PharmD/PhD

The entry level curriculum leading to the professional Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) degree requires a minimum of six years of study. Up to 77 semester hours are required in the pre-professional curriculum. Admission to the professional program is competitive, based upon successful pre-pharmacy academic performance and available positions in each class. After successful completion of 77 semester hours and interviews, students are admitted to a four-year professional program.

The Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, one of the departments with the College of Health and Human Sciences, subscribes to the missions of the College and of North Dakota State University in the provision of Teaching, Research, and Service. The Department provides instruction in disciplines applicable to science. The faculty design and conduct research in the natural and biological sciences, as well as mentor graduate and Professional students in advanced concepts of pharmaceutical science and in the process of scientific inquiry.

NDSU offers both the MS and PhD degrees in Pharmaceutical Sciences. The graduate program emphasizes both research and teaching excellence. The doctor of philosophy degree is awarded in recognition of high scholarly achievement as evidenced by a period of successful study, the satisfactory completion of examinations and the development of an acceptable dissertation project covering some significant aspect of a major field of learning and research. After successful completion of a PhD degree program, students have had a high level of success gaining highly desirable employment in academia, industry and governmental agencies.

The dual program (PharmD/PhD) is designed to provide an opportunity for outstanding professional students in the PharmD program at North Dakota State University obtain research experience and a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree in the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences.

It is proposed that this can be accomplished with an additional three years of study and research placed between the second and the third years of the four-year professional PharmD program.

It is believed that the combination of the PharmD and PhD degrees will greatly enhance the student’s research background, critical thinking skills, and marketability for leadership positions within the profession of pharmacy in academic, government, and industrial environments.

Admission

Students in the PharmD program will make an application to the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences by December 15 at the end of the fall term of their second year (P2) in the program for acceptance into the PharmD/PhD program. They should have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above. At the same time, an application to the graduate school should also be made. The GRE should also be taken by the end of this semester. PharmD/PhD applications will be considered by the Department as for all graduate students.

Course requirements during the professional program

The PharmD curriculum is unchanged. In the fall semester of the P1 year, a faculty member(s) will make the students aware of the PharmD/PhD option, and briefly outline the program.

The PhD Graduate Dissertation Years (i.e. G1, G2, G3)

Students will receive a monthly stipend, and tuition waiver during PhD graduate year 1 (G1), year 2 (G2) and year 3 (G3). For this time period the students are full-time graduate students in the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, subject to the same expectations (e.g. seminar participation, 6 credits of PSCI 790, year-round study, etc.). During the three graduate years, the students will be required to complete STAT 725 (3 cr), BIOC 701 (4 cr) and BIOC 702 (4 cr). In addition, if interested, students may take other 700-level courses available in the department and university. Thus by the end of G3, the students will have a minimum of (12 cr) 600-level and (up to 21 cr) 700-level didactic credits. At the end of three graduate years, students would be able to write dissertation and pass the final thesis examination.

In addition to didactic credits, students will take 1 credit Seminar (PSCI 790) in the fall and the Spring semesters of each of the three graduate years. Students will also be required to take 60 thesis research credits (PSCI 799) during three graduate years.

The PharmD Years (P3 & P4)

For the final two years of the professional program, no changes in the coursework of the P3 and P4 years are proposed. Tuition waivers are not awarded during the P1-P4 years.

Program requirements for the participants

Once accepted into the dual degree program, they must maintain a GPA of 3.0 or above.

PhD Summary: 12 credits of 600 and at least 18 out of 21 suggested credits of 700=30 didactic credits, with 6 credits seminar and 60 credits dissertation gives a total of 96 graduate credits. Up to 12 credits of 600 level courses can be used for the Pharm.D.

P3 and P4 years will remain as it is in the traditional PharmD program.

Suggested Course Schedule for PharmD/PhD Students

P-1 Year: It would remain the same. In summer, students are required to do a research rotation in three laboratories. Please contact the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences (231-7661) for details.

P-2 Year: It would remain the same.

G-1 Year: BIOC 701 (4 cr), BIOC 702 (4 cr), STAT 725 (3 cr), PSCI 790 (2 cr), PSCI 799 (15 cr), PSCI 611 (3 cr), PSCI 670 (3 cr)

G-2 Year: PSCI 790 (2 cr), PSCI 799 (25 cr), and at least any two of the following 3 credit courses: PSCI 612/613/614/615

G-3 Year: PSCI 790 (2 cr), PSCI 799 (20 cr)

P-3 Year: Unchanged

P-4 Year: Unchanged

Students interested in pursuing this option need to see Dr. Jagdish Singh, Chair of Pharmaceutical Sciences, to begin the process. Dr. Singh's office is located in Sudro Hall 136.