Oct 07, 2024  
2014-2015 Graduate Catalog 
    
2014-2015 Graduate Catalog [Not Current Academic Year. Consult with Your Academic Advisor for Your Catalog Year]

Pharmacology, Ph.D.


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Pharmacology is the study of the mechanisms of action of drugs and drug effects on normal and disease states.  It is a science based upon the integration of chemistry, biochemistry, cell and molecular biology, and physiology.  Students in the Pharmacology program may develop research programs in the areas of renal, autonomic, central nervous system, cardiovascular pharmacology, natural products, structural biology, signal transduction, or protein biochemistry.

Before formal admittance to doctoral candidacy, students must pass a qualifying examination prepared and administered by the student’s dissertation committee as well as present and defend a research proposal to this committee.  If the student cannot meet the requirements for doctoral candidacy, the student may be permitted to complete the requirements for a contingent M.S. degree in Pharmacology .

Admission Requirements


General Admissions Requirements

All graduate program applicants must have at least a Bachelor of Science degree from either an accredited academic or professional institution comparable to the Bachelor of Science degree awarded at the University of Houston.  Students must submit satisfactory scores on the general aptitude portion (verbal, quantitative and analytical writing) of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) and have a minimum 3.0 (A=4.0) grade point average on all work attempted, graduate and undergraduate, beginning with the semester in which the student took the first of the 60 most recently earned semester hours.  GRE scores are evaluated as one information source in the total graduate application.

Applicants must have taken 3 credit-hour undergraduate courses in biochemistry and in human physiology.  These also may be taken the summer before entry to the program.

Applicants also may be asked to take placement examinations given by the department in order to determine eligibility for admission or to indicate deficiencies in undergraduate course work.  A test for English proficiency may be required for international applicants.  For additional specific admission requirements, applicants should visit Admission to the Program in Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences.

General Degree Requirements

The degree tracks in Pharmaceutics and Pharmacology consist of courses common to both tracks and specialty course tracks in Pharmaceutics or Pharmacology.  These specialty tracks provide essential training in the elected major discipline.  The course of study to complete the degree is anticipated to take approximately five years after obtaining the Bachelors degree.

In addition to the course work shown below, students in both Pharmacology and Pharmaceutics must pass oral and written qualifying exams, complete a research project, and write and defend a dissertation.  If a student completes coursework but cannot complete these other requirements, he/she may be able to finish with a contingent Master’s degree.

General Degree Requirements


The degree tracks in Pharmaceutics and Pharmacology consist of courses common to both tracks and specialty course tracks in Pharmaceutics or Pharmacology. These specialty tracks provide essential training in the elected major discipline. The course of study to complete the degree is anticipated to take approximately five years after obtaining the Bachelor’s degree.

In addition to the course work shown below, students in both Pharmacology and Pharmaceutics must pass oral and written qualifying exams, complete a research project, and write and defend a dissertation. If a student completes coursework but cannot complete these other requirements, he/she may be able to finish with a contingent Master’s degree.

Research Requirements


In addition to course work, the students must complete an original research project, write a doctoral dissertation and successfully defend the dissertation before their doctoral dissertation committee to meet the requirements of the doctoral degree. A minimum of 18 credit hours of Doctoral Research (PCOL 8X98)/Doctoral Dissertation (PCOL 8X99) is required as part of this requirement.

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