Graduate Education in the School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences

Graduate students in the School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences are actually students in one of the three departments within the School that offer graduate degrees. Interested and qualified students may earn the degrees of Master of Science (MS) and/or Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in one of the graduate programs in the School of Pharmacy or one of several interdisciplinary graduate programs involving faculty from the School (see "Programs"). Students are encouraged to obtain as much information as possible about our graduate offerings so they can determine which program best matches their needs and interests. This is an important decision, since transferring between graduate programs, unlike most undergraduate programs, usually involves starting one's graduate career over again.

Plans of Study

The graduate programs offered within the School do not have a fixed plan of study for each student. Instead, plans of study are tailored to meet the individual goals and iterestes of the students. Though each graduate program may have certain course, examination, and thesis requirements, the time needed for completion of the requirements for a degree is variable among those programs as well as among the individuals in those programs. The University has established a maximum limit of 8 years for completion of any graduate program, although some programs in the School may stipulate a more stringent limit on the time allowed for completion of a degree.

The Role of Research

Graduate education and research are inextricably interwoven in the typical cases of thesis-based graduate degrees. At the present time, only the Pharmacy Practice department offers a full-time non-thesis Masters Degree. The Department of Industrial and Physical Pharmacy offers a part-time non-thesis MS in Regulation and Quality Control for persons who are employed in the pharmaceutical industry. All Ph.D. programs require a doctoral dissertation. Graduate degrees involving a thesis are conferred to students that have demonstrated their advanced understanding by participation in the scientific discovery process. Although traditional course work is involved initially in graduate education programs, all Ph.D. and thesis-based MS programs of study culminate in original research effort under the mentorship of the faculty. This mentorship involves both a primary research advisor and an advisory committee. Choosing a primary research advisor and advisory committee for graduate work is made early in one's graduate career and is a very important personal decision. The details of this process vary considerably across programs.

Careers

A thesis-based graduate degree usually qualifies the recipient to perform research and research-related tasks (such as technical writing, technical marketing, research administration, regulatory affairs, and government regulation) in any organization involving research. In addition, recipients of the Ph.D. degree are considered qualified for academic professorships. Students obtaining any graduate degree may simultaneously seek secondary education teaching certification through the School of Education and the appropriate state certification board, which qualifies individuals for holding specific teaching positions at secondary education institutions.