Education

Pharmacodynamics

Education

We're looking for future scientists who want to take a step off the sidelines and immerse themselves in research that will change the course of health care from cancer to cardiovascular disease.

The Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences: Pharmacology and Physiology

The Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences with a concentration in Pharmacodynamics blends physiological and pharmacological sciences to identify how chemical entities modify biological systems to produce both beneficial and harmful effects. Our students gain mastery in key organ systems (gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, endocrinological, reproductive, immunological and oncological, peripheral and central nervous system function), receptor signal transduction and theory (binding affinity, efficacy and dose-response analysis) and the molecular entities that modulate organ systems. Our degree plan offers diverse training experiences so that students are maximally equipped to pursue a variety of career paths in academia, the pharmaceutical and biotechnology sector, and government agencies such as the Food and Drug Administration.

General Overview of the Curriculum 

Year 1 includes didactic course requirements in pathophysiology, pharmacology, life cycle of a drug, statistics, professional development and research ethics. There is a student journal colloquy and research seminar series taken each year for the duration of the program. Students choose a dissertation mentor and home lab by the end of year 1. 

Year 2 includes additional didactic course requirements in scientific writing and communication and grant writing, as well as electives chosen in consultation with the dissertation mentor. There is increased time and focus on laboratory research that will form the basis of the student’s dissertation. The student chooses a dissertation committee consisting of the mentor and four additional faculty members who meet once per semester until graduation.

Year 3 includes laboratory research and a qualifying examination that must be passed to advance to formal candidacy for the Ph.D. degree. The qualifying exam consists of a written dissertation proposal, a public seminar, and a committee members-only oral examination focused on the proposal and key questions and concepts associated with the research area.

Years 4 & 5 includes predominantly research credit hours that enable focus on completion of dissertation experiments and writing and defense of the dissertation. The anticipated time to program completion and earning the Ph.D. degree is five years.

For each year of the program, students register for nine hours of academic credit per fall and spring term and six hours per summer term. 

Year 1

Year 1 Fall Term

Year 1 Spring Term

Year 1 Summer Term

*Changes in required courses must be approved by the Graduate Coordinator and Department Chair in consultation with the department graduate faculty. Doctoral Research (PHA7980) can be taken up to the maximum number of hours shown for each term. Elective coursework requires approval of the dissertation mentor and Graduate Coordinator, and elective hours are subtracted from Doctoral Research hours.

**Supervised Research (PHA6910) cannot exceed a maximum of 5 credit hours across Year 1 Summer and Year 2 Fall Terms. This leaves 3 hours of elective coursework that must be completed during these terms.

Year 2

Year 2 Fall Term

Year 2 Spring Term

Year 2 Summer Term

*Changes in required courses must be approved by the Graduate Coordinator and Department Chair in consultation with the department graduate faculty. Doctoral Research (PHA7980) can be taken up to the maximum number of hours shown for each term. Elective coursework requires approval of the dissertation mentor and Graduate Coordinator, and elective hours are subtracted from Doctoral Research hours.

**Supervised Research (PHA6910) cannot exceed a maximum of 5 credit hours across Year 1 Summer and Year 2 Fall Terms. This leaves 3 hours of elective coursework that must be completed during these terms.

Years 3-5

Years 3-5 Fall Term

Years 3-5 Spring Term

Years 3-5 Summer Term

*Changes in required courses must be approved by the Graduate Coordinator and Department Chair in consultation with the department graduate faculty. Doctoral Research (PHA7980) can be taken up to the maximum number of hours shown for each term. Elective coursework requires approval of the dissertation mentor and Graduate Coordinator, and elective hours are subtracted from Doctoral Research hours.