Pharmaceutical Sciences
PHD
Why study Pharmaceutical Sciences?
Unleash your potential in the dynamic field of pharmaceutical sciences through our PhD program. Designed to inspire and challenge, our comprehensive curriculum combines cutting-edge coursework with advanced research, allowing you to delve into captivating areas such as pioneering drug development, unraveling the intricate impact of medications on the body, exploring breakthrough drug delivery techniques, and maximizing the therapeutic potential of medications for optimal patient outcomes. With flexible scheduling options available, including online and in-person formats, you can tailor your learning experience to fit your needs and preferences.
Become part of our program and unleash your potential to make groundbreaking contributions that will shape the future of pharmaceutical sciences.
Choose Your Specialization
Because the scope of pharmaceutical sciences is so broad, our graduate program has a number of specialty disciplines:
Biomembrane Sciences Track
In the Biomembrane Sciences track, students delve into captivating research projects encompassing drug delivery strategies, cosmetic product safety assessment, mathematical modeling of membrane transport, innovative drug formulations, nanocarrier design, and advancements in skin and hair development.
Experimental Therapeutics Track
Discover a world of possibilities in our Experimental Therapeutics track, where we bridge the gap between innovative therapeutic entities and real-world applications. Explore captivating research opportunities in areas ranging from cancer biomarkers to neuropharmacology, stroke, epilepsy, and more.
Health Outcomes Track
The Health Outcomes track aims to train interdisciplinary scholars in pharmaceutical sciences, economics, business, and quantitative analysis. By conducting research in this emerging field, students develop expertise that can improve patient health. This track offers exciting opportunities to contribute to the pharmaceutical industry's growing demand for scientists skilled in social and administrative aspects of pharmaceutical sciences. Students in the Health Outcomes track explore diverse research projects, ranging from drug safety and pharmacovigilance to pharmacy facility design, operation, and pharmacoeconomics.
Admission Requirements
Applicants with an undergraduate degree in chemistry, biology, engineering, or related fields from an accredited institution are eligible to apply for our full-time, research-intensive MS program in Pharmaceutical Sciences. Similarly, those with a completed professional degree like PharmD, MD, or DVM also meet eligibility requirements. Interested applicants can directly apply without prior completion of an MS degree. Admission to our competitive program, which offers supervised, full-time research training, is based on a selection process.
Programmatic minimum admission criteria include:
- A U.S. bachelors degree from a regionally accredited college or university or an equivalent degree from outside of the U.S.
- A grade-point average (GPA) of at least 3.00 or non-U.S. equivalent
- A Graduate Record Examination (GRE) score of at least 290/3.0 obtained within the past 5 years
- International Applicants: qualifying English language profiency score
Supplemental Application Documents
To be considered for admission, please complete the University of Cincinnati Graduate Application and submit the following documents electronically within the application:
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Curriculum Vitae (CV)
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Statement of Purpose: Explain your motivation for pursuing a research-intensive Ph.D. degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of Cincinnati. Include your desired research focus area within the broad field of Pharmaceutical Sciences.
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Submit all college transcripts, including evidence of high academic achievement (unofficial transcripts are sufficient for initial review).
- Three letters of recommendation are required for applications, and we strongly recommend that applicants seek letters from individuals who can provide insights into their research experience. Please note that letters of recommendation from family members, friends, current students, politicians, or clergy will not be accepted.
Non-Matriculated Students
If you are interested in exploring Pharmaceutical Sciences graduate-level courses without formal enrollment in a degree-seeking program, please complete the basic data form.
Our program opens doors to a wide range of exciting career opportunities in the pharmaceutical industry, clinical research organizations, academia, and government sectors. Upon graduation, you may find yourself in roles such as a scientist, clinical pharmacologist, clinical trial manager, post-doctoral fellow, or regulatory affairs manager.
Furthermore, there are additional career paths available, including positions as a medical science liaison, pharmaceutical consultant, medical writer, or chemist, providing you with diverse avenues to pursue your passions and contribute to the advancement of the field.
Scholarship Opportunities
To explore available scholarship opportunities, please visit our Financial Aid & Scholarships page.
The graduation requirements for this program include:
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Completion of Plan of Study
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Successful passing of the PhD qualifier and research proposal
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Verification of at least one (1) first-author manuscript related to PhD dissertation research that is accepted for publication in a peer-reviewed scientific journal
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Compliance with degree-required seminar and journal club credit hours per semester
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Cumulative grade point average of all didactic courses ≥3.0
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Min of 90 credit hrs from track-based curriculum outline
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No failing “F” grade in any of the degree-associated graduate courses
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Successful upload of a chair-signed dissertation through the Graduate College ETD portal by the specified deadline
Application Deadlines
All application documents must be electronically submitted through the online application. When completing the online application, please select the desired degree path carefully, as document switches between different tracks are not permitted. Applications are reviewed with the following timeline:
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Fall semester applications are reviewed by the Admissions Committee in May, with submissions accepted until August 1st.
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Spring semester applications are reviewed by the Admissions Committee in October, with submissions accepted until December 1st.
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Typically, the Fall semester provides more opportunities for incoming applicants.
For further inquiries, contact pharmsci@uc.edu.
Contact Information
231 Albert Sabin Way
3005F Medical Sciences Building
Cincinnati, OH 45267
(513) 558-6172
corey.bjarnson@uc.edu
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Program Code: 25DOC-PCEU-PHD