The College of Pharmacy offers a Doctor of Philosophy degree in pharmacy with subprograms in three areas: drug discovery and experimental therapeutics, health services research, and pharmaceutics.

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 both written and oral 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.

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 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

Interdisciplinary Electives

Students select a minimum of 10 s.h. of electives chosen from the following courses. Additional electives can be selected from biochemistry, chemistry, genetics, neuroscience, and pharmacology at the discretion of the advisor.

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.

The Doctor of Philosophy in pharmacy with a subprogram in health services research requires 74 s.h. of credit. Students must maintain a 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 of 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.

Health Services Research

Research Methods and Statistics

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 that encompasses an area of expertise or specialty.

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.

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 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.

Divisional Courses

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 the University of Iowa Office of 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.

Pharmacy, PhD

• Drug Discovery and Experimental Therapeutics Subprogram
• Health Services Research Subprogram
• Pharmaceutics Subprogram​

Drug Discovery and Experimental Therapeutics Subprogram

a

Students must complete specific requirements in the University of Iowa Graduate College after program admission. Refer to the Graduate College website and the Manual of Rules and Regulations for more information.

b

Work with faculty advisor to determine appropriate graduate coursework and sequence; see General Catalog and department website for specifics.

c

Faculty advisor to determine when this exam will be, but typically by the end of third year.

d

Dissertation defense.

Health Services Research Subprogram

a

Students must complete specific requirements in the University of Iowa Graduate College after program admission. Refer to the Graduate College website and the Manual of Rules and Regulations for more information.

b

Must complete before taking the Core Competency Qualifying Exam.

c

May be waived for students who have had equivalent coursework.

d

Registration required every semester; optional after fourth year.

e

Offered every other year; work with faculty advisor to select appropriate first year classes if entering the program on a year when not taught.

f

May be taken in biostatistics, economics, education, psychology, mathematics, or sociobiology.

g

Work with faculty advisor to determine appropriate graduate coursework and sequence; see General Catalog and department website for specifics.

h

Faculty advisor to determine when this exam will be, but typically by the end of third year.

i

A required Core Competency Qualifying Exam; work with faculty advisor to determine when this exam may be completed (typically during fourth year).

j

Dissertation defense.

Pharmaceutics Subprogram

a

Students must complete specific requirements in the University of Iowa Graduate College after program admission. Refer to the Graduate College website and the Manual of Rules and Regulations for more information.

b

If equivalent course not taken previously; otherwise work with faculty advisor to select relevant elective in Pharmaceutics or outside the department.

c

Enrollment required each semester until completion of comprehensive exam.

d

Work with faculty advisor to determine appropriate graduate coursework and sequence.

e

Written research proposal and oral exam; typically completed by the end of third year.

f

Dissertation defense.