Our Pharmaceutical Management MBA curriculum is in sync with the rhythm of the industry, which means you'll enter the workforce with readily applicable knowledge taught to you by distinguished academics and former executives. The Pharma MBA experience is the best of theory and practice. Our curriculum is expansive and addresses a variety of issues affecting the industry today.
Part-time MBA students entering the program prior to Spring 2025 may follow either the pre-spring 2025 concentration or the current concentration.
Students can now earn a STEM MBA. To qualify, students must take a minimum of half of their credits in STEM-designated courses (25-30 credits). The Core Curriculum provides 9 STEM credits. Please use the STEM Link below to view all STEM courses.
| MBA: 15 Credits | |
|---|---|
Required Courses | 9 Credits |
Electives (Any Area) | 6 Credits |
Dual Primary Concentration Requirements: Pharmaceutical Management students that wish to have a dual Primary Concentration with Marketing, must take 22:630:604 Marketing Research as one of their chosen electives.
In addition, students must complete:
Restrictions: There is no secondary concentration option for the Pharmaceutical Management concentration.
| Course # | Course Name | Credit(s) | STEM (Y/N) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 22:223:607 | Pharmaceutical Industry: Issues, Structure & Dynamics | 3 | N |
| 22:373:621 | Ethics in the Pharmaceutical Industry | 3 | N |
| 22:373:622 | U.S. Healthcare System & Pharmaceutical Managed Markets | 3 | N |
| Course # | Course Name | Credit(s) | STEM (Y/N) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 22:630:604 | Marketing Research | 3 | Y |
| 22:630:618 | Pharmaceutical Product Management | 3 | N |
| 22:630:619 | Managing the Pharmaceutical Sales Organization | 3 | N |
| 22:630:684 | Market Access and Reimbursements for Drugs | 3 | Y |
This course contains weekly presentations by pharmaceutical industry professionals on topics relevant to the bio pharmaceutical industry, the topics include drug approval process, FDA’s relationship with the industry, pricing strategies, intellectual property & patents, genomics, licensing & partnering, market structure, mergers & acquisitions, and other. Students are evaluated based on three equally weighted papers of their choice.
Prerequisites or Corequisite: 22:373:622 U.S Healthcare System & Pharmaceutical Managed Markets
This course will help aspiring executives in the pharmaceutical firms to develop the knowledge, skills and ethical compass to succeed in this environment. The topics covered include research ethics, bioethics, intellectual property, healthcare reform, and drug marketing. This course exposes students to a diversity of perspectives from academic and industry point of view. It uses Harvard Business School cases that give students opportunities to learn by making executive-level decisions in real-world business context. Students will be expected to (1) participate actively in the case studies, (2) complete three written assignments of 5-8 pages, and (3) participate in one end-of-term group presentation on a timely topic in drug policy.
The health care industry in the United States is one of the most controversial and changing systems in the global economy. In recent years it has transformed into a conglomerate of public and private entities; each with its own agenda, funding sources and place in the market. Topics of discussion will include characteristics of the health care system, public/private sector roles, health care markets, managed care impact, congressional proposals, health policy changes, health care reform strategies, and the role of patients/consumers. The primary focus of this course will be how these influences relate to the business of pharmaceuticals.
Provides insight into the nature and assumptions of marketing research conducted by corporations and commercial research companies. Provides practical experience in planning and implementing marketing research. Covers the sale of marketing research in business management; survey research and questionnaire design; scientific marketing research design and planning; data collection, application of statistical analysis such as multidimensional scaling, cluster analysis, and conjoint analysis; report writing and communication of research results; and types of research purchase behavior.
Prerequisite: Marketing Management (22:630:550 (FT) / 22:630:586 (PT))
This course focuses on ‘real-world’ marketing challenges faced in the pharmaceutical industry. Topics of exploration include: product development, lifecycle planning, competitive analysis, coordination with the sales force, positioning/messaging, business development and monitoring performance. It will examine the various roles a product manager performs both internally and externally. A comprehensive marketing/launch plan for a phase III drug will be developed. Lectures will be supplemented by guest speakers and case studies.
Prerequisite: 22:630:550 or 22:630:586 Marketing Management
In the pharmaceutical market, sales and share growth are results of needs based, consultative selling complimented by various other marketing tools and tactics. The promotional, consultative approach to selling complements the overall marketing strategies. Leadership and management of sales force are critically important to the success of a product. The course will address all of these issues. In addition, students will spend a day in the field along with an actual field rep to get a feel of the job "Day in the Life of a Pharmaceutical Sales Representative" followed by an active, participatory session focusing on the tactics required to drive a marketing plan from a sales perspective.
Prerequisite: All MBA core courses
Decisions we make about our health are critically important, and yet as patients and consumers, we are often ill informed. A variety of well-meaning third parties – providers, payers, pharmacists, and politicians (among others) – influence our access to drugs and the price we pay for them. This course will explore the complex variety of transactions that takes place between the development and manufacturing of a pharmaceutical product and financial mechanisms that influence the payer, provider, and the patient, including the following:
This course cannot be used as an elective towards the Marketing concentration.