Curriculum

First of a two-course sequence focusing on inferential statistics for Ph.D. students interested in conducting quantitative research in the health sciences, with special applications to pharmacy. It is designed to enable students to analyze data and apply statistical models toward solving practical problems and improving the efficiency of formulating and providing pharmaceutical and other healthcare services. (48-0-3)

This course deals with the principles that explain the processes of absorption, distribution, and elimination of drugs. The advances in pharmacokinetic modeling, compartmental analysis, model-independent methods, single and multiple dosing, protein binding, metabolite kinetics, interspecies scaling to translate animal data to humans, effect of diseases states and data analysis using relevant software will be discussed. Applying the principles of Biopharmaceutics and Pharmacokinetics to the design of controlled release and targeted drug delivery systems. Emphasis is on bioequivalence and bioavailability of traditional pharmaceutical dosage forms and novel drug delivery systems including the assessment of biosimilar. (48-0-3)

This course presents application of underlying physical principles to formulate and to develop various pharmaceutical products. It describes physical principles in both solid and non-solid states. Students will learn how basic physical principles are applied in development of current and novel pharmaceutical solids, semi-solids, homogeneous and heterogeneous systems. This course describes the importance, properties and application of different polymer systems, new drug carriers and rheology modifiers in developing current and novel dosage forms. Drug stability and solubility, and approaches to enhance the solubility of the poorly soluble drugs will also be discussed. (48-0-3)

To provide an understanding of the ethical issues associated with Life Science Research. To acculturate students to the mores of the Life Science Research community. To discuss issues related to the use of animals and human subjects in research. To develop skills for communicating Life Science Research to diverse audiences. To develop skills needed to be a successful Life Science researcher. (48-0-3)

This course introduces students to the fundamental tenets of pharmaceutical sciences research at the graduate level. This course is required each semester until students become degree candidates. At that point, students will begin working on a one-on-one basis with their faculty mentor to become familiar with the research interests, literature and laboratory techniques of the mentor. (48-0-3)

The purpose of this course is to equip students with the necessary tools so that they can prepare and present lucid reports on their own research, as well as the research of others. The course will consist of weekly lectures that will be required of all graduate students throughout their course of study and research. Speakers will include faculty, guests, as well as students presenting aspects of their research. (16-0-1)

This course provides an analysis of the study designs most commonly employed in experimental research with emphasis in basic and clinical pharmacological research. Upon completion of the course students will understand the considerations that go into selecting qualitative, quantitative and mixed methods of research design. The course prepares students to select the most appropriate design to better answer a specific research question, as well as to understand the strengths and limitations of such design. (16-0-1)

This course provides the student with the essential information about the various stages of the new drug approval process and drug development, including pre-formulation, comparison studies, suitability of pharmaceutical excipients, and formulation. Additionally, this course provides the student with the principles of pharmaceutical processing such as filtration, milling, mixing, drying, and compression of pharmaceutical solids. It also deals with the production and quality control of tablets, capsules, liquid dosage forms, semisolid dosage forms, and sterile products. Coverage includes the science of packaging materials, production management, quality assurance, and regulations in the pharmaceutical industry, including validation, good manufacturing practice, and FDA guidelines for stability of pharmaceutical dosage forms. (64-0-4)

The course will offer an overview of the major components and the practical skills needed for writing a research proposal for funding purposes. It will include an exploration of the different funding sources in the biomedical field. The students will be introduced to the terminology associated with grant writing and differentiate among the categories of funders. They will be provided with multiple hands-on experiences and exercises related to completing an application. (16-0-1)

This course provides students with a broad overview of technologies and instruments used in pharmaceutical sciences research. Topics cover the fundamentals of spectroscopy and chromatography, basic protein and molecular biology techniques, and others. The course will allow students to read the literature with greater understanding as methodological terminology begins to have more meaning. (48-0-3)

The aim of the course is to give students the opportunity to attain and practice scientific writing skills in a low stress environment. The course focuses on writing for scientific publication and includes every step of the process from organization of the first draft to the editorial review process. Students will work using material from their own discipline, preferably from original data that they have or intend to collect. Students will be writing a section of manuscript each week and will receive editorial suggestions and criticisms from a variety of reviewers. Little emphasis will be placed on English grammar, vocabulary, or spelling since students are expected to be proficient prior to taking this course. Students who are deficient in the mechanics of writing may wish to pursue an elective course to enhance their proficiency. (16-0-1)

