Graduate Certificate in Drug Delivery

The Graduate Certificate in Drug Delivery in the School of Pharmacy at Temple University prepares current pharmaceutical professionals, academics who are interested in pursuing drug delivery research and eligible students—including professional pharmacy students—with the credentials and skills critical to elevating their careers in the field. This program’s sequence is designed to introduce the basic principles of pharmaceutical formulations, drug delivery and nanotechnology, and then detail the principles of pharmaceutical dosage form development, biopharmaceutics and delivery system evaluation.

This 12-credit Drug Delivery Certificate is fully online and is a combination of asynchronous and synchronous course content.

Questions 

For more information about the Graduate Certificate in Drug Delivery, please email tuspgrad@temple.edu.

Graduate Certificate in Drug Delivery

Students gain expertise in the formulations, manufacturing techniques, storage systems and technologies involved in transporting a pharmaceutical compound to its target site in the human body to achieve a desired therapeutic effect. 

Drug Delivery Certificate Learning Outcomes 

Upon completion of the program, you will

  • learn the techniques required for pursuing the process of drug delivery;  

  • gain an understanding of how drugs and medicines are delivered;

  • broaden your understanding of the clinical, medical and regulatory aspects of drug delivery; and  

  • become a more marketable professional to expand and advance in your career. 

What sets apart the Drug Delivery Certificate at Temple’s School of Pharmacy? 

  • Faculty mentorships: Students work side-by-side with the school’s renowned pharmaceutical sciences faculty, learning directly from experts in the field.
  • Verified path to pharmaceutical science research: The Drug Delivery Certificate at Temple provides graduates with a direct path to careers in pharmaceutical science research, including positions in academia, industry, government, and other research and development environments.
  • Location: The School of Pharmacy is in Philadelphia, a hub for pharmaceutical sciences across industry and academia. 

Pharmaceutical Sciences at the School of Pharmacy  

The Pharmaceutical Sciences Graduate Program is led by world-class researchers and academics in drug discovery, development, delivery, action, efficacy, safety and manufacturing. Pharmaceutical sciences draws from multiple disciplines including pharmacology, chemistry, biology and engineering. 

Research topics spearheaded by the program include cancer; central nervous system disorders; metabolic, cardiovascular and pulmonary disease; formulations; microbes; and infectious disorders. The School of Pharmacy focuses on a patient-centered approach to advancing care and improving lives. Learn more about pharmaceutical sciences at the School of Pharmacy.

Drug Delivery Applicants

The following students may be interested in applying to this graduate program.

  • Bachelor’s, master’s or PhD graduates in chemistry, biology or other life sciences 

  • PharmDs

  • International students (Should be English language proficient.) 

Program Format and Curriculum

The Graduate Certificate in Drug Delivery is fully online with asynchronous and synchronous components. The program is 12 credits and can be completed in a minimum of one year. 

The program comprises four courses. See the course requirements.

Through the curriculum, students will  

  • understand formulation design for various drug delivery systems, their evaluation and therapeutic outcome;

  • understand FDA approval processes of products on the market including nano systems and novel delivery systems;  

  • solve problems related to the physical, chemical, biological and therapeutic characteristics of various pharmaceutical formulations that are commonly available today;

  • understand the physical pharmacy principles that underlie the traditional and novel dosage forms; and 

  • understand the different materials used in the generation of the drug delivery systems. 

Careers

Students who earn the Graduate Certificate in Drug Delivery will be prepared for job opportunities and employers in the field such as the following. 

  • Pharmaceutical, biotech, cosmetic and nutritional companies

  • Consulting 

  • Contract research organizations (CROs) 

  • Intellectual property/law firms

  • Not-for-profit research institutions 

  • Project manager 

  • Regulatory agencies

  • Research foundations 

  • Academia 

  • Scientific writer 

Program Faculty

Drug delivery is a highly specialized field of study. The program is taught by drug discovery experts who draw on their expertise in the field as well as their connection to the vast network of industrial scientists. 

  • Reza Fassihi, PhD, professor of pharmaceutical sciences

  • Marc Ilies, PhD, professor of pharmaceutical sciences

  • David Lebo, PhD, RPh, associate professor of pharmaceutical sciences 

  • Ho-Lun Wong, PhD, professor of pharmaceutical sciences 

Tuition & Fees

In keeping with Temple’s commitment to access and affordability, this Graduate Certificate offers a competitive level of tuition with multiple opportunities for financial support.

Tuition rates are set annually by the university and are affected by multiple factors, including program degree level (undergraduate or graduate), course load (full- or part-time), in-state or out-of-state residency, and more. These tuition costs apply to the 2024–2025 academic year.

Pennsylvania resident: $830.00 per credit
Out-of-state: $830.00 per credit

You can view the full cost of attendance breakdown on the Student Financial Services website.

PH-DRDL-GRAD

Additional Program Information

Available online.

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