Master of Science in Pharmacoeconomics and Health Outcomes

The Master of Science in Pharmacoeconomics and Health Outcomes is not currently accepting applications. 

The Master of Science in Pharmacoeconomics and Health Outcomes is a 30 credit, fully online degree program. Health economics and outcomes research are increasingly important to the health care industry and aims to optimize patient care delivery and clinical decision-making as well as influence policy discussions related to health care reimbursements and priorities.

This degree program will prepare students for careers in health care administration, medical affairs, and market access and research in public and private health systems, the pharmaceutical industry, health insurance companies, government and academia.

Students will take courses covering topics including biostatistics, epidemiology, qualitative and quantitative research methods, health economics and health care delivery systems.

Here are job openings in this field for which a graduate would be competitive.

Core Required Courses

Students are required to take all of the following courses in order to earn the Master of Science in Pharmacoeconomics and Health Outcomes degree. Courses will be offered fully online, in either an asynchronous or partly synchronous/asynchronous model.  The courses will be offered as scheduled during the Fall, Spring, or Summer semesters.

PHA 703 Biostatistics
PHA 704 Epidemiology
PHA 705 Introduction to statistical software programming
PHA 707 Qualitative methods
PHA 708 Healthcare delivery, policy, and management
PHA 709 Survey of health services research methods
PHA 710 Quantitative methods
PHA 712 Health economics
PHA 713 Pharmacoeconomic Modelling
PHA 714 Advanced Statistical Methods
PHA 719 Patient Reported Outcomes
PHA 722 Seminar

Capstone or Thesis requirements

Depending on the goals of the student, each student may enroll in one or both of the following courses in addition to a one-credit seminar course towards the completion of the degree.  Students may enroll in each course up to two times.  This is not a requirement for graduation.

PHA 794 Capstone
PHA 795 Thesis


Who should apply?

Professionals from a variety of health care backgrounds, including:

  • Pharmaceutical industry professionals
  • Regulatory compliance managers
  • Healthcare administrators
  • Managed care pharmacists
  • Health system pharmacists
  • Registered nurses and nurse administrators
  • Pharmacy or nursing students


Program Director: Lorenzo Villa Zapata, Pharm.D., Ph.D.

Lorenzo Villa Zapata

Dr. Villa Zapata joined Mercer University in August 2020 as a clinical assistant professor of pharmacy practice. He was an assistant professor at the College of Pharmacy at the Universidad de Concepción in Chile for 10 years, focusing on health outcomes and economics research, and most recently he was a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Colorado Skaggs School of Pharmacy. Google Scholar


Other Teaching Faculty

Jill Augustine, MPH, Pharm.D., Ph.D., assistant professor of pharmacy practice and pharmaceutical sciences and director of assessment
Jennifer Nguyen, Ph.D., adjunct faculty
Mohsen Yaghoubi, Ph.D., adjunct faculty


Admission Requirements

Student can begin courses in fall, spring, or summer. Potential applicants are required to complete a bachelor’s degree program or higher, completing courses with a C grade or better. Applicants are asked to submit their application through PharmGrad application service and should have a demonstrated interest in pharmacy and health care services through degree programs (e.g., undergraduate major or graduate degree) or work experience.  For an applicant from a country where the primary language is not English, official TOEFL or IELTS scores must be submitted for review.

The PharmGrad application process includes a curriculum vitae or resume and a statement of purpose. Your statement of 1 – 2 pages in length should address how your background and/or experiences have prepared you for graduate school, areas of research of interest to you and your professional, academic, research and extracurricular achievements.


Tuition

$750 per credit hour + technology fee of $17 per credit hour (max. of $150)
Total estimated tuition for Master’s Degree  = $23,041


Financial Aid Eligibility

Master’s degree students are eligible for private and federal loans. For more information, contact the pharmacy financial aid coordinator, Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m., at 678.547.6346.


Ready to Apply?

https://www.pharmgrad.org


Questions?

Contact Dr. Villa Zapata