Graduate courses

Course requirements for the graduate programs are noted in the academic calendar. Students should refer to their respective academic calendar for details:

Required courses for graduate programs in Pharmacy are typically offered once per year, with the exception of the thesis proposal courses (PHARM 601, PHARM 616A, and PHARM 616B) which are offered every term. Students should sign up in the appropriate term (term 2 for MSc, term 3 for PhD). This is explained in detail on the Thesis Proposal page of the MSc and PhD student handbook.

PHARM 610, which is a required course for MSc and PhD in Pharmacy students, is typically offered in the winter term and should be taken by students within the first year of their program.

The core courses for the MPharm program are offered once per year, in the fall and winter terms, in the first and second terms of the program. MPharm students must take these core courses when they are offered to ensure they meet program requirements on time. 

Recommended biostatistics & quantitative analysis courses for MPharm students

The following University of Waterloo courses are approved to fulfill the biostatistics or quantitative data analysis course requirement:

• HLTH 605A Regression Models
• HLTH 605B Quantitative Methods and Analysis
• HLTH 656 Quantitative Methods and Analysis for Program
• KIN 630 Research Design and Statistical Analysis
• REC 622 Foundation of Quantitative Inquiry
• REC 772 Quantitative Research Data Analysis and Interpretation

To obtain approval for biostatistics or quantitative data analysis courses not appearing on this list, email the administrative coordinator for graduate studies and research a copy of the course syllabus of the proposed course.   

In addition to any elective courses offered in Pharmacy, students may take courses in other departments toward their degree requirements.

• All students may take courses in other departments; refer to graduate course information and schedules for details.
• MSc and PhD students are encouraged to discuss suitable elective course options with their supervisor and advisory committee members.

Normally, courses are taken 'for credit' and are counted toward degree requirements and included in the calculation of the student’s cumulative grade point average (CGPA)  

Sometimes students wish to take more courses than required and do not want to have the extra courses counted toward their degree. In such cases, a student may choose to “audit” a course, or take a course as “extra” to their degree.

Auditing a course

When a student audits a course, the course appears on their transcript and if all course requirements as required by the instructor are successfully completed by the student, 'AUD' is noted on the transcript.

Taking a course as "extra" to the degree

When a student takes a course as extra to their degree, the course will appear on the transcript and the grade will be noted but not counted in their CGPA, nor toward the degree. Should the student decide to pursue an additional degree at Waterloo or elsewhere, the 'extra course' will be eligible for transfer toward fulfillment of the additional degree.

It is the student's responsibility to ensure their student record is up to date, and to follow up with the course instructor, department, or institution, if any grade is missing from their record.