Master of Science in Natural Products Science
Develop your skills and knowledge in the innovative and emerging field of natural products.
Become a trusted and skilled leader in the natural products industry
You will explore the pharmacology of and the development of products from natural sources to ensure they perform as expected for consumers. Become an advocate that will work to establish the safety and efficacy of naturally sourced products. From natural medicines, herbal supplements, and other naturally-derived products you will develop the expertise to further expand this emerging industry.
8-week manageable sessions
Select the medical cannabis or nutraceuticals concentration for this online masters
Questions? We’re here to help
Our team is available to help you as you consider the next step in your education.
Get answers to your questions
Our team is standing by to assist you with additional program details, financial aid options, and admissions questions.
Concordia University will not share your personal information. By submitting this form you agree to be contacted about Concordia's Education Offerings.Select the medical cannabis or nutraceuticals concentration and engage in specialized coursework to establish your expertise. Help ensure that nutraceuticals and medical cannabis meet government regulations and are safe for consumers. You will collaborate and learn from faculty that are experts in natural products drug discovery, microbiology, toxicology, and cannabinoid pharmacology.
Master four key learning outcomes that will develop and enhance your knowledge and skillset in either of the concentrations.
- Pharmacologic action and effect
- Treatment efficacy
- Product development
- Interdiscliplinary communication
"Natural products are all around and are a treasure box
that can be opened and explored."
Tzvia Springer, Concordia Assistant Professor, BS, PhD
Select the concentration that best fits your abilities, background and future career goals. Each concentration will benefit individuals working in healthcare, pharmacy, manufacturing, R&D, and business.
Medical Cannabis
Concentration-specific courses:
1. History of medical cannabis in the world
2. Cannabis science
3. Clinical efficacy of cannabis
4. Medical cannabis in the interprofessional setting
Nutraceuticals
Concentrations-specific courses:
1. Introduction into nutraceuticals
2. Discovery and development of nutraceuticals strategies
3. Nutraceutical industry
4. Nutraceutical market and regulation
Select the concentration that best fits your abilities, background and future career goals. Each concentration will benefit individuals working in healthcare, pharmacy, manufacturing, R&D, and business.
Medical Cannabis
Concentration-specific courses:
1. History of medical cannabis in the world
2. Cannabis science
3. Clinical efficacy of cannabis
4. Medical cannabis in the interprofessional setting
Nutraceuticals
Concentrations-specific courses:
1. Introduction into nutraceuticals
2. Discovery and development of nutraceuticals strategies
3. Nutraceutical industry
4. Nutraceutical market and regulation
- Online
Graduate application steps
The Natural Products Sciences program requires a minimum undergraduate GPA requirement of 3.00. Students below a 3.00 may still be reviewed for consideration.
Admissions process for graduate school
Application
- Application form available at: www.cuaa.edu/apply
- One page essay describing your reason for obtaining a graduate degree
- Résumé of your education and employment experience
- Two signed letters of recommendation using the Recommendation Form (recommendation letters on letterhead may also be submitted)
- All official transcripts leading to your bachelor’s degree
Please note:
- Graduate entrance exams such as the GRE are not required
- If you have completed graduate level classes in the last seven years and wish to have them evaluated for possible transfer, please contact your admissions counselor for more information on transferring graduate credits
- International students should contact the Office of International Student Services at international.admissions@cuaa.edu for additional application requirements
Evaluation
When an applicant’s file is complete, the file is forwarded to the Admission Committee for review.
Admission
If the student is admitted, an acceptance letter will be mailed to the student and the student’s Student ID number. Password information to access my.cuaa.edu will be sent separately from the Information Technology office. Your advisor will be able to give you information regarding completion of the required student orientation before you begin your first class.
Undergrad Degree
A Bachelor of Science (BS) is required for acceptance into this program. An undergrad degree, such as a Bachelor of Arts or other undergrad degrees, will also be considered by admission and the program director.
Non-Degree seeking graduate students
- Please complete the Non-Degree Application at www.cuaa.edu/apply
- Non-degree applicants only need to submit an application to begin admission review; however academic transcripts may be requested to complete our review
Contact us
For additional information, please contact the Inquiry Management Team at Inquiry.Support@cuw.edu or 877-289-1897.
Robert S. Burlage
Department Chair - Pharmaceutical and Administrative Sciences, Professor
Phone: (262) 243-2774
Bio
Robert Burlage is a microbiologist and molecular biologist with an interest in gene regulation in bacteria. He is the chair of the Pharmaceutical and Administrative Sciences Department.

Education
- Ph D - Microbiology, University of Tennessee (1990)
- MS - Biology, Duquesne University (1981)
- MS - Microbiology, Columbia University (1986)
- BA - Biology, Rutgers University (1979)
Contributions
- Brown, M., Buckley, E., Burlage, R., Kostrzewa, A., Peppard, S., Ray, S., Stoehr, N. & Theesfeld, M., (2021). Concordia University School of Pharmacy COVID-19-Focused Health Initiatives. Virtual Pharmacy Education 2021: American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy.
- Kosinski, T. & Burlage, R. (2020). Evaluation of efficacy and superiority of different vial rubber closure disinfection techniques. In Loyd Allen (Ed.), (5 ed.,vol. 24,pp. 434-438). Edmond, OK: International Journal of Pharmaceutical Compounding. https://ijpc.com/...
Presentations
- Cottonaro II, M., Albano, C., Arneson, D. & Burlage, R., (2016). Comparison of doctorate of pharmacy dual degrees and pharmacy residencies utilizing ecnomic data. Poster. American Society of Health Care Systems 2016 Midyear Meeting . Las Vegas, Neveda.
- Arneson, D., Burlage, R. & Albano, C., (2015). Development of a Public Health Pharmacy Undergraduate Program. Poster. 2015 AACP Annual Meeting . National Harbor, Maryland.
Research Interests
- Gene expression
- Regulatory proteins and DNA binding
Teaching Interests
- Microbiology
- Public health microbiology
Uvidelio F. Castillo
Associate Professor
Phone: (262) 243-2799
Bio
Experience Science Educator in relation to: Biotechnology, Chemical Tools in Biotech Sciences, Organic Chemistry, Instrumental Analysis of known and unknown chemical components or analyte, Chemical Ecology Relationships, Agricultural Chemistry & Agra-Business, as well as published author

