The University of Maryland School of Pharmacy offers two online graduate study programs in medical cannabis, the MS and Graduate Certificate.

Graduate Studies in Medical Cannabis Summary Master of Science (MS) Graduate Certificate
Number of Required Courses 8 4 
Number of Total Credits 30  12 
In-Person Symposia Required to attend 4 in Rockville, Md. Students do not attend
Time to Completion 2 years  1 year

About the Courses:

Most courses in the MS program are eight weeks long: two eight-week courses taken consecutively in the fall semester, two eight-week courses in the spring semester, and one eight-week course in the summer semester of year one.

The MS in Medical Cannabis Science and Therapeutics blends online instruction with face-to-face experiences at the Universities at Shady Grove, located in Rockville, Md. The program is designed to be completed in two years.

Students will take five required foundational courses in medical cannabis science, therapeutics, and policy. Students will also be able to choose four elective courses based on their interests. After completing elective courses. In addition to these courses, students will take a one-credit course based on the fall and spring symposiums in year one, and two one-credit capstone courses in year two.

The Graduate Certificate in Medical Cannabis Science, Therapeutics, and Policy provides the flexibility of learning in an online environment. The program is designed to be completed in one year.

Students will take four foundational courses that are the first four in the MS in Medical Cannabis Science and Therapeutics program. Students have the option to transition to the MS program after completing the Graduate Certificate.

Graduate Certificate in Medical Cannabis Science, Therapeutics, and Policy Plan of Study:

The Graduate Certificate consists of the first four courses of the MS in Medical Cannabis Science and Therapeutics program, for a total of 12 credits. The four courses are:

MS in Medical Cannabis Science and Therapeutics Plan of Study:

Year Semester Course Number Credits Course Name
1 Fall A MCST 601 3 Introduction to Medical Cannabis History, Culture, and Policy
1 Fall B MCST 602 3 Principles of Drug Action and Cannabinoid Pharmacology
1 Spring A MCST 604 3 The Clinical Effects of Medical Cannabis
1 Spring B MCST 603 3 Basic Cannabinoid Chemistry and Drug Delivery
1 Fall/Spring MCST 613 1 Medical Cannabis Symposium
1 Summer   3 Elective 1*
2 Fall A MCST 607 3 Negative Physical, Psychiatric, and Social Effects of Cannabis
2 Fall A/B MCST 614 1 Medical Cannabis Capstone I
2 Fall B   3 Elective 2*
2 Spring A   3 Elective 3*
2 Spring B   3 Elective 4*
2 Spring A/B MCST 615 1 Medical Cannabis Capstone II

MS students in the Graduate Studies in Medical Cannabis program must pass three of the following foundational courses (MCST 601, MCST 602, MCST 603, MCST 604) with a grade of C or higher in order to be eligible to progress to elective coursework.

All elective courses are 3 credits except for MCST 619 (1 credit). MS students must choose to take four of the possible elective courses: