Graduate students in Pharmaceutical Sciences choose a research area to specialize in: Drug Action, Drug Delivery, or Drug Discovery. Beyond required courses, each student is expected to attain a depth of knowledge in their area of expertise. Students are expected to work with their thesis committee to identify elective course(s) to provide this desired depth.
Three (3) additional credits in the biological/chemical/physical sciences, in engineering, or in clinical investigation, are part of the Pharmaceutical Sciences PhD requirements and must be completed before one’s preliminary exam. Once drug action core course requirements have been met, additional courses taken from the core course list can also be used in fullfillment of the elective reuirement. Note that courses in more than one category are acceptable, if taking more than one course to meet this credit requirement. Course(s) must count “toward the 50% graduate coursework requirement” as denoted in the university’s Course Guide. Students may consult with the Director of Graduate Studies to assess whether a given course(s) will meet this requirement. Presented below is a list of common elective courses at this level taken by recent Pharmaceutical Sciences graduate students. Students are not restricted to this list; it is provided for information purposes. Additionally, if you are planning on taking an elective that isn’t taught every year, or is taught outside of our department, you may want to consult the timetable and/or contact the course coordinator to confirm that the course will be offered as planned.