The Pharmaceutical Sciences and Drug Design program offers Ph.D., M.S., and dual Pharm.D./M.S. degrees to develop highly trained pharmaceutical and biomedical scientists.
Curriculum for the Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences and Drug Design:
Ph.D. students are expected to complete degree training within five years. Degree requirements include:
Core Courses:
BMED 615 |
Molecular Pharmacology (offered spring even-numbered years) |
BMED 621 |
Medicinal Chemistry – Drug Design (offered autumn even-numbered years) |
BMED 632 |
Advanced Pharmacokinetics (offered autumn odd-numbered years) |
BMED 594 |
Research Progress Seminar (present seminar yearly starting in 2nd year) |
BMED 605 |
Biomedical Research Ethics |
BMED 609 |
Biomedical Statistics |
BMED 637 |
Topics in Pharmaceutical Sciences and Drug Design (taken every semester of the program) |
BMED 697/699 |
Research/Dissertation |
Elective Courses:
Specialized electives chosen based on research interests may include classes offered across a range of disciplines across the Molecular and Biomedical Sciences Umbrella.
Research Rotations:
Graduate students will rotate through the laboratories of three faculty members during their first year in the program, after which students will choose a faculty research advisor, advisory committee, and a dissertation research project.
Proposed Plan of Study for Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences and Drug Design:
Year 1:
Core course work
Research rotations
Selection of research advisor
Selection of advisory committee
Approval of Plan of Study
Year 2:
Completion of core and elective course work
Research Progress Seminar
Dissertation research
Year 3:
Approval of Research Proposal
Research Progress Seminar
Comprehensive Exam
Dissertation research
Year 4:
Research Progress Seminar
Dissertation research
Year 5:
Dissertation research and writing
Dissertation defense
Curriculum for the M.S. in Pharmaceutical Sciences and Drug Design:
M.S. students are expected to complete degree training within two years. Degree requirements include:
Core Courses:
BMED 615 |
Molecular Pharmacology (offered spring even-numbered years) |
BMED 621 |
Medicinal Chemistry – Drug Design (offered autumn even-numbered years) |
BMED 632 |
Advanced Pharmacokinetics (offered autumn odd-numbered years) |
BMED 594 |
Research Progress Seminar |
BMED 609 |
Biomedical Statistics |
BMED 637 |
Topics in Pharmaceutical Sciences and Drug Design (taken every semester of the program) |
BMED 597/599 |
Research/Thesis |
Research Rotations:
Graduate students will rotate through the laboratories of two faculty members during their first year in the program, after which students will choose a faculty research advisor, advisory committee, and a thesis research project.
Proposed Plan of Study for M.S. in Pharmaceutical Sciences and Drug Design:
Year 1:
Core course work
Research rotations
Selection of research advisor
Selection of advisory committee
Approval of Plan of Study
Year 2:
Research Progress Seminar
Approval of Research Proposal
Thesis research and defense
Curriculum for the dual-degree Pharm.D/M.S. in Pharmaceutical Sciences and Drug Design:
Pharm.D./M.S. students are expected to complete degree training within the timeframe of the Pharm.D. curriculum. Degree requirements include:
Core Courses:
12 transfer credits from Pharm.D. curriculum |
Credits from a comination of: PHAR 421/422 Medicinal Chemisty I/II PHAR 443/444 Pharmacology/Toxicology I/II |
PUBH 520 |
Fundamentals in Biostatistics |
BMED 594 |
Research Progress Seminar |
BMED 637 |
Topics in Pharmaceutical Sciences and Drug Design (taken every semester of the program) |
BMED 597/599 |
Research/Thesis |
PHAR 588 |
Research APPE (optional) |
Proposed Plan of Study for M.S. in Pharmaceutical Sciences and Drug Design:
P1 Year:
Selection of research advisor and begin research
Apply to the program end of P1 year
P2 Year:
P2 year transer and core course work
Thesis research
Selection of advisory committee
Approval of Plan of Study
P3 Year:
Core course work
Thesis research
Research Progress Seminar
Approval of Research Proposal
P4 Year:
Research APPE
Thesis research and defense