PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences

Admission Requirements

In addition to the Graduate College minimum requirements, applicants must meet the following program requirements:

  • Baccalaureate Field Pharmacy, chemistry, biological sciences, or a related biomedical science area
  • Grade Point Average At least 3.00/4.00 for the final 60 semester (90 quarter) hours of undergraduate study
  • Tests Required None

  • English Proficiency Additional information on the English proficiency test requirement for international students can be found on the UIC Admissions website. Minimum test scores for this program are:

    • Exam Score Reading Listening Speaking Writing
      TOEFL iBT (exams taken on or after January 21, 2026) 4.5 4 4 4.5 4.5
      TOEFL iBT (exams taken prior to January 21, 2026) 80 19 17 20 21
      IELTS Academic 6.5 6.0 6.0 6.0 6.0
      PTE Academic 54 51 47 53 56
  • Letters of Recommendation Three required from individuals who are familiar with the applicant’s training, ability, character, and potential for successful completion of the program.
  • Personal Statement Required. Applicants are encouraged to state their specific interest in the program.

Degree Requirements—PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences

  • Minimum Semester Hours Required 96 from the baccalaureate, 64 from the master’s.
  • Coursework At least 24 hours must be in 400- to 500-level didactic courses.
Required Core Courses
GC 501
Scientific Integrity and Responsible Research
PSCI 501
Drug Discovery, Design, and Development
PSCI 502
Training in Research Presentation (or equivalent)
Biostatistics (any graduate-level course, 1-hour minimum)

Students must select one of five concentrations:

Pharmaceutics and Drug Delivery Concentration

Required Concentration Courses
BSTT 400
Biostatistics I (or equivalent) a
GC 470
Essentials for Animal Research
GC 471
Experimental Animal Techniques
PSCI 510
Principles of Pharmaceutics and Drug Delivery
Electives
At least 9 hours must be in 400- to 500-level didactic courses and selected in consultation with the student's research advisor
a

This 4-hour course will count 1 hour toward the program core statistics requirement and 3 hours toward the Pharmaceutics and Drug Delivery concentration requirements. Students will not receive credit for two introductory statistics courses.

Pharmacognosy Concentration

Required Concentration Courses
Electives
PSCI 520
Research Techniques in Pharmacognosy (or equivalent)
PSCI 521
Structure Elucidation of Natural Products (or equivalent)
PSCI 522
Advanced Pharmacognosy (or equivalent)
At least 9 hours must be in 400- to 500-level didactic courses and selected in consultation with the student's research advisor

 Chemistry in Drug Discovery Concentration

Required Concentration Courses
PSCI 530
Principles of Medicinal Chemistry (or equivalent)
PHAR 422
Fundamentals of Drug Action (or equivalent)
Electives
At least 9 hours must be in 400- to 500-level didactic courses and selected in consultation with the student's research advisor

Molecular Mechanisms and Therapeutics Concentration

Required Concentration Courses
Biochemistry (e.g., GEMS 501 or equivalent graduate-level biochemistry course)
Molecular Biology (e.g., GEMS 502 or equivalent molecular biology course)
A minimum of 3 hours in the following courses:
BSTT 400
Biostatistics I
GEMS 511
Molecular Genetics
GEMS 515
Receptor Pharmacology and Cell Signaling
MIM 560
Microbial Pathogenesis
PSCI 540
Cancer Biology and Therapeutics
Electives
At least 9 hours must be in 400- to 500-level didactic courses and selected in consultation with the student's research advisor

Forensics Concentration

NOTE:  The Forensics Concentration is not admitting students until further notice. Contact the program directly for more information

Required Concentration Courses
BPS 580
Forensic Science: Survey and Foundations
BPS 581
Forensic Analysis of Biological Evidence
BPS 582
Forensic Chemistry and Trace Evidence Analysis
BPS 583
Physical Pattern Evidence Analysis
BPS 584
Forensic Drug Analysis and Toxicology
BPS 587
Forensic Science Seminar (at least two semesters)
BPS 588
Expert Witness Testimony and Courtroom Demeanor
Electives
At least 9 hours must be in 400- to 500-level didactic courses and selected in consultation with the student's research advisor

Other Requirements 

  • Examinations
    • Departmental Qualifying Examination: Not required.
    • Preliminary Examination: Required; written and oral.
  • Dissertation Required; including oral defense.
  • Other Requirements Students are required to complete research rotations during their first year of study (up to 4 semester hours of PSCI 592).

Degree Requirements—MS in Pharmaceutical Sciences

  • Minimum Semester Hours Required 32
  • Coursework
Required Core Courses
GC 501
Scientific Integrity and Responsible Research
PSCI 501
Drug Discovery, Design, and Development
PSCI 502
Training in Research Presentation
Biostatistics (any graduate-level course, 1-hour minimum)

 Students must select one of four concentrations:

Pharmaceutics and Drug Delivery Concentration (MS

Required Concentration Courses
BSTT 400
Biostatistics I (or equivalent) a
GC 470
Essentials for Animal Research
GC 471
Experimental Animal Techniques
PSCI 510
Principles of Pharmaceutics and Drug Delivery
a

This 4-hour course will count 1 hour toward the program core statistics requirement and 3 hours toward the Pharmaceutics and Drug Delivery concentration requirements. Students will not get credit for two introductory biostatistics courses.

Pharmacognosy Concentration (MS)

Required Concentration Courses
PSCI 520
Research Techniques in Pharmacognosy (or equivalent)
PSCI 521
Structure Elucidation of Natural Products (or equivalent)
PSCI 522
Advanced Pharmacognosy (or equivalent)

Chemistry in Drug Discovery Concentration (MS)

Required Concentration Courses
PSCI 530
Principles of Medicinal Chemistry (or equivalent)
PHAR 422
Fundamentals of Drug Action (or equivalent)

Molecular Mechanisms and Therapeutics Concentration (MS)

Required Concentration Courses
Biochemistry (e.g., GEMS 501 or equivalent graduate-level biochemistry course)
Molecular Biology (e.g., GEMS 502 or equivalent molecular biology course)
A minimum of 3 hours in the following courses:
BSTT 400
Biostatistics I
GEMS 515
Receptor Pharmacology and Cell Signaling
GEMS 511
Molecular Genetics
PSCI 540
Cancer Biology and Therapeutics
MIM 554
Molecular Aspects of Microbiology

Other Requirements 

  • Comprehensive Examination None.
  • Thesis, Project, or Coursework-Only Options Thesis required. Students must earn at least 6 hours in PSCI 598.