The dual Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) program allows students enrolled in the PharmD program to also begin working toward a PhD degree in one of our three PhD programs concurrently or sequentially.  Upon completion of the dual program, students will have earned the PharmD degree, making them eligible for state licensure as pharmacists, and the PhD degree in one of the following disciplines: pharmaceutical sciences, clinical pharmacy translational sciences, and medicinal chemistry.

A major advantage of this program is that, by combining some degree requirements, it may reduce the time normally required to complete the two degrees separately.  Students must be newly admitted or currently enrolled in the PharmD program to be considered for admission to the dual program.

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Monday, December 2, 2013
Monday, December 2, 2013

The dual PharmD/PhD program is designed to allow concurrent enrollment in both PharmD and PhD courses in order to shorten the time required for achieving both degrees sequentially.  Students that begin the dual program at the start of their P1 year will realize the maximum benefit for completing the requirements for both degrees. 

Applicants must apply and be accepted to both the PharmD program and the PhD program in order to matriculate in the dual program.  The application process is separate for each program and deadlines must be met for both programs.  The PhD program will accept PCAT scores for applicants to the dual PharmD/PhD program only.  Note that some national agencies that provide funding to PhD students (such as training grants and student initiated grants) may require that a candidate take the GRE exam later in order to qualify for assistance. 

Candidates for the dual PharmD/PhD program may take the appropriate PhD course sequence in place of the PharmD course sequences for specific disciplines (i.e., pharmaceutical sciences, medicinal chemistry).  Remaining core PhD coursework required for the PhD degree will be satisfied by taking courses that will also count as elective coursework for the PharmD degree.  See the Curriculum tab for more details. 

This is a multiple degree program; however, the requirements for either degree are not dependent on completion of both programs.  A candidate that wishes to withdraw from one of the dual programs is eligible to complete the other degree.  There may be financial implications for not completing both programs.  See the Funding tab for more details.   

PharmD candidates are required to complete a certain number of patient contact hours for licensure through Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experiences (IPPEs) and Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experiences (APPEs).  The timing of IPPEs and APPEs in the dual program can be flexible and negotiated with the student, the research advisor, and the Experiential Education Director.  There is also a required P4 Seminar that students must complete.

Students are required to complete the degree requirements for both the PharmD and PhD in their specific discipline. 

The PharmD curriculum can be found HERE

The PhD curriculum for the Pharmaceutical Sciences program can be found HERE

The PhD curriculum for the Clinical Pharmacy Translational Sciences program can be found HERE

The PhD curriculum for the Medicinal Chemistry program can be found HERE

The combined PharmD/PhD curriculum plan can vary by student when admitted.  A sample curricular plan can be found HERE

Students enrolled in the Dual PharmD/PhD program will have the opportunity to engage in research as early as the summer prior to starting coursework in the dual program.  Students will be given the opportunity to explore research opportunities at the College of Pharmacy for up to three summers before officially joining a laboratory.  Summer funding is dependent on when a student begins the dual program.   

See the Funding tab for more details.

Funding for Dual PharmD/PhD candidates is intended to support students with their research efforts as early as possible to ensure successful completion of the dual program in a timely manner.  New students admitted to the dual program will enjoy the following support:

  • Up to three funded summers of research support beginning with the summer prior to the didactic start of the program (stipend and health benefits for self and dependents).  The number of summers depends on when the student begins the dual program.
  • Up to $45,000 forgivable grant for the PharmD portion of the dual program (PharmD years 1 through 4 of being enrolled in the dual program; amount will  be less if enrollment in the dual program begins in PharmD year 2 or later).  Note, if a student does not complete either the PharmD or PhD portion, this grant turns into a low interest loan that must be repayed over time.
  • Full funding for the PhD portion of the dual program following completion of the PharmD (typically beginning year 5) which includes a full tuition waiver, stipend, and health benefits for self and dependents.  Funding sources can include any combination of fellowship, teaching, research, or traineeship.  

Current PharmD or PhD students that apply to and are accepted into the dual program after starting either program will receive support commensurate with when they were admitted to the dual program.  

 

 

Overview

The dual PharmD/PhD program is designed to allow concurrent enrollment in both PharmD and PhD courses in order to shorten the time required for achieving both degrees sequentially.  Students that begin the dual program at the start of their P1 year will realize the maximum benefit for completing the requirements for both degrees. 

Applicants must apply and be accepted to both the PharmD program and the PhD program in order to matriculate in the dual program.  The application process is separate for each program and deadlines must be met for both programs.  The PhD program will accept PCAT scores for applicants to the dual PharmD/PhD program only.  Note that some national agencies that provide funding to PhD students (such as training grants and student initiated grants) may require that a candidate take the GRE exam later in order to qualify for assistance. 

Candidates for the dual PharmD/PhD program may take the appropriate PhD course sequence in place of the PharmD course sequences for specific disciplines (i.e., pharmaceutical sciences, medicinal chemistry).  Remaining core PhD coursework required for the PhD degree will be satisfied by taking courses that will also count as elective coursework for the PharmD degree.  See the Curriculum tab for more details. 

This is a multiple degree program; however, the requirements for either degree are not dependent on completion of both programs.  A candidate that wishes to withdraw from one of the dual programs is eligible to complete the other degree.  There may be financial implications for not completing both programs.  See the Funding tab for more details.   

PharmD candidates are required to complete a certain number of patient contact hours for licensure through Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experiences (IPPEs) and Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experiences (APPEs).  The timing of IPPEs and APPEs in the dual program can be flexible and negotiated with the student, the research advisor, and the Experiential Education Director.  There is also a required P4 Seminar that students must complete.

Curriculum

Students are required to complete the degree requirements for both the PharmD and PhD in their specific discipline. 

The PharmD curriculum can be found HERE

The PhD curriculum for the Pharmaceutical Sciences program can be found HERE

The PhD curriculum for the Clinical Pharmacy Translational Sciences program can be found HERE

The PhD curriculum for the Medicinal Chemistry program can be found HERE

The combined PharmD/PhD curriculum plan can vary by student when admitted.  A sample curricular plan can be found HERE

Research

Students enrolled in the Dual PharmD/PhD program will have the opportunity to engage in research as early as the summer prior to starting coursework in the dual program.  Students will be given the opportunity to explore research opportunities at the College of Pharmacy for up to three summers before officially joining a laboratory.  Summer funding is dependent on when a student begins the dual program.   

See the Funding tab for more details.

Funding

Funding for Dual PharmD/PhD candidates is intended to support students with their research efforts as early as possible to ensure successful completion of the dual program in a timely manner.  New students admitted to the dual program will enjoy the following support:

  • Up to three funded summers of research support beginning with the summer prior to the didactic start of the program (stipend and health benefits for self and dependents).  The number of summers depends on when the student begins the dual program.
  • Up to $45,000 forgivable grant for the PharmD portion of the dual program (PharmD years 1 through 4 of being enrolled in the dual program; amount will  be less if enrollment in the dual program begins in PharmD year 2 or later).  Note, if a student does not complete either the PharmD or PhD portion, this grant turns into a low interest loan that must be repayed over time.
  • Full funding for the PhD portion of the dual program following completion of the PharmD (typically beginning year 5) which includes a full tuition waiver, stipend, and health benefits for self and dependents.  Funding sources can include any combination of fellowship, teaching, research, or traineeship.  

Current PharmD or PhD students that apply to and are accepted into the dual program after starting either program will receive support commensurate with when they were admitted to the dual program.