Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences

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:

Drug Development (Pharmaceutics), focusing on effective drug delivery to the desired target;
Molecular Medicine and Pharmacogenomics, centering on mechanism of action of drugs; or
Social and Administrative Pharmacy, concerned with the dynamics and complex nature of drug use and distribution systems.

Our curriculum ensures a dynamic and complex exploration of pharmacy services, drug knowledge expansion, and technology-driven dosage form development. Become adept in pharmacology, pharmaceutics, pharmacokinetics, and administration under our expert team’s guidance.

Quick Facts

Tuition Visit the Tuition and Fees page for more information.	Curriculum NSU's Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences program is 60 credit hours to complete, minimum.
Delivery Options Coursework for this program is delivered via in-person courses.	Application Deadlines Applications are accepted online and on a rolling basis. PharmGRAD application is due on July 18.

Admission Requirements

3.0 or Higher Cumulative GPA	Bachelor’s* Degree from a Regionally Accredited Institution	Official GRE Scores Must be less than five years old
English Proficiency Required for Non-Native English Speakers	3 Letters of Recommendation from Professors or Supervisors in the Applicant's Field of Study3 Letters of Recommendation from Professors or Supervisors in the Applicant's Field of Study

*Students applying to the Drug Development (Pharmaceutics) or the Molecular Medicine and Pharmacogenomics sequences are required to have earned a Bachelor of Science degree in pharmacy, chemistry, biology, or a related scientific area. Students applying to the Social and Administrative Pharmacy sequence are required to have earned a Bachelor of Science degree in pharmacy, economics, statistics, public health, health services research, or other related fields.

Official scores from the Pharmacy College Admission Test (PCAT), or another admissions test, are optional.

Students in the Ph.D. program are eligible to apply for a concurrent degree in the M.S. in Pharmaceutical Sciences 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.

Drug Development (Pharmaceutics)

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.

CRN	Course Name	Credits
First and Second Years
PHRP 7004	Advanced Physical Pharmacy	3
PHRP 7012	Clinical Drug Development: Advanced Pharmacokinetics and Biopharmaceutics	3
PHRP 7030	Biostatistics	3
PHRP 7060	Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Design	1
PHRP 7110	Bioethical Principles of Life Science Research	3
PHRP 7204	Research Techniques and Instrumentation	3
PHRP 7229	Product Development and Industrial Pharmacy	4
PHRP 7610	Scientific Writing 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)	1
PHRP 7620	Research Funding and Proposal Development 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)	1
PHRP 8250	Advanced Topics in Pharmaceutical Sciences* This course offers a survey of cutting-edge techniques and discoveries that are germane to the pharmaceutical science, particularly in the area of pharmaceutics. (16-32-[1-2])	2
PHRP 8301	Graduate Research* 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)	18
PHRP 8400	Graduate Seminar* 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)	4
PHRE	Electives	6
Third Year
PHRP 8100	Dissertation Research# 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)	24
PHRP 8250	Advanced Topics in Pharmaceutical Sciences* This course offers a survey of cutting-edge techniques and discoveries that are germane to the pharmaceutical science, particularly in the area of pharmaceutics. (16-32-[1-2])	1
PHRP 8400	Graduate Seminar* 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)	2
Fourth Year (to Seventh Year)
PHRP 8100	Dissertation Research# 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)	24
PHRP 8400	Graduate Seminar* 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)	2
PHRP 8900	Dissertation Defense+ 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)	8

*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)

+Course is only available to students in their final semester

Molecular Medicine and Pharmacogenomics

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.

CRN	Course Name	Credits
First and Second Years
PHRP 7006	Advanced Pharmacology 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.	4
PHRP 7012	Clinical Drug Development: Advanced Pharmacokinetics and Biopharmaceutics 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)	3
PHRP 7020	Experimental Statistics and Informatics 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)	1
PHRP 7030	Biostatistics 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)	3
PHRP 7060	Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Design 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)	1
PHRP 7110	Bioethical Principles of Life Science Research	3
PHRP 7114	Molecular and Cellular Pharmacodynamics 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)	3
PHRP 7204	Research Techniques and Instrumentation 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)	3
PHRP 7220	Advanced Pharmacogenomics and Molecular Medicine 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)	3
PHRP 7222	Applied Pharmacology 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)	3
PHRP 7226	Journal Club 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)	1
PHRP 7610	Scientific Writing	1
PHRP 7620	Research Funding and Proposal Development	1
PHRP 8301	Graduate Research* 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)	18
PHRP 8400	Graduate Seminar* 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)	4
PHRE	Electives	6
Third Year
PHRP 8200	Dissertation Research# 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)	24
PHRP 8400	Graduate Seminar* 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)	2
Fourth Year (to Seventh Year)
PHRP 8200	Dissertation Research# 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)	24
PHRP 8400	Graduate Seminar* 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)	2
PHRP 8900	Dissertation Defense+ 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)	8

*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.

Social and Administrative Pharmacy

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.

CRN	Course Name	Credits
First and Second Years
PHRP 7001	Health Economics 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).	3
PHRP 7021	Population Health and Public Policy	3
PHRP 7023	Pharmaceutical Marketing	3
PHRP 7025	Pharmacy Management and Finance	3
PHRP 7110	Bioethical Principles of Life Science Research	3
PHRP 7120	Research Design	3
PHRP 7203	Social Measurement and Techniques	3
PHRP 7209	Pharmacoeconomics	3
PHRP 7211	Theories of Health Seeking Behavior	3
PHRP 7243	Research Design II This course aims to enable students to develop an understanding of the philosophical foundations of and the practical issues arising from adopting qualitative or open-ended inquiry and mixed methods approach, with a particular emphasis on pharmacy and health-related implementation research. The course will also cover philosophical foundations, theory, and methodological topics including sampling, generalization, and validity related to qualitative and mixed-methods research. Students will learn how to formulate a qualitative research question(s); collect, manage, and analyze qualitative data; and write qualitative findings. (48-0-3)	3
PHRP 7320	Advanced Biostatistics I	3
PHRP 7330	Advanced Biostatistics II	3
PHRP 7610	Scientific Writing	1
PHRP 7620	Research Funding and Proposal Development	1
PHRP 8301	Graduate Research*	12
PHRP 8400	Graduate Seminar*	4
PHRE	Elective	3
Third Year
PHRP 8000	Dissertation Research# 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)	24
PHRP 8301	Graduate Research* 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)	3
PHRP 8400	Graduate Seminar* 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)	2
PHRE	Electives	6
Fourth Year (to Seventh Year)
PHRP 8000	Dissertation Research# 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)	24
PHRP 8400	Graduate Seminar* 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)	2
PHRP 8900	Dissertation Defense+ 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)	8

*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.

Note: Qualifying exams will commence during the summer semester of the second year..

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).

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Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences

Quick Facts

Tuition

Curriculum

Delivery Options

Application Deadlines

Admission Requirements

Curriculum

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