Shape the future of medicine with a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Pharmaceutical Sciences from Nova Southeastern University's Barry and Judy Silverman College of Pharmacy.

This Ph.D. program offers you the opportunity to tailor your academic career with three specialized areas of expertise to choose from:

  • Molecular Medicine and Pharmacogenomics, centering on mechanism of action of drugs.
  • Pharmaceutics, focusing on effective drug delivery to the desired target.
  • Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research, concerned with evaluating the value and real-world impact of drug therapy.

Our curriculum ensures a dynamic and complex exploration of the value and real-world impact of drug therapy, drug knowledge expansion, and technology-driven dosage form development. Become adept in pharmacology, pharmaceutics, pharmacokinetics, or pharmacoeconomics and outcomes research under our expert team's guidance.

Quick Facts

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Tuition
Visit the Tuition and Fees page for more information.
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Curriculum
NSU's Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences program, depending on the sequence, requires between 113 and 126 credit hours to complete.
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Delivery Options
Coursework for this program is delivered via in-person courses.
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Application Deadlines
Applications are accepted online and on a rolling basis. PharmGRAD application is due on July 18.
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Optional Practical Training (OPT)
International students can obtain up to three years of OPT after completing the program.

 

Learn More About Doctoral Program Admissions

Curriculum

The courses are representative of the overall requirements of the program at the time of publication, and are subject to change. The curriculum is revised, as needed, to meet the demands of the profession.

This sequence emphasizes laboratory research and the development of research skills integral to elucidation of the mechanism of action of drugs, as well as the extent and characteristics of those actions.

Students who pursue this sequence will be primarily under the tutelage of faculty members in the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, a group of researchers with expertise in pharmacology, medicinal chemistry, toxicology, neuroscience, and biochemistry. Particular areas of expertise include cardiovascular pharmacology, molecular pharmacology, central nervous system diseases, and cancer pharmacology.

Course Name

Credits

( 
Bioethical Principles of Life Science Research
/Credits: 2)
( 
Scientific Writing and Research Funding Proposal
/Credits: 2)
( 
Advanced Biostatistics I
/Credits: 3)
( 
Molecular and Cellular Pharmacodynamics
/Credits: 3)
( 
Clinical Drug Development: Advanced Pharmacokinetics and Biopharmaceutics
/Credits: 3)
( 
Systems Pharmacology I
/Credits: 3)
( 
Experimental and Clinical Research Design and Analysis
/Credits: 3)
( 
Research Techniques and Instrumentation
/Credits: 3)
( 
Advanced Pharmacogenomics and Molecular Medicine
/Credits: 3)
( 
Systems Pharmacology II
/Credits: 3)
( 
Elective
/Credits: 3)
( 
Elective
/Credits: 3)
( 
#Dissertation Research
/Credits: 32 (8 credits each))
( 
+Dissertation Defense
/Credits: 8)
( 
*Graduate Research
/Credits: 18 (3 credits each))
( 
*Graduate Seminar
/Credits: 8 (1 credit each))

Total

100

*Course may be repeated.
#Additional years may be required to complete the dissertation research. The curriculum for subsequent years is identical to the fourth year (maximum seven years allowed for Ph.D. completion).
+This course is only available to students in their final semester.

This sequence emphasizes the development of laboratory research skills. Supporting coursework consists of content integral to the theory and practice associated with the incorporation of drug entities into the forms and formulations to achieve efficient drug delivery to the site of biological and medical action.

Students who pursue this track will be primarily under the tutelage of faculty members in the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, a group of researchers with expertise in pharmaceutics-related disciplines. Particular areas of expertise include a variety of drug formulations such as abuse-resistant formulations, novel drug delivery approaches, and molecularly targeted drug delivery systems.

Course Name

Credits

( 
Bioethical Principles of Life Science Research
/Credits: 2)
( 
Advanced Biostatistics I
/Credits: 3)
( 
Pharmaceutical Formulations
/Credits: 2)
( 
Clinical Drug Development: Advanced Pharmacokinetics and Biopharmaceutics
/Credits: 3)
( 
Research Techniques and Instrumentation
/Credits: 3)
( 
Product Development and Industrial Pharmacy
/Credits: 3)
( 
Advanced Topics in Pharmaceutical Sciences
/Credits: 2)
( 
Scientific Writing and Proposal Development
/Credits: 2)
( 
Experimental and Clinical Research Design and Analysis
/Credits: 3)
( 
Targeted Drug Delivery
/Credits: 2)
( 
Elective
/Credits: 3)
( 
Elective
/Credits: 3)
( 
#Dissertation Research
/Credits: 32 (8 credits each))
( 
+Dissertation Defense
/Credits: 8)
( 
*Graduate Research
/Credits: 18 (3 credit each))
( 
*Graduate Seminar
/Credits: 8 (1 credit each))

Total

97

*Course may be repeated.
#Additional years may be required to complete the dissertation research. The curriculum for subsequent years is identical to the fourth year (maximum seven years allowed for Ph.D. completion).
+This course is only available to students in their final semester.

This sequence focuses on coursework and research skills that address the dynamics and complex nature of drug use and distribution systems.

Students that pursue this sequence are advised and mentored by faculty members from the Department of Sociobehavioral and Administrative Pharmacy, a group of scholars whose specialties include among others, pharmacoeconomics and outcomes research, the economics of pharmacy, pharmacoepidemiology, data analytics, health disparities and special populations, cultural competency, patients’ decision making, public policy, social and behavioral pharmacy, biostatistics, and pharmacy administration.

Course Name

Credits

( 
Bioethical Principles of Life Science Research
/Credits:  2)
( 
Advanced Biostatistics I
/Credits:  3)
( 
Theories of Health-Seeking Behavior
/Credits:  3)
( 
Population Health Policy and Health Economics in Pharmacy
/Credits:  3)
( 
Advanced Biostatistics II
/Credits:  3)
( 
Research Design I
/Credits:  3)
( 
Social Measurement and Techniques
/Credits:  3)
( 
Pharmacoeconomics
/Credits:  3)
( 
Research Design II
/Credits:  3)
( 
Advanced Data Analytics for Health Outcomes
/Credits:  3)
( 
Advanced Applied Research (by subject matter)
/Credits:  3)
( 
Scientific Writing and Proposal Development
/Credits:  2)
( 
Elective
/Credits:  3)
( 
Elective
/Credits:  3)
( 
#Dissertation Research
/Credits: 24 (8 credits each))
( 
+Dissertation Defense
/Credits:  8)
( 
*Graduate Research
/Credits: 15 (3 credits each))
( 
*Graduate Seminar
/Credits: 8 (1 credit each))

Total

95

*Course may be repeated.
#Additional years may be required to complete the dissertation research. The curriculum for subsequent years is identical to the fourth year (maximum seven years allowed for Ph.D. completion).
+This course is only available to students in their final semester.

Graduation from the Ph.D. program requires the preparation and successful defense of a dissertation.

The Ph.D. program is consistent with the criteria for accreditation set by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).