To learn more information about Nova Southeastern University College of Pharmacy or to apply now, use one of the options below.
Program Information -- Select Program -- Pharm.D. Entry-Level Pharm.D. Advanced Standing Pharm.D. Concurrent Degrees M.S. Pharmaceutical Affairs M.S. Pharmaceutical Sciences Ph.D. Pharmaceutical Sciences Application Link -- Select Program -- Pharm.D. Entry Level Pharm.D. Advanced Standing M.S. Pharmaceutical Affairs M.S. Pharmaceutical Sciences Ph.D. Pharmaceutical Sciences Non-Degree
View our brochure to learn about our programs, curriculum, tuition, and more.
NSU College of Pharmacy:
1. has a diverse faculty and student body that ranks 1st for Hispanic and 14th for African American Students earning the Pharm.D. degree
2. allows eligible Pharm.D. students to pursue concurrent degree programs in business administration, public health, or biomedical informatics
3. is the only program in the United States to operate a full-service community pharmacy and institutional pharmacy
Login to Sharklink
Entering pharmacy graduate students must choose one of the three sequences to focus their graduate studies upon. An average GPA of 3.0 or higher must be maintained. Coursework aimed at filling academic gaps in a student’s background will not count toward program requirements.
At the completion of this course of study and research, students will:
Social and Administrative Pharmacy
This sequence focuses on research skills and supporting coursework that address the dynamic and complex nature of the provision of pharmacy services. Students who select this sequence are expected to conduct their dissertation research in one of two tracks: 1) Sociobehavioral and Cultural Pharmacy or 2) Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes. Students who pursue either track in this sequence are advised by faculty members in the department of sciobehavioral and administrative pharmacy, a group of researchers with expertise in pharmacoeconomics, health disparities and vulnerable populations, cultural competency, development and implementation of sustainable pharmacy services, patients’ decision making, pharmacy marketing, and outcomes research.
The curriculum is currently under review and will be revised as needed. These courses are representative of the overall requirements of the program at the time of publication and are subject to change.
Curriculum Outline
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)
Second 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 gather and 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 exposes students to selected advanced empirical methods useful in social, behavioral, economic, and administrative research and provides them with hands-on experience in conducting empirical research. Within this context, this course covers a variety of topics including linear programming, network models, utility and game theory, panel data methods, instrumental variables methods, and propensity score matching approaches. The course will be presented in an application context. Examples from social, behavioral, economic, and administrative studies will be used to illustrate key ideas and methods. Pre-Requisites: HPH-7320 and HPH-7330. (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 focuses on the application of economic analysis as it relates to provision of health care and emerging health care trends in the United States and throughout the world. The course also focuses on understanding how healthcare markets differ from other markets, specifically on the economics of the health care sector and its major players, e.g., the government, insurers, providers, and patients. Economic concepts and tools will be used to analyze the health care system, and to examine implications and issues in health policy. (48-0-3).
This course is intended to provide the graduate student with an in-depth understanding of the global development and marketing of pharmaceuticals with an emphasis on the United States system. (48-0-3)
This course provides an overview of pharmacoeconomics and some of the health outcomes measurements that apply to health/pharmacy-related disciplines. The course is designed to focus on methodological principles of pharmacoeconomics analyses and the strengths and weaknesses of specific methods. Practical examples for successful implementation of these concepts are discussed. (48-0-3)
This course provides an overview of management theories, human resources, and financial management applied to pharmacy and healthcare institution operations. Elements of supervision, management, and leadership are discussed in an effort to help students develop the skills needed to operate a pharmacy effectively. Also covered are finance topics such as capital costs, profit analysis, cost structures, budgeting, payment for services rendered, and accounting. (48-0-3)
This highly interactive course introduces students to: (1) the fundamental concepts and frameworks used for the study of population health and public policy; (2) the financing and managing of health systems at the local and international levels; and (3) the formulation and analysis of public health policies. The course will emphasize the intersection of public health and the determinant of drug use and pharmacy-related policies. Students will analyze and critically evaluate existing health policies, public health actions, and reforms. Students are expected to contribute and participate in the discussion of current research, case studies, and policies. Student learning will be assessed through oral exams, written assignments, presentations, and an analytical paper. This course will provide skills for the conceptualization of research projects addressing current health issues related to pharmacy. (48-0-3)
The purpose of this course is to provide an overview of research design. This overview consists of understanding the preliminary considerations that go into selecting a research design. These include considering philosophical worldviews, reviewing the literature, understanding the use of theory, sampling, measurement, pre-experimental, correlational, or experimental design, data collection, and data analysis strategies. We will discuss the process of research as it relates to each approach. This process includes writing an introduction, specifying a purpose statement, developing research questions and/or hypotheses, and proposing methods including data collection and analysis plans. (48-0-3)
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)
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 introduces students to the concepts of advanced measurement theory and methods used in research. It acquaints students with cutting edge models in measurement theory and methods, as well as with the application of computer software with which to implement those methodologies. After completing the course, students should be prepared to begin working on advanced applications of measurement in the Sociobehavorial sciences. (48-0-3)
This course covers social and behavioral theories related to medication use, health services utilization, provider patient communication, and other health seeking behaviors. Students will examine and apply select health behavior theories at the individual, interpersonal and community level. They will examine research conducted using the theories, with emphasis in the Pharmacy field. Students are expected to apply theories in defining research questions, in research design and data analysis. (48-0-3)
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)
*HPD core courses
**repeatable courses
Notes:
- Qualifying exams will commence during the summer semester of the second year.
- Fifth and subsequent years are as necessary (maximum seven years).
- Graduation from the program requires the preparation and successful defense of a dissertation.
Drug Development (Pharmaceutics)
This sequence emphasizes the development of laboratory research skills and supporting coursework that are integral to the theory and practice associated with the incorporation of drug entities into the forms and formulations to achieve the most effective delivery of drugs 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.
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)
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)
This course will provide 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. It will allow students to read the literature with greater understanding as methodological terminology begins to have more meaning. (48-0-3)
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)
Molecular Medicine and Pharmacogenomics
This sequence emphasizes laboratory research and the development of research skills that are integral to elucidation of the mechanism of action of drugs, and 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, anti-inflammatory steroids, central nervous system diseases, and cancer pharmacology.
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)
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)
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 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)
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)
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)