The history of the School of Pharmaceutical Sciences dates back to a private pharmacy school, the Nagoya School of Pharmacy (Nagoya Yaku Gakko) founded in 1884. In 1984, we celebrated its 100th anniversary. Since its foundation, the school has remained at the heart of pharmaceutical science research in this area. The Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences previously consisted of two departments, the Department of Pharmacy and the Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry. In 2006, it was reorganized in accordance with the national reform of the pharmacy education system and the 6-year program of the Department of Pharmacy (60 students) and the 4-year program of the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences (40 students) were established. Both departments provide programs to students to acquire expert skills systematically and practically through lectures, practical training and diploma projects. Many students who have graduated from the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences have gone on to the Graduate School to acquire more advanced knowledge of drug discovery and life sciences or medical practice pharmacies and have become active researchers in drug development or pharmacists contributing to advanced medical treatment.

In the Department of Pharmacy, students can gain a comprehensive understanding of medical science related to medicines and medication and can acquire the qualifications necessary for the national examination for pharmacists. This is a six-year education program that aims to train pharmacists and persons who can contribute to various fields related to medical treatment.

In the Department of Pharmaceutical and Life Sciences, students will acquire a broad range of knowledge, from the basics to the most-advanced drug discoveries and life sciences. This is a four-year education program that aims to train researchers in drug development and other persons who can contribute to the development of life sciences and medical treatment based on their broad expertise. Those students who enroll in and before 2017, complete the master's course in pharmacy and meet the requirements provided for by the Ordinance of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, will obtain qualification for the national examination for pharmacists.

The Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences aims to train self-motivated researchers and engineers by teaching more advanced, cutting-edge knowledge and skills and engaging in innovative advanced research. The Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences consists of two majors (Medicinal and Life Sciences and Experimental and Clinical Pharmacy). Graduate students in the master's program will be given instruction on how to engage in research projects and will mainly acquire problem-solving skills. Graduate students in the doctorate program will show the results of more advanced research and present scientific papers, while also acquiring the skills to find research projects, in addition to problem-solving skills. Students who have graduated from the Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences have gone on to pursue careers in research and development, mostly at pharmaceutical companies, and have contributed to the development of pharmaceuticals in Japan. They have also been active as researchers at public research institutes or universities. Moreover, in response to the need for advanced knowledge and skills in the proper use of medicines, along with the progressive separation of dispensing and prescribing functions, we also provide opportunities for special internships in medical practice pharmacies. The Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences has been undergoing a progressive reorganization as students in the new program advance from year to year with the establishment in the Department of Pharmacy (6-year program) and the Department of Pharmaceutical and Life Sciences (4-year program) of the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences in 2006. In 2010, the master's program (2-year program) was reorganized in correspondence with the 4-year program in the undergraduate school and changed to a single major (Medicinal and Life Sciences Major). The doctorate program (3-year program) is scheduled to be reorganized in 2012. Another doctorate program (4-year program) corresponding to the 6-year program in the undergraduate curriculum is scheduled to be established in 2012. In order to promote enhanced, diversified education and research in the Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, we opened the oncology and experimental gerontology fields in April 2008 based on partnership agreements with the Aichi Cancer Center and the National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology. Lectures on the integration of pharmaceuticals and engineering were also inaugurated in the second term of 2008 based on a partnership agreement with the Nagoya Institute of Technology.

Graduate students will acquire the knowledge and skills needed for research and development of the latest medicines that can contribute to the medical treatment of diversified diseases and will learn cutting-edge knowledge and skills in Structural and Functional Analyses of Biomolecules that correspond to the rapid progress of the life sciences. They will also gain knowledge and skills in leading life and drug discovery sciences by combining related academic fields organically as well as study and research the promotion and development of medicine development and the life sciences.

Graduate students will respond appropriately to the advancement and complication of diagnoses and medical treatments, including medicines, in medical practice; they will conduct basic research and clinical research that will serve as the foundation of advanced expertise and skills for the proper use of medicines, the prevention of medication-related health disasters, the proper care of patients from the perspective of pharmacy, and the management of investigational new drugs; they will study and research the practices of medical pharmacies in the basic and clinical practice of medical practice pharmacies as well as the promotion and development of pharmacists' activities.