This is the first version of the 2026–27 General Catalog. Please check back regularly for changes. The final edition and the historical PDF will be published during the fall semester.
The drug discovery and experimental therapeutics subprogram offers a unique educational opportunity for students interested in drug discovery and the development of novel therapeutics. The changing landscape of drug discovery has created a need for scientists with interdisciplinary training to navigate the complex landscape of medicinal chemistry, biotherapeutics, pharmacogenetics/genomics, and basic pharmacology/toxicology.
The health services research subprogram provides an innovative approach to studying the challenges facing the health care system and provides evidence to support policy-based solutions. It combines ideas across several distinct scientific paradigms (sociology, economics, psychology, business, and anthropology) to better understand the factors leading to decisions in health care and the consequences of these decisions. Students gain a broad knowledge of health and pharmaceutical care, informed by theories from economics and social psychology. The subprogram teaches intellectual and practical skills to investigate research questions dealing with current issues.
The pharmaceutics subprogram provides a multidisciplinary science focus that examines the development, production, and characterization of dosage forms, as well as the disposition and action of drugs in the body. As pharmaceutical scientists have been engaged in the development of novel biomaterials for sophisticated drug delivery systems, they also have expanded into research with applications in the development of medical devices and tissue engineering.
For more information about graduate study, visit the College of Pharmacy website.
Learning Outcomes
Graduates will demonstrate the ability to:
identify important research problems through the development of subject matter expertise and critical evaluation of the current state of knowledge in that area of expertise;
develop testable hypotheses and/or research questions and then utilize sound methodology to design research approaches to address them;
conduct, analyze, and interpret independent original research that contributes new knowledge to the field of study;
effectively communicate research results to a range of audiences in various multimedia formats;
conduct all aspects of research and communication of results with the highest ethical standards; and
be prepared for a diversity of career options in academia, industry, government, or other relevant fields.
Graduate education prepares students with advanced knowledge and skills in specialized fields. At the University of Iowa, the Graduate College advocates for student-centered graduate education and supports equitable application of rules and policies across graduate programs.
Graduate student applicants must meet admission requirements for both the Graduate College and the program to which they have applied. University of Iowa graduate admission requirements are published by the Graduate College and on the Graduate Admissions website.
Financial Support
Graduate students might be eligible for financial support. Several contingencies apply, including degree program and award type, satisfactory progress toward degree, satisfactory completion of all duties related to an appointment, and availability of funding. Graduate students should inquire directly with their program for more information about funding availability. The Graduate Student Employment Standards govern the employment relationship between the University of Iowa and all graduate teaching and research assistants in all matters except wages, which are covered by an existing collective bargaining agreement or the conditions of an applicable federal grant.
The Doctor of Philosophy in pharmacy with a subprogram in drug discovery and experimental therapeutics requires 72 s.h. of credit. The degree requires 25 s.h. of didactic coursework, including 15 s.h. of required courses and a minimum of 10 s.h. of interdisciplinary electives. The remaining hours may be fulfilled by research, seminars, additional electives, and the doctoral dissertation. The typical time to complete the degree is five years. Students must maintain a UI cumulative grade-point average of at least 3.00.
The curriculum provides a strong foundational base of knowledge along with options for a tailored experience for students. The program prepares scientists capable of bridging the complex landscape of medicinal chemistry, biotherapeutics, pharmacogenetics/genomics, and basic pharmacology/toxicology.
The Doctor of Philosophy in pharmacy with a subprogram in drug discovery and experimental therapeutics requires the following work.
Required Courses
Students complete all of the following courses. In some instances a course may be waived by the program director due to a student's academic background, but all students must complete at least 15 s.h. in required courses.
In consultation with their advisor, students select a minimum of 10 s.h. of elective courses that are tailored to the student’s specific research area. Students are encouraged to select from the following courses. Additional electives can be selected at the discretion of the advisor.
Students take the comprehensive examination between the beginning and end of their third year of graduate study.
Dissertation
The dissertation is defended in a final oral examination.
The Doctor of Philosophy in pharmacy with a subprogram in health services research requires 72 s.h. of credit. Students must maintain a UI cumulative grade-point average of at least 3.00.
In the first two years in the program, students participate in ongoing research and complete coursework. In the third year, emphasis is placed on developing a dissertation topic. The following two years are spent on research and writing the dissertation.
The Doctor of Philosophy in pharmacy with a subprogram in health services research requires the following work.
Core Competencies
Students complete the following coursework before they take the core competency qualifying exam.
Regression Modeling and ANOVA in the Health Sciences
3
Additional statistics coursework (biostatistics, economics, education, psychology, mathematics, or sociobiology)
6
Specialty
The specialty area requires at least 24 s.h. of coursework. With the guidance of their faculty advisor, students develop a plan of study including coursework in specialized research methods, theory, content expertise, and other relevant areas.
Additional Requirements
Students are expected to participate in specific aspects of ongoing research. These research activities are often paid graduate research assistantships; course credit is not available for paid assistantships. By the end of their third year, students are expected to present the results from one completed research project at a regional or national meeting.
Scholarly Integrity/Responsible Conduct of Research II (taken in second year)
0
The Doctor of Philosophy in pharmacy with a subprogram in pharmaceutics requires 72 s.h. of credit. The degree requires 30 s.h. in didactic coursework, including a minimum of 15 s.h. in divisional courses and 15 s.h. of elective coursework. The remaining 42 s.h. can be fulfilled with research (PHAR:6720 Pharmaceutics Research) or electives. Students must maintain a UI cumulative grade-point average of at least 3.00.
Entering students who do not have basic knowledge in all subjects follow a plan of study in order to complete divisional requirements during their first and second years.
The Doctor of Philosophy in pharmacy with a subprogram in pharmaceutics requires the following work.
Scholarly Integrity/Responsible Conduct of Research II (taken in second year)
0
Elective Courses
Students choose appropriate electives for individual research objectives.
Comprehensive Examination
Students take the comprehensive examination between the beginning and end of their third year of graduate study.
Dissertation
The dissertation is defended in a final oral examination.
Applicants must meet the admission requirements of the Graduate College. They must:
hold a bachelor's degree from a U.S. institution or an equivalent degree from another country as determined by University of Iowa Admissions; and
have a minimum grade-point average of at least 3.00.
Students may submit a Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Test score, but that is optional.
Visit Graduate Degree: How to Apply on the College of Pharmacy website for a list of program requirements and application deadlines. Academic requirements for maintaining graduate registration are determined by the Graduate College and by the individual divisions in the College of Pharmacy.
Advanced study in the pharmaceutical sciences prepares students for research, teaching, and administrative positions in the pharmaceutical industry, in colleges and universities, in government agencies, and in health-related institutions and organizations.
Sample Plans of Study
Sample plans represent one way to complete a program of study. Actual course selection and sequence will vary and should be discussed with an academic advisor. For additional sample plans, see MyUI.
