Ph.D. - Coursework and Research

The Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry offers a series of courses designed to impart the student with a knowledge base in pharmacokinetics, equilibrium phenomena, organic chemistry physical-organic chemistry, chemical kinetics, drug stability, separation science and biotechnology.

Foundation Coursework

  • Foundation courses must be successfully completed by all students enrolled in the program within the first three semesters of graduate studies.
  • We offer eight core courses that each student must take and receive a grade of B or better to be eligible to take the comprehensive foundation exam (typically offered in January after the completion of three semesters of graduate study).
  • The students are additionally required to complete an elective course that ideally is related to their research interests and further, complete what the institution has termed RS2 requirements.
  • The department emphasizes excellence in research.
  • We make every effort to ensure students are able to commit as much time as possible on their research projects, thus allowing the student to earn their Ph.D. degree in a timely fashion.
  • To make this possible, the departmental foundation courses are taught every year.
  • Our students are fully supported by the department throughout their time in the program and are not burdened with time-consuming teaching responsibilities.

Fall Semester - Year One

Courses

Spring Semester - Year One

Courses

Fall Semester - Year Two

Courses

Elective Course(s)

In addition to the courses listed above, graduate students are required to take one additional elective course. This may be from an additional course offered by the Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry or it can be from any other department on campus with prior approval from the student's research advisor and/or graduate director.

RS2 Requirements

To successfully complete the didactic component of training in the Department, the student must complete two Research Skills requirements, frequently satisfied by successfully undertaking an appropriate course.

Required of All Students - To Be Taken a First Opportunity

Courses

Recommended For All Students

Courses

Seminar

All graduate students are required to attend the weekly departmental seminar. Seminars consist of presentations by guest speakers, faculty members, and students. Typically, graduate students are required to present at least two departmental seminars during their time in the program. The seminar may be based on progress achieved in their research or on a literature review of work related to their research.

Ph.D. Dissertation

Each Ph.D. candidate is required to submit and defend a dissertation resulting from research of sufficient originality and quality for publication in peer reviewed scientific journals. The research is conducted under the supervision and guidance from the student's advisor, with input from the dissertation committee as needed. The median time for students to complete their Ph.D. degree in the Department is 5.3 years.

M.S. Degree in Pharmaceutical Chemistry

Except under unusual circumstances, the Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry does not recruit students seeking the M.S. degree. However, all students who pass the comprehensive qualifying exams for the Ph.D. receive a non-thesis M.S. degree. Students enrolled in the Ph.D. program who wish to terminate with the M.S. degree must satisfactorily complete at least one third of the courses recommended for the Ph.D. degree, present a thesis based on original research or a suitable technical report based on the review of published research in a particular area, and pass a final oral general examination.