This course offers a survey of cutting-edge techniques and discoveries that are germane to the pharmaceutical science, particularly in the area of pharmaceutics. (16-0-1)

This course consists of independent full-time research on an approved dissertation problem which is mentored by a major advisor. The research effort will continue until the problem is solved or resolved to the satisfaction of the mentor and the student's dissertation committee. Certification for graduation requires an oral defense of the written dissertation resulting from this research endeavor. (128-0-8)

The purpose of this course is to equip students with the necessary tools so that they can prepare and present lucid reports on their own research, as well as the research of others. The course will consist of weekly lectures that will be required of all graduate students throughout their course of study and research. Speakers will include faculty, guests, as well as students presenting aspects of their research. (16-0-1)

This course consists of independent full-time research on an approved dissertation problem which is mentored by a major advisor. The research effort will continue until the problem is solved or resolved to the satisfaction of the mentor and the student's dissertation committee. Certification for graduation requires an oral defense of the written dissertation resulting from this research endeavor. (128-0-8)

The purpose of this course is to equip students with the necessary tools so that they can prepare and present lucid reports on their own research, as well as the research of others. The course will consist of weekly lectures that will be required of all graduate students throughout their course of study and research. Speakers will include faculty, guests, as well as students presenting aspects of their research.(16-0-1)

This course will serve as the concluding evaluation for all Ph.D. students. It consists of an oral defense of the dissertation that was written to present the significance, methods, and findings of the dissertation research project. The defense, which is open to the public, requires the student to demonstrate a firm grasp of the research area and to defend the dissertation and its research before the Dissertation Committee. After successful defense, the student becomes eligible for conferral of the Ph.D. degree. (128-0-8)

First of a two-course sequence focusing on inferential statistics for Ph.D. students interested in conducting quantitative research in the health sciences, with special applications to pharmacy. It is designed to enable students to analyze data and apply statistical models toward solving practical problems and improving the efficiency of formulating and providing pharmaceutical and other healthcare services. (48-0-3)

This course is designed to educate students with an in-depth knowledge and understanding of the cellular and molecular bases which has evolved as the basis of human diseases. The course offers the state of art of molecular biological concepts to apply towards understanding of molecular bases of individual variation, its application to drug response and possible new interventions. Students will be able to understand and apply the knowledge of modern molecular biological techniques for diagnostics and detection of infection, gene defects, & finger printing, transgenesis, biopharming, immunotherapies and ever developing field of gene therapy and regenerative medicine. (48-0-3)

This course deals with the principles that explain the processes of absorption, distribution, and elimination of drugs. The advances in pharmacokinetic modeling, compartmental analysis, model-independent methods, single and multiple dosing, protein binding, metabolite kinetics, interspecies scaling to translate animal data to humans, effect of diseases states and data analysis using relevant software will be discussed. Applying the principles of Biopharmaceutics and Pharmacokinetics to the design of controlled release and targeted drug delivery systems. Emphasis is on bioequivalence and bioavailability of traditional pharmaceutical dosage forms and novel drug delivery systems including the assessment of biosimilar. (48-0-3)

Students will use pharmacological principles to study the effects of therapeutic agents on the central nervous system, the endocrine system, the gastrointestinal system, blood, and blood-forming organs. The course will address the rationale for the use of therapeutic agents; their effects on cells, tissues, organ systems, and patients; the mechanisms underlying these effects; the therapeutic value of specific drug effects; the limitation of the use of the agents; and the adverse effects of drugs. (48-0-3)

To provide an understanding of the ethical issues associated with Life Science Research. To acculturate students to the mores of the Life Science Research community. To discuss issues related to the use of animals and human subjects in research. To develop skills for communicating Life Science Research to diverse audiences. To develop skills needed to be a successful Life Science researcher. (48-0-3)

This course integrates the physiology/pathophysiology , biochemistry , molecular biology, and neuroscience that is the foundation of modern pharmacology. Key pharmacological drug classes will be introduced beginning with a description of the relevant physiology needed to identify pharmacological targets. Particular emphasis will be placed on mechanisms of action , class/mechanism-based adverse side effects, and noteworthy pharmacokinetic properties of the drugs. Prototypic and exemplar drugs from each pharmacological class will be presented along with their organ systems applications.

