and Management
Graduate Certificate in Food Safety
Graduate Certificate in Herbal Medicines
Graduate Certificate in Patient and Product Safety
Graduate Certificate in Preclinical Drug Development
Graduate Certificate in Regulatory and Quality Compliance
