Degree and Diploma Programs by Graduate Unit
2014-15 SGS Calendar
Pharmacology and Toxicology
Faculty Affiliation
Medicine
Degree Programs Offered
Pharmacology—MSc, PhD
Field: Applied Clinical Pharmacology (MSc only)
Collaborative Programs
The following collaborative programs are available to
students in participating degree programs as listed below:
1. Addiction Studies
 Pharmacology, MSc, PhD
2. Biomedical Toxicology
 Pharmacology, MSc, PhD
3. Cardiovascular Sciences
 Pharmacology, MSc, PhD
4. Neuroscience
 Pharmacology, MSc, PhD
5. Resuscitation Sciences
 Pharmacology, MSc, PhD
6. Women's Health
 Pharmacology, MSc, PhD
Overview
The Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology offers
graduate programs leading to the degrees of Master of
Science and Doctor of Philosophy in Pharmacology.
Faculty conduct research in the following areas:
 biochemical and molecular pharmacology
 cardiovascular pharmacology
 clinical pharmacology
 drug addiction
 drug metabolism, distribution, and pharmacokinetics
 endocrine pharmacology
 immunopharmacology
 neuropharmacology
 pharmacogenetics
 psychopharmacology
 receptor pharmacology
 second messengers and signal transduction
 toxicology
All MSc and PhD students are expected to undertake selfdirected study and to demonstrate proficiency in
pharmacological principles throughout the course of their
graduate program.
2014-2015 School of Graduate Studies Calendar
www.sgs.utoronto.ca/calendar
Contact and Address
Web: www.pharmtox.utoronto.ca
Email: pharmtox.dept@utoronto.ca
Telephone: (416) 978-5244
Fax: (416) 978-6395
Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology
University of Toronto
Room 4207, Medical Sciences Building
Toronto, Ontario M5S 1A8
Canada
Degree Programs
Pharmacology
Master of Science
Minimum Admission Requirements
 Applicants are admitted under the General Regulations
of the School of Graduate Studies. Applicants must also
satisfy the Department of Pharmacology and
Toxicology's additional admission requirements stated
below.
 Appropriate bachelor's degree from a recognized
university with a final-year average of at least a B+.
 Applicants are normally required to have taken courses
in physiology, biochemistry, or applied sciences
sufficient to form a foundation for their work in
pharmacology.
 All successful applicants are responsible for obtaining
research supervision and financial support before they
are permitted to officially register in their program.
Program Requirements
 Minimum period of one full year of residence, during
which time the student is required to be on campus fulltime and consequently in such geographical proximity as
to be able to participate fully in the department's
activities associated with the program.
 PCL 1002Y Graduate Pharmacology. The academic
program may require additional coursework.
 Each student will present a departmental seminar after
approximately one year in the program.
 Each student will participate in a research program and
present the results of the investigation as a written
thesis. The thesis will be evaluated and defended to the
satisfaction of a thesis examination committee.
 MSc students in pharmacology who intend to continue
their studies in the PhD program may choose to be
evaluated during their MSc oral defence.
Pharmacology and Toxicology
1
Degree and Diploma Programs by Graduate Unit
Field: Applied Clinical Pharmacology
 Major Research Project (1.0 FCE). Students will enrol
in PCL 2200Y0, normally in the Summer of Year 1 or no
later than the Fall of Year 2.
Minimum Admission Requirements
 Applicants are admitted under the General Regulations
of the School of Graduate Studies. Applicants must also
satisfy the Department of Pharmacology and
Toxicology’s additional admission requirements stated
below.
 An appropriate bachelor’s degree from a recognized
university with a final-year average of at least a B+.
 Applicants are normally required to have taken courses
in physiology, biochemistry, or applied sciences
sufficient to form a foundation for their work in
pharmacology.
Advanced-Standing Option
 At the discretion of the program director, applicants may
Program Length
Advanced-Standing Option
be considered for advanced standing with either:
o a bachelor’s degree in pharmacology or biomedical
toxicology or
o MD degree (undergraduate medical education) with
coursework in pharmacology.
Program Requirements
Completion of 8.0 full-course equivalents (FCEs) as
follows:
 Year 1 (3.5 FCEs total):
o PCL1001Y Systems Pharmacology
o PCL1004Y Clinical Pharmacology
o PCL1402H Pharmacology and Toxicology in Drug
Development
o PCL1491H Clinical Pharmacology: Principles in
Practice
o PCL1100H Applied Skills in Clinical Pharmacology
 Year 2 (3.5 FCEs total):
o Required courses (1.5 FCEs):
 PCL1002Y Graduate Pharmacology
 PCL1101H Technology in Pharmacology and
Toxicology
plus
o Elective courses (2.0 FCEs) from the following list:
 PCL 1012H Cognitive Neuropharmacology
 PCL 1300H Selected Topics in Clinical Studies
 PCL 2100H Practicum in Clinical Pharmacology
 PCL 2101Y Practicum in Clinical Pharmacology
 BTC 1830H Medical and Scientific Challenges in
Marketing New Therapeutics
 JFK 1120H Selected Topics in Drug Development I
 JNP 1014Y Interdisciplinary Toxicology
 JPM 1005Y Behavioural Pharmacology
 LMP 1407H Introductory Biostatistics and Clinical
Investigation or CHL 5201H Biostatistics for
Epidemiologists
Clinical practicums (either PCL 2100H or PCL 2101Y;
CR/NCR), if chosen from electives, must be completed
by Year 2.
