School of Pharmacy
Natural Products Science Certificate
Increase your knowledge and awareness in nutraceuticals or medical cannabis to help others.
Become a healthcare leader in medical cannabis or nutraceuticals
Gain specialized knowledge in the field of natural product sciences to provide better and more comprehensive care to your patients. A higher level of expertise in medical cannabis and herbal medicines can help introduce new treatment options for patients with more confidence. This certificate can secure a greater role for you in healthcare settings as a trusted resource with other providers and patients.
Credits12
Cost Per Credit$940
Medical Plants
Study the history, trends, benefits, and risks of medical cannabis.
Nutraceuticals
Study the history, and the scope and development of plant-based healthcare products.
Program Overview
Choose only one area of study for this online certificate, medical cannabis or nutraceuticals. Each specialization is a 4-course sequence (12 credits total) that presents relevant, emerging, and thought-provoking information to healthcare providers and other professionals in the field.
Medical Cannabis Courses
- History of Medical Cannabis in the World
- Cannabis Science
- Clinical Efficacy of Cannabis
- Cannabis in the Interprofessional Setting
Nutraceuticals Courses
- Classification and Scope
- Discovery and Development Processes
- Science of Distribution
- Business Aspects
The faculty in this program have expertise in microbiology, toxicology, pharmacy, and cannabinoid pharmacology. Our comprehensive curriculum will help you develop a better understanding of the history, trends, therapeutic benefits, and adverse effects for medical cannabis and other natural medicines. The use of herbal supplements and alternative plant-based treatments continues to increase and it is imperative that patients and providers are well-informed when making healthcare decisions.
What to Expect
Program Details
- 100% online program
- Select one specialization (medical cannabis or nutraceuticals)
- BA or BS is required to earn this certificate
- Start date is July 2023
Graduate Application Steps
Entrance requirements
- An awarded Bachelor of Science (BS) from an accredited higher-education institution
- An undergraduate degree, such as a Bachelor of Arts (BA), or other undergrad degree, will also be considered by admissions and the program director.
- This program has a minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.00. (Students below a 3.00 may still be reviewed for consideration.)
Admissions process for graduate school
- Application form available at www.cuw.edu/apply
- Select the Non-Degree option
- One page essay which should include your reason for obtaining this certificate and how it will help you achieve your professional and personal goals.
- Current résumé of your education and employment experience
- Two letters of recommendation using this Recommendation Form
- Official transcripts from all institutions of higher education
When your application is complete, the file is forwarded to the Admission Committee for review.
Accepted into the program
- An official acceptance letter will be emailed to you that will include your Student ID number
- An email from your Admissions Counselor will be sent to you with Next-Step details
- Password information will be sent separately from the Information Technology office which will provide you access to Blackboard, your Concordia email account, and your student portal
- Academic Advising Appointment: Once admitted, you may schedule to meet with the Program Director who will review your degree plan, discuss orientation steps, the CUW student portal, and assist with registering for classes
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
- Uncommon Scholarships: If you meet qualifications, please complete an application Uncommon Scholarship
International Students
International students should contact the Office of International Admissions at international.admissions@cuw.edu for additional information on eligibility and application requirements. For more details, please visit our International Admissions website page.
Contact Us
Graduate Admission Office at graduate.admission@cuw.edu or 262-243-4300.
Robert S. Burlage
Ph.D.
Department Chair - Pharmaceutical and Administrative Sciences, Professor
Office: Pharmacy Building PHAR 223
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 Francisco 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
- Castillo, U. & Arsham, S. (2024). Exploration of Antibiotic Potential of Endophyte 143-B-2. Exhibit. Milwaukee-Area Undergraduate Biology Research Conference at Concordia University Wisconsin. CUW.
- Castillo, U., Neuendank, C. & Van Rossum, E., (2024). Investigation of Antibiotic Compounds from Bacillus strain STRP-49-1. Exhibit. Milwaukee-Area Undergraduate Biology Research Conference at Concordia University Wisconsin. CUW.
- Castillo, U. & Bauer, A. (2024). The Quantification of Hormones in Water Samples. Exhibit. Milwaukee-Area Undergraduate Biology Research Conference at Concordia University Wisconsin. CUW.
- Castillo, U. & Dasco Umpungu, D. (2024). Antibiotic development using endophytic Streptomyces STRP-110. Exhibit. CUW Undergraduate Research Symposium. CUW.
- Castillo, U. & Arnold, E. (2024). Antimicrobial Secondary Metabolites Produced by Streptomyces sp. 126-1 Against Opportunistic Pathogens. Exhibit. CUW Undergraduate Research Symposium. CUW.
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)
Contributions
- Rehrauer, K. & Cunningham, C. Bitopic and bifunctional opioid receptor ligands as novel analgesics.. (vol. 197, pp. 106966). Pharmacological Research.
- Cunningham, C. (2024). Teaching an old dog new tricks for achieving CB2-selective inverse agonism. (5 ed., vol. 10, pp. 946-948). ACS Central Science.
