Apr 16, 2024

2017-2018 Graduate Catalog

2017-2018 Graduate Catalog [Not Current Academic Year. Consult with Your Academic Advisor for Your Catalog Year]

Pharmaceutics/Pharmacology/Medicinal Chemistry, Pharm.D./Ph.D.

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The PharmD/Ph.D. program is an integrated program which allows a student to complete the degrees in a shorter duration of time as opposed to entering each degree program (PharmD followed by Ph.D.) successively. The PharmD/Ph.D. program at the University of Houston is designed for highly motivated and qualified individuals who are seeking integrated training in the clinical and basic sciences preparing them for a career in academia or research. By carefully structuring the combined degree program, it is feasible to educate and train students to complete the requirements of both the Doctor of Pharmacy and Doctor of Philosophy degrees in seven years. Students will select a research track in pharmacology or pharmaceutics, with emphasis in one of the following disciplines: Pharmaceutics, Pharmacology, and Medicinal Chemistry.

The program’s graduates will have the necessary knowledge of a basic science discipline and a full appreciation of the clinical sciences to excel in and act independently in research. The graduate will be able to assume a leadership role in and provide exemplary service to a wide spectrum of institutions concerned with healthcare and/or health delivery.

Admission Requirements

At least one year of completion of the UH Doctor of Pharmacy program
Overall grade point average of 3.0 or greater on a four-point scale
Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores in the upper 25th percentile (A conditional acceptance into the program may be granted without the GRE. However, the GRE must be taken by the end of the first semester in the Pharm.D./Ph.D. program).
International students must meet the English requirements of the University and College, attaining minimal scores on the TOEFL iBT of 89 or minimal scores of 50 in one of the tests of spoken English (TSE or SPEAK), or 6.5 on the IELTS, or have earned a degree from an accredited U.S. institution. Full requirements are found on the International Graduate Students website.

Degree Requirements

All PharmD/Ph.D. degree candidates are required to take core courses and courses specific to their chosen research track (Pharmacology, Medicinal Chemistry or Pharmaceutics). Graduate (Ph.D.) and professional (PharmD) courses are interleaved throughout the approximately seven years that are required to achieve both degrees. The PharmD degree is awarded first, typically after five years.

REQUIRED CORE DIDACTIC GRADUATE COURSES
PHCA 7308 - Biostatistics and Experimental Design Credit Hours: 3.0
PCOL 7370 - Scientific Writing Credit Hours: 3.0
PCOL 7333 - Molecular Pharmacology Credit Hours: 3.0
PCEU 7355 - Regulatory Affairs Credit Hours: 3.0
BIOL 6120 - Responsible Conduct of Biological Research Credit Hours: 1.0
ADDITIONAL COURSES

Students also take additional required courses (ten credits for Pharmacology, twelve for Pharmaceutics) and nine credits of graduate level elective courses in their area of emphasis.

Additional required didactic graduates courses for the Pharm.D./Ph.D. in Pharmacology:
PCOL 6462 - Cardiovasc. Renal Pharmacology Credit Hours: 4.0
PCOL 7362 - Neuropharmacology Credit Hours: 3.0
PCOL 7350 - Cellular Pharmacology I Credit Hours: 3.0
Additional required didactic graduates courses for the Pharm.D./Ph.D. in Pharmacology/Medicinal Chemistry:
PCOL 6345 - Drug Design and Discovery Credit Hours: 3.0
PCOL 7350 - Cellular Pharmacology I Credit Hours: 3.0
PCOL 7260 - Advanced Medicinal Chemistry Credit Hours: 2.0
Additional required didactic graduates courses for the Pharm.D./Ph.D. in Pharmaceutics:
PCEU 6342 - Advanced Pharmaceutics I Credit Hours: 3.0
PCEU 6345 - Advanced Pharmaceutics II Credit Hours: 3.0
PCEU 7340 - Advanced Drug Delivery Credit Hours: 3.0
Students are given credit for an additional 15 credit hours of didactic courses in the Pharm.D. program because they take equivalent courses in the Ph.D. program. Therefore, students will take an additional 19-23 credit hours of didactic and 41-42 hours of research hours prior to completion of their Ph.D. program. Special problems courses may account for no more than half of the research credits. The courses will be predominantly from the course offerings in the College of Pharmacy and the respective discipline. Some courses may be taken at other colleges in the University and/or from institutions at the Texas Medical Center.
ELECTIVE COURSES

Students may take courses from another PPS degree track as electives, or any suitable course at UH, or another institution, with the approval of their mentors.

Academic Policies

Dual degree students must maintain a 3.0 GPA in both Pharm.D.and Ph.D. courses. Students who receive a grade of ‘C’ or lower in more than 8 Cr. Hr. of graduate courses will be dismissed from the Ph.D. program, and they may remain in the Pharm.D. program. In addition, a student with an ‘I’ as the most recent grade in a graduate level course will not be eligible for graduation. A student receiving an ‘F’ in a course with 3 or more Cr. Hr. will be dismissed from the Ph.D. program with no appeal. A student receiving a ‘D’ in a course with 3 or more Cr. Hr. will be dismissed unless the Ph.D. program unless the Graduate Education Committee determines that other aspects of the student’s career (e.g. high GPA, publications) warrant the student’s continuation. If the student is permitted to continue, he/she must repeat the course and achieve at least a ‘B’ grade. Failure to get a ‘B’ on the second try will result in immediate dismissal from the Ph.D. program. A student receiving two Unsatisfactory (U) grades in any course will be dismissed from the Ph.D. program. A student may be dismissed from the program if he/she fails to select a mentor by the end of year two after beginning graduate work, fails to appoint a committee by the end of the fourth long semester, or fails to complete both parts of the qualifying exam by the end of the fourth long semester.

Current Students in Pharmacology & Pharmaceutics: Policies & Procedures

Academic Policies: College of Pharmacy

University of Houston Academic Policies