2014-2015 School of Graduate Studies Calendar
www.sgs.utoronto.ca/calendar
Completion of at least 4.0 FCEs including:
 PCL1002Y Graduate Pharmacology
 PCL1004Y Clinical Pharmacology
 PCL1100H Applied Skills in Clinical Pharmacology
 At least one half-course elective (0.5 FCE) chosen from
the elective list above, and upon recommendation of
the program director.
 PCL 2200Y0 Major Research Project, taken in the Fall of
Year 1.
6 sessions full-time (typical registration sequence:
F/W/S/F/W/S);
3 sessions advanced-standing (typical registration
sequence: F/W/S);
9 sessions part-time
Time Limit
3 years full-time;
6 years part-time
0
Course that may continue over a program. The course is
graded when completed.
Doctor of Philosophy
Minimum Admission Requirements
 Applicants are admitted under the General Regulations
of the School of Graduate Studies. Applicants must also
satisfy the Department of Pharmacology and
Toxicology's additional admission requirements stated
below.
 Appropriate master's degree from a recognized
university with an average of at least a B+ in master's
degree courses.
 Applicants are normally required to have taken courses
in physiology, biochemistry, or apllied sciences sufficient
to form a foundation for their work in pharmacology.
 The department determines the eligibility of prospective
students. The department assesses the student's ability
for advanced study and independent research in
pharmacology.
 Well-qualified students with excellent research potential
holding an appropriate bachelor's degree from a
recognized university may be considered for direct
admission to the PhD program. These applicants must
have achieved a minimum final year average of A-.
 Applicants admitted without prior screening (i.e., with
MSc degrees from other departments or universities,
and students admitted with a bachelor's degree) will
have their research ability reviewed after completion of
one year. Upon successful completion of a departmental
Pharmacology and Toxicology
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Degree and Diploma Programs by Graduate Unit
seminar and recommendation from the student's
advisory committee, the student will be permitted to
proceed with the PhD program.
 Students transferring from the master's program in
pharmacology to the PhD program may receive full
credit for master's courses towards doctoral course
requirements, with the department's permission.
 The department must be satisfied about the applicant's
background, accomplishments, and financial support.
 All successful applicants are responsible for obtaining
research supervision and financial support before they
are permitted to officially register in their program.
0
Course that may continue over a program. The course is
graded when completed.
Course List
The department should be consulted each session as to
course offerings. Students may also find up-todate course
information on the departmental website.
PCL 1001Y
Systems Pharmacology
PCL 1002Y
Graduate Pharmacology
PCL 1003Y0
Seminars in Pharmacology (Credit/No
Credit)
PCL 1004Y
Clinical Pharmacology
PCL 1012H
Cognitive Neuropharmacology
PCL 1110H
Applied Skills in Clinical Pharmacology
PCL 1491Y
Clinical Pharmacology: Principles in
Practice (co-requisite: PCL 1004Y or
prior pharmacokinetics course)
PCL 2200Y0
Major Research Project (prerequisite or
co-requisite: PCL 1100H)
JFK 1120H
Selected Topics in Drug Development I
JFK 1121H
Selected Topics in Drug Development II
JFK 1122H
Drug Transport Across Biological
Membranes
JNP 1014Y
Interdisciplinary Toxicology
JNP 1016H
Graduate Seminar in Toxicology
JNP 1017H+
Molecular and Biochemical Basis of
Toxicology
JNP 1018H+
Current Topics in Molecular and
Biochemical Toxicology
JNR 1444Y
Fundamentals of Neuroscience: Cellular
and Molecular
JPM 1005Y
Behavioural Pharmacology
JYG 1555H
Topics in Cellular and Molecular
Neurobiology
Program Requirements
 Minimum period of two full years of residence, during
which time the student is required to be on campus fulltime and consequently in such geographical proximity as
to be able to participate fully in the department's
activities associated with the program.
 PCL 1002Y Graduate Pharmacology (major subject),
PCL 1003Y0 Seminars in Pharmacology (Credit/No
Credit course), 1.0 additional FCE (minor subject), and
any other courses advised by the Graduate Education
Committee. The student's advisory committee should
help the student determine the minor course.
 Pharmacology graduate faculty members also offer a
variety of laboratory-based and tutorial-based learning
modules to provide breadth to the student's training
experience beyond their particular areas of research
focus. During their program, PhD students are required
to choose four breadth modules from among available
options. 0.5 FCE from outside the student's research
area may substitute for one of the five breadth modules.
The student's advisory committee will assist the student
in choosing suitable modules.
 As part of the course requirement for PCL 1003Y
Seminars in Pharmacology, the student must present
thesis material in seminars to the department on two
occasions, one of which will take place between two and
six months prior to the departmental Final Oral
Examination.
 Each student will participate in a research program and
present the results of the investigation as a written
thesis. The thesis must be orally defended to the
satisfaction of a thesis examination committee.
 PhD students in other departments who desire to take a
minor in pharmacology will be permitted to take one of
the listed courses depending on their previous training
and space availability in the course.
Program Length
4 years full-time; 5 years direct-entry
Time Limit
0 Course
that may continue over a program. The course is
graded when completed.
+ Extended course. For academic reasons, coursework is
extended into session following academic session in which
course is offered.
6 years full-time; 7 years direct-entry
2014-2015 School of Graduate Studies Calendar
www.sgs.utoronto.ca/calendar
Pharmacology and Toxicology
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