- Cunningham, C., Devereaux, A., Saldana-Shumaker, S. & Plotkin, A. (2023). Nitro-benzylideneoxymorphone, a new lead for developing bifunctional analgesics targeting mu and delta opioid receptors. . (vol. 14, pp. 1230053). Frontiers in Pharmacology.
- Cunningham, C. & Reid, T. (2023). Axially chiral cannabinoids: Design, synthesis, and cannabinoid receptor affinity. (25 ed., vol. 145, pp. 13581-13591). Journal of the American Chemical Association.
Teaching Interests
- PharmD: Pharmacology & Medicinal Chemistry
- MPD: Principles of Drug Design and Development
Elizabeth Laubach
PharmD, BCPS, DABAT
Assistant Professor
Office: Pharmacy Building 237
Education
- Pharm D - Concordia University Wisconsin (2014)
- BS - Biomechanics, Cornell University (2004)
Joseph Edward McGraw
Pharm.D., M.P.H., Ph.D.
Professor
Office: Pharmacy Building PH225
Phone: (262) 243-2758
Bio
Joseph McGraw teaches pharmacokinetics, mass spectrometry, and pharmacology within the School of Pharmacy. His research identifies variant phenotypes responsible for aberrant responses to drugs and environmental exposures.
Education
- Ph D - Biopharmaceutical Sciences, University of Illinois (2007)
- BS - Chemistry, University of Illinois (1996)
- Environmental Health, University of Illinois (2002)
- Pharmacy, University of Illinois (2000)
Contributions
- McGraw, J., Bichler, K. & Cherney, M. The Relative Role of CYP3A4 and CYP3A5 in Eplerenone Metabolism. Mequon.
- McGraw, J. (2018). Opportunities and obstacles in genotypic prediction of cytochrome P450 phenotypes . Mequon: Expert Opinion on Drug Metabolism & Toxicology .
Presentations
- Moore, H., Speck, J., Schmitz, M. & McGraw, J., (2024). Colonizing Farmed Walleye with Omega-3 Fatty Acid Producing Bacteria. . Oral Presentation. Milwaukee-area Undergraduate Biological Research Conference. Concordia Center Environmental Stewardship.
- Mikkelson, N., Speck, J., Schmitz, M. & McGraw, J., (2024). Identification and Isolation of Omega-3 Fatty Acid Producting Bacteria from Walleye. Poster. Milwaukee-area Undergraduate Biological Research Conference. Concordia Center Environmental Stewardship.
- Ball, P., Speck, J., Schmitz, M. & McGraw, J., (2023). Omega-3 Fatty Acid Synthesis in Bacterial Isolates of Walleye Gastrointestinal Tracts. Poster. Milwaukee-area Undergraduate Biological Research Conference. Wisconsin Lutheran College.
- Switzer, J., Hoefs, M., Bichler, K. & McGraw, J., (2020). Palmitoyl Asparagine Synthesis and Analysis. Poster. Spring 2020 National Meeting of the American Chemical Society. Philadelphia, PA (cancelled due to COVID).
- McGraw, J. (2018). Advancing a Clinical Test to Optimize Drug Dose/Selection. Poster. XULA-COP 11th Health Disparities Conference. New Orleans, LA.
Research Interests
- Translational environmental health research
- Pharmacogenetics
Teaching Interests
- Pharmacokinetics
- Pharmacology
Michael Anthony Pickart
Ph.D. Molecular Biology
Director - Recruitment for School of Pharmacy, Professor
Office: Pharmacy Building PH246
Phone: (262) 243-2793
Bio
Dr. Pickart joined CUW in 2012 with the aim of providing quality molecular biology and genetics instruction while advancing basic and translational knowledge of the genetic variation underlying individual differences in disease and treatment response.
Education
- Ph D - Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Wisconsin (2002)
- MS - Bacteriology, University of Wisconsin (1994)
- BS - Computer Science, University of Wisconsin (1991)
Contributions
- Jackstadt , M., Hutson, L., Liang , J., , M., Pierret, C. & Franz-Odendaal, T. (2024). Zebrafish in Education: Tackling Big Problems with Little Fish. (2 ed., vol. 21, pp. 71-72). Zebrafish.
- , M., Liang, J., Hutson, L. & Pierret, C. (2016). Swimming Against the Current: Zebrafish Help Address Educational Challenges. (4 ed., vol. 13, pp. 239-240). Zebrafish.
- Lyman Gingerich, J., Pickart, M. & Pierret, C. (2016). Education Platform at ZDM8. (2 ed., vol. 13, pp. 142-143). Zebrafish. https://www.ncbi....
- Ray, S. & Pickart, M. (2015). Integration of Pharmacogenomics at Concordia University Wisconsin School of Pharmacy.. (3 ed., vol. 18, pp. 80). Madison, WI: Journal of the Pharmacy Society of Wisconsin.
