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
  • Minimum English Competency Test Score
    • TOEFL 80, with subscores of Reading 19, Listening 17, Speaking 20, and Writing 21 (iBT Test); 60, with subscores of Reading 19, Listening 17, Writing 21 (revised Paper-Delivered Test), OR,
    • IELTS 6.5, with subscores of 6.0 for all four categories, OR,
    • PTE-Academic 54, with subscores of Reading 51, Listening 47, Speaking 53, and Writing 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.
  • Course Work At least 24 hours must be in 400- to 500-level didactic courses.
Required Core Courses
Scientific Integrity and Responsible Research
Drug Discovery, Design, and Development
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
  • Pharmacognosy
  • Chemistry in Drug Discovery
  • Molecular Mechanisms and Therapeutics
  • Forensics

Pharmaceutics and Drug Delivery Concentration

Required Concentration Courses
Biostatistics I (or equivalent) a
Essentials for Animal Research
Experimental Animal Techniques
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
Research Techniques in Pharmacognosy (or equivalent)
Structure Elucidation of Natural Products (or equivalent)
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
Principles of Medicinal Chemistry (or equivalent)
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:
Biostatistics I
Molecular Genetics
Receptor Pharmacology and Cell Signaling
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

Required Concentration Courses
Forensic Science: Survey and Foundations
Forensic Analysis of Biological Evidence
Forensic Chemistry and Trace Evidence Analysis
Physical Pattern Evidence Analysis
Forensic Drug Analysis and Toxicology
Forensic Science Seminar (at least two semesters)
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
  • Course Work
Required Core Courses
Scientific Integrity and Responsible Research
Drug Discovery, Design, and Development
Training in Research Presentation
Biostatistics (any graduate-level course, 1-hour minimum)

 Students must select one of four concentrations:

  • Pharmaceutics and Drug Delivery
  • Pharmacognosy
  • Chemistry in Drug Discovery
  • Molecular Mechanisms and Therapeutics

Pharmaceutics and Drug Delivery Concentration (MS)

Required Concentration Courses
Biostatistics I (or equivalent) a
Essentials for Animal Research
Experimental Animal Techniques
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
Research Techniques in Pharmacognosy (or equivalent)
Structure Elucidation of Natural Products (or equivalent)
Advanced Pharmacognosy (or equivalent)

Chemistry in Drug Discovery Concentration (MS)

Required Concentration Courses
Principles of Medicinal Chemistry (or equivalent)
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:
Biostatistics I
Receptor Pharmacology and Cell Signaling
Molecular Genetics
PSCI 540
Cancer Biology and Therapeutics
Molecular Aspects of Microbiology

Other Requirements 

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