Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences is a private, independent institution committed to the advancement of health. The College possesses all of the qualities for an outstanding education, including diverse academic programs, modern facilities, and distinguished faculty. In addition to its doctor of pharmacy program, ACPHS offers five graduate programs in the health sciences. Students may pursue the Master of Science in one of our two clinical-based programs: Clinical Laboratory Sciences and Cytotechnology and Molecular Cytology or one of our thesis, research-based programs: Molecular Biosciences, Health Outcomes Research and Pharmaceutical Sciences. The College’s main campus is located in Albany, New York with a satellite campus is in Colchester, Vermont. All MS degree programs are offered in Albany. The MS in Pharmaceutical Sciences is also offered in VT.

Graduates from the MS programs are well-prepared for employment in hospitals, government, research and clinical labs or industry and many also go on for doctoral study at universities such as Rutgers, Tufts, Iowa and Colorado. The MS programs are also an excellent stepping stone for those who wish to pursue medical school. 

Key Contacts

• Martha Hass, Dean, School of Graduate Studies
• Ann Bruno, Graduate Programs Coordinator, School of Graduate Studies
• Elyse Wheeler, Program Director, Clinical Laboratory Sciences
• Jenna Benson, Program Director, Cytotechnology and Molecular Cytology
• John Polimeni, Program Director, Health Outcomes Research
• Meenakshi Malik, Program Director, Molecular Biosciences
• Jeff Voigt, Program Director, Pharmaceutical Sciences

Research & Labs

The Pharmaceutical Research Institute at Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (PRI-Albany) 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, across the nation, and around the world.

ACPHS students benefit from the knowledge and experience of PRI-Albany Executive Vice President and Chairman Shaker A. Mousa, Ph.D., formerly a senior researcher at DuPont Pharmaceuticals Co. Dr. Mousa holds thirty U.S. patents and 200 international patents, and his work has been reported in more than 700 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 strives 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. During the 2009-2010 academic year, an animal research facility was opened. Animals are used to research the cause and effect of medications on sepsis and bladder disease as well as other disorders. Applications for accreditation and animal welfare assurance are in the process of being approved.

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, health-care services, and diagnostic tools in actual clinical practice situations. The results of outcomes research can guide health-care decision makers in selecting and utilizing the most appropriate treatment strategies to optimize patient care.

Tuition & Other Financial Information

Graduate students pay for their courses on a per credit hour basis, currrently $1,070 per credit, until they reach the full-tme maximum of $16,500 per semester.  Financial aid is also available for those who qualify.  The College offers merit-based tuition scholarships for new students that are renewable yearly. In addition, students may also be eligible for teaching and research assistantships.  These awards are available to both US and international students. 

Other Information

With campuses in both Albany, NY and Colchester, VT, ACPHS is positioned to attract students throughout the country with distinct opportunities in each state. Both campuses enjoy the company of other institutions of higher education in close proximity. As the state capitol, Albany is the center of state government. Burlington is the largest city in the State of Vermont and lies just south of Colchester. Both areas boast desirable recreational opportunities, an assortment of cultural events, and diverse communities.