- Giampietro, P., Armstrong, L., Stoddard, A., Blank, R., Livingston, J., Raggio, C., Rasmussen, K., Pickart, M., Lorier, R., Turner, A., Sund, S., Sobrera, N., Neptune, E., Sweetser, D., Santiago-Cornier, A. & Broeckel, U. (2014). Whole exome sequencing identifies a POLRID mutation segregating in a father and two daughters with findings of Klippel±Feil and Treacher Collins syndromes. (1 ed., vol. Jan (167A), pp. 95-102). Am J Med Genet Part A. https://onlinelib...
Presentations
- Pickart, M., Grahl, J., Huybrecht, J. & Pha, L., (2020). New Directions: Albinism in Tanzanian--Implications for Cancer Prevention. Lecture. CUW SOP Monthly Department Seminar Series. Mequon, WI.
Research Interests
- Pharmacogenomics
- Tissue Engineering
Teaching Interests
- Molecular Biology
- Genetics
Terry-Elinor Renee Reid
Ph.D. Associate Professor
Director - Master of Science in Natural Products Science (MSNPS), Associate Professor
Office: Pharmacy Building 221
Phone: (262) 243-2764
Education
- Ph D - Pharmaceutical Sciences, Howard University (2015)
- BS - Chemical Engineering, Howard University (2005)
Contributions
- Cunningham, C. & Reid, T. (2023). Axially chiral cannabinoids: Design, synthesis, and cannabinoid receptor affinity. (25 ed., vol. 145, pp. 13581-13591). Journal of the American Chemical Association.
- Wetzel, E., Marks, K., Gleason, A., Brown-Ford, S., Reid, T., Chaundhury, S., Lindeman, S., Sem, D. & Donaldson, W. (2022). Discovery of two novel (4-hydroxyphenyl) substituted polycyclic carbocycles as potent and selective estrogen receptor beta agonists. (vol. 73, pp. 5). Elsevier.
- 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 & Computational Chemistry
- Rational Drug Discovery/Computer-Aided Drug Discovery & Design
Nancy Stoehr
Pharm.D., M.Ed., BCSCP, FACA
Director - Admissions for School of Pharmacy, Associate Professor
Office: Pharmacy Building ph131
Phone: (262) 243-2765
Bio
Dr. Nancy Stoehr earned her Pharm.D. from the University of Wisconsin Madison School of Pharmacy in 2006 and her Master of Education – Teaching and Learning degree at Concordia University Wisconsin (CUW) in 2022. Nancy completed the Lutheran Teachers Colloquy program at CUW and was instaled into the Luther Church Mysiry Synod Spring 2023. Nancy has been carrying out her vocation as an Associate Professor at Concordia University Wisconsin School of Pharmacy since 2012 where her teaching focus is pharmaceutical dosage forms, extemporaneous pharmaceutical compounding for the community patient, and pharmacy ethics. She is a Fellow of the American College of Apothecaries (ACA). Nancy also serves as an Educational Consultant for the American College of Apothecaries. In collaboration with ACA and Concordia University Wisconsin School of Pharmacy, she offers a variety of ACPE accredited compounding training workshops and has experiences with both national and international community compounders. Nancy obtained her certification as a PCAB, Pharmacy, and DMEPOS Consultant through the Accreditation Counsel of Health Care in 2020. She is the owner of “The Community Compounder’s Consultant” which is a consulting business specializing in best practice standards in community compounding both nationally and abroad. Nancy is also dedicated to Christian Pharmacists Fellowship International at both a national level as part of the education committee and at a university level as the faculty adviser for Concordia’s CPFI student chapter. Her research focuses on stability and quality of compounded dosage forms, formulation development, and spirituality in healthcare. She looks forward to continuing the incorporation of service to patients in the community, interprofessional communication, teambuilding, and research for the betterment of community pharmacy patients. She enjoys incorporating practice and research into her education of pharmacy technicians, pharmacists and future pharmacists.
Education
- Pharm D - Pharmacy, University of WI - Madison (2006)
- MS - Education, Concordia University Wisconsin (2022)
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.
- Biesboer, A. & Stoehr, N. (2016). A Product Review of Alternative Oil-Based Intravenous Fat Emulsions . Nutrition in Clinical Practice.
Presentations
- Stoehr, N. (2024). Handeling Hazardous Preparations. Oral Presentation. Comprehensive Sterile Compounding. Bartlet, TN.
- Stoehr, N. (2024). USP <797> Documentation, Facilities, and Training. Oral Presentation. Comprehensive Sterile Compounding. Bartlet, TN.
- Stoehr, N. (2024). USP <797>. Oral Presentation. Comprehensive Sterile Compounding. Bartlet, TN.
- Stoehr, N. (2023). Formulation and Regulatory Oversight of CNSP for Dermatologic Applications. Oral Presentation. Dermatological Compounding with Pain Management. Vancouvor, Canada.
- Stoehr, N. (2023). Pharmacological and Non-pharmacological Treatment Modalities, Including CNSP for Dermatological Issues and Pain. Oral Presentation. Dermatological Compounding with Pain Management. Vancouvor, CA.
Research Interests
- Spirituality in healthcare
- Pharmaceutical formulation of dosage forms
Teaching Interests
- Compounding for the community patient
- Spirituality in healthcare