Education
- Ph D - Organic Chemistry, Nagoya University (2000)
- MS - Applied analytical Chemistry, Universidad de Los Andes Mérida (1994)
- MS - Organic Chemistry, Universidad de Los Andes Mérida (1996)
- BS - Fungi biochemistry and virology, Colorado State University (1987)
- Research on Bioactive Natural Products from Microbes, Plant Sciences, Montana State University (2006)
Contributions
- Castillo, U. (2022). A pilot study to reliably measure the tissue concentration of mitomycin Cafter hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy in patients with gastrointestinal malignancies.. In Journal of Clinical Oncology (Ed.), (DOI: 10.1200/JCO.2022.40.4 ed.,vol. 40,pp. 1). American Society of Clinical Oncology 2318 Mill Road, Suite 800, Alexandria, VA 22314: Journal of Clinical Oncology 40, no. 4_suppl (February 01, 2022). https://ascopubs....
- Castillo, U. (2017). "Structural analysis and antimicrobial activity of chromatographically separated fractions of leaves of Sesamum angustifolium (Oliv.) Engl.." Scientific article. Elsevier: Journal of Ethnopharmacology.
Presentations
- Xiong, A., Jang, H., Castillo, U. & Springer, T., (2022). Analysis of Antibiotic Properties from Streptomyces sp. KB40 Endophyte STRP-110. Poster. Student Poster Fair - CUW. CUW - School of Pharmacy.
- Hribar, C., Earll, M., Castillo, U. & Springer, T., (2022). Discovering novel antimicrobials in endophyte producing Streptomyces misionesis against opportunistic pathogens. Poster. Student Poster Fair - CUW. CUW - School of Pharmacy.
- Earll, M., Hribar, C., Castillo, U. & Springer, T., (2022). Identifying antimicrobial molecules from Streptomyces spp. against antibiotic resistant human pathogens. Poster. Student Poster Fair - CUW. CUW - School of Pharmacy.
- Pittman, G., Xiong, B., Springer, T. & Castillo, U., (2022). Search of Antimicrobial Compounds from Streptomyces sp. Ag109_G2-1. Poster. Student Poster Fair - CUW. CUW - School of Pharmacy.
- Castillo, U., Springer, T. & Van Rossum, E., (2022). Searching for Antibiotic Compounds from Bacillus strain STRP-49-1. Poster. Student Poster Fair - CUW. CUW - School of Pharmacy.
Research Interests
- My research interest and expertise are in the area of chemistry of natural products from microbial endophytes, focusing in the drug discovery for new antibiotics and anti-cancer agents. Another area
- Antibiotic Activity Studies of Essential Oils Mixture and the synergistic effects when combined with known antibiotics against Candida albicans, Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and
Teaching Interests
- My teaching interests are to connect a given knowledge to our daily life and our daily jobs. When I teach, I want my students, who could be from different backgrounds, to learn the study subject so he
- Or she could apply the knowledge to his or her field.
Christopher W. Cunningham
Associate Professor
Phone: (262) 243-2792
Bio
Our research focuses on the design, synthesis and characterization of analgesics and anti-addiction agents. Students who work in our laboratory are exposed to the drug design and discovery process, including new synthetic techniques and novel probe development.

Education
- Ph D - Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Maryland (2008)
- BS - Chemistry and Germanic Studies, University of Maryland (2002)
- University of Kansas Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Specialized Chemistry Center (2011)
Teaching Interests
- PharmD: Pharmacology & Medicinal Chemistry
- MPD: Principles of Drug Design and Development
Elizabeth Laubach
PharmD, BCPS
Assistant Professor
Office: Pharmacy Building 237

Education
- Pharm D - Concordia University Wisconsin (2014)
- BS - Biomechanics, Cornell University (2004)
Terry-Elinor Reid
Ph.D. Assistant Professor
Office: Pharmacy Building 221
Phone: (262) 243-2764

Education
- Ph D - Pharmaceutical Sciences, Howard University (2015)
- BS - Chemical Engineering, Howard University (2005)
Contributions
- Chamberlain, K., Johnson, M., Reid, T. & Springer, T., (2022). Utilizing in silico and in vitro methods to identify possible binding sites of a novel ligand against Pseudomonas aeruginosa phospholipase toxin ExoU. (vol. 29). Biochemical Biophysical Reports .
Research Interests
- Rational Drug design and discovery of HIV Latency Reversing Agents
- Rational Drug design and discovery of Anti-Cancer agents
Teaching Interests
- Medicinal Chemistry of drugs
- Rational Drug Discovery/Computer-Aided Drug Discovery & Design