This course provides an overview of the principles of experimental statistics and informatics that are relevant to the experimental design of studies, as well as interpretation and processing of the information garnered from these studies, in the biomedical sciences, but particularly in the areas of molecular medicine and pharmacogenomics.(16-0-1)

This course introduces students to the fundamental tenets of pharmaceutical sciences research at the graduate level. This course is required each semester until students become degree candidates. At that point, students will begin working on a one-on-one basis with their faculty mentor to become familiar with the research interests, literature and laboratory techniques of the mentor. (48-0-3)

The purpose of this course is to equip students with the necessary tools so that they can prepare and present lucid reports on their own research, as well as the research of others. The course will consist of weekly lectures that will be required of all graduate students throughout their course of study and research. Speakers will include faculty, guests, as well as students presenting aspects of their research. (16-0-1)

This course provides graduate students an opportunity to critically read, interpret and present research literature. The audience will be fellow peers, post-docs and faculty. Students will prepare and present high quality written and oral critiques of peer-reviewed publications in the biomedical field. This course will help students stay abreast of current knowledge in their fields of research as well as their colleagues, develop presentation skills and promote interdisciplinary interactions. reviewed publications in the biomedical field. This course will help students stay abreast of current knowledge in their fields of research, develop presentation skills, and promote interdisciplinary interactions. (16-0-1)

This course studies the considerations in operating and regulating cellular processes by manipulating receptors for therapeutic advantage through coupled signaling pathways. Recent developments in this technique, as it applies to the treatment of disease, will be presented. (48-0-3)

This course provides an analysis of the study designs most commonly employed in experimental research with emphasis in basic and clinical pharmacological research. Upon completion of the course students will understand the considerations that go into selecting qualitative, quantitative and mixed methods of research design. The course prepares students to select the most appropriate design to better answer a specific research question, as well as to understand the strengths and limitations of such design. (16-0-1)

The course will offer an overview of the major components and the practical skills needed for writing a research proposal for funding purposes. It will include an exploration of the different funding sources in the biomedical field. The students will be introduced to the terminology associated with grant writing and differentiate among the categories of funders. They will be provided with multiple hands-on experiences and exercises related to completing an application.(16-0-1)

This course provides students with a broad overview of technologies and instruments used in pharmaceutical sciences research. Topics cover the fundamentals of spectroscopy and chromatography, basic protein and molecular biology techniques, and others. The course will allow students to read the literature with greater understanding as methodological terminology begins to have more meaning.(48-0-3)

The aim of the course is to give students the opportunity to attain and practice scientific writing skills in a low stress environment. The course focuses on writing for scientific publication and includes every step of the process from organization of the first draft to the editorial review process. Students will work using material from their own discipline, preferably from original data that they have or intend to collect. Students will be writing a section of manuscript each week and will receive editorial suggestions and criticisms from a variety of reviewers. Little emphasis will be placed on English grammar, vocabulary, or spelling since students are expected to be proficient prior to taking this course. Students who are deficient in the mechanics of writing may wish to pursue an elective course to enhance their proficiency.(16-0-1)

This course consists of independent full-time research on an approved dissertation problem which is mentored by a major advisor. The research effort will continue until the problem is solved or resolved to the satisfaction of the mentor and the student's dissertation committee. Certification for graduation requires an oral defense of the written dissertation resulting from this research endeavor.(128-0-8)

The purpose of this course is to equip students with the necessary tools so that they can prepare and present lucid reports on their own research, as well as the research of others. The course will consist of weekly lectures that will be required of all graduate students throughout their course of study and research. Speakers will include faculty, guests, as well as students presenting aspects of their research. (16-0-1)

This course consists of independent full-time research on an approved dissertation problem which is mentored by a major advisor. The research effort will continue until the problem is solved or resolved to the satisfaction of the mentor and the student's dissertation committee. Certification for graduation requires an oral defense of the written dissertation resulting from this research endeavor.(128-0-8)

The purpose of this course is to equip students with the necessary tools so that they can prepare and present lucid reports on their own research, as well as the research of others. The course will consist of weekly lectures that will be required of all graduate students throughout their course of study and research. Speakers will include faculty, guests, as well as students presenting aspects of their research.(16-0-1)

This course will serve as the concluding evaluation for all Ph.D. students. It consists of an oral defense of the dissertation that was written to present the significance, methods, and findings of the dissertation research project. The defense, which is open to the public, requires the student to demonstrate a firm grasp of the research area and to defend the dissertation and its research before the Dissertation Committee. After successful defense, the student becomes eligible for conferral of the Ph.D. degree. (128-0-8)