Pharmaceutical Sciences, Doctor of Philosophy
Graduate Program in Pharmaceutical Sciences
Graduate Program in Pharmaceutical Sciences (GPPS)
Join a legacy of excellence at Texas Southern University, where we bridge the gap between scientific discovery and a healthier society. For over 20 years, the Graduate Program in Pharmaceutical Sciences (GPPS) has been a premier destination for scholars dedicated to advancing biomedical research and eliminating health disparities.
Why Choose GPPS at TSU?
- Proven Success: Over the past two decades, we have trained 50+ Ph.D. graduates who now lead at the highest levels of industry and government.
- Cutting-Edge Research: Gain hands-on experience in state-of-the-art laboratories funded by major entities like the NIH and CPRIT.
- Excellent Faculty: We have a group of active, productive faculty members with impressive track records who have successfully developed GPPS's research infrastructure and capabilities.
- Specialized Expertise: Tailor your education with deep dives into:
- Pharmaceutics: Drug development, delivery, formulation, pharmacokinetics, metabolism.
- Pharmacology: Drug discovery, AI-assisted computational drug design, cancer genetics, and medicinal chemistry
A Curriculum Designed for Impact
Our program doesn't just teach science; it builds careers. We prioritize professional development to ensure you are "industry-ready" the moment you graduate.
The Academic Journey
- Didactic Coursework: Mastery of molecular biology, biochemistry, and chemistry.
- Dissertation Research: Intensive PhD Research courses with world-renowned mentors.
- Comprehensive Progress: Rigorous qualifying exams to ensure scientific excellence.
The Professional Edge
- Grantsmanship: Expert training in grant writing and manuscript preparation.
- Internships: Most students complete multiple summer internships at top-tier companies.
- Global Network: Access to leaders from the FDA, academia, and private industry.
Where Our Graduates Go
The GPPS degree is a passport to the top of the pharmaceutical world. Our alumni are currently making waves at:
- Top Industry Leaders: Merck, Pfizer, Regeneron, Eli Lilly, and Alnylam.
- Prestigious Academia: Harvard University, Baylor College of Medicine, and UTHealth.
- Regulatory Authorities: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Join a Vibrant, Diverse Community
At TSU, we are especially dedicated to preparing African American scholars for leadership in the pharmaceutical sciences. We pride ourselves on a diverse, productive, and supportive environment where your research makes a real-world difference.
"Contributing to a healthier society through translational research."
Ready to Lead?
Take the next step in your scientific career. Discover our Admission Requirements and apply to join the GPPS family at Texas Southern University today.
Admission Requirements
In addition to meeting the requirements and following the procedures for admission to the Graduate School, applicants to the Doctor of Philosophy in Pharmaceutical Sciences must have earned a bachelor’s degree in
the natural or health sciences. Admission to the Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences program will be granted to students who are judged most likely to achieve eminence in the field. It is anticipated that a small number of students will be granted admission each year. Other specific requirements for admission to the program include:
- An acceptable combined score on the Graduate Record Examination.
- A minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 2.75.
- Three letters of recommendation from individuals who are familiar with the applicant’s previous academic performance and potential for success in graduate school.
- Equivalent quantitative and qualitative measures indicating academic performance acceptable to the graduate admissions committee.
Socioeconomic factors will also be used to determine an applicant’s admission status. International students, in addition to the above requirements, must meet the English Proficiency requirements of the Graduate School.
The primary objective of the Ph.D. degree program is to train students for advanced careers in pharmaceutical sciences. Specialization with two specific tracks, 1) pharmacology and 2) pharmaceutics, will be offered for the Ph.D. degree. Course requirements for a Ph.D. in Pharmacology and Ph.D. in Pharmaceutics are tabulated below; the course descriptions are listed in item D.
The primary objective of the Ph.D. degree program is to train students for advanced careers in pharmaceutical sciences. Specialization with two specific tracks, 1) pharmacology and 2) pharmaceutics, will be offered for the Ph.D. degree. Course requirements for a Ph.D. in Pharmacology and Ph.D. in Pharmaceutics are tabulated below; the course descriptions are listed in item D.
Pharmacology Track
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core Courses | 21 | |
| Electives | 6 | |
| Seminars | 4 | |
| Research and Dissertation | 43 | |
| Total Hours | 74 | |
Core Courses
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| PHS 800 | Bioethics | 3 |
| PHS 801 | Biostatistics | 3 |
| PHS 808 | Advanced Pathophysiology | 3 |
| PHS 809 | Receptor Pharmacology | 3 |
| PHS 811 | Biopharmaceutics | 3 |
| PHS 812 | Advanced Biochem | 3 |
| PHS 913 | Molecular Pharmacology | 3 |
| Total Hours | 21 | |
Electives
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Select two courses from the following: | 6 | |
| Drug Dev. and Reg. Affairs | ||
| Exp Design/Instr/Clin Measurmt | ||
| Advanced Organic Chem | ||
| Biosyn and Drug Metabolism | ||
| Cell Biology | ||
| Genetics and Pharmacogenomics | ||
| Advanced Medicinal Chem | ||
| Endocrine Pharmacology | ||
| Neurpharmacology | ||
Seminars
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| PHS 802 | Sem/Special Topics | 1 |
| PHS 803 | Seminar/Special Topics | 1 |
| PHS 804 | Seminar/Grantsmanship | 1 |
| PHS 805 | Seminar/Grantsmanship | 1 |
| Total Hours | 4 | |
Research and dissertation
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| PHS 814 | Lab Rotation | 3 |
| PHS 916 | PhD Research I | 1-3 |
| PHS 917 | PhD Research II | 1-3 |
| PHS 918 | PhD Dissertation I | 1-9 |
| PHS 919 | PhD Dissertation II | 1-9 |
| Total Hours | 7-27 | |
PHARMaceutics TRACK
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core Courses | 21 | |
| Electives | 6 | |
| Seminars | 4 | |
| Research and Dissertation | 43 | |
| Total Hours | 74 | |
CORE Courses
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| PHS 800 | Bioethics | 3 |
| PHS 801 | Biostatistics | 3 |
| PHS 809 | Receptor Pharmacology | 3 |
| PHS 810 | Physical Pharmacy | 3 |
| PHS 811 | Biopharmaceutics | 3 |
| PHS 812 | Advanced Biochem | 3 |
| PHS 908 | Advanced Drug Delivery Sys | 3 |
| Total Hours | 21 | |
ELECTIVES
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Select 2 courses from the following: | 6 | |
| Drug Dev. and Reg. Affairs | ||
| Exp Design/Instr/Clin Measurmt | ||
| Biosyn and Drug Metabolism | ||
| Cell Biology | ||
| Advanced Pharmacokinetics | ||
| Advanced Pharmaceutics | ||
| Total Hours | 6 | |
Seminars
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| PHS 802 | Sem/Special Topics | 1 |
| PHS 803 | Seminar/Special Topics | 1 |
| PHS 804 | Seminar/Grantsmanship | 1 |
| PHS 805 | Seminar/Grantsmanship | 1 |
| Total Hours | 4 | |
research and dissrtation
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| PHS 814 | Lab Rotation | 3 |
| PHS 916 | PhD Research I | 1-3 |
| PHS 917 | PhD Research II | 1-3 |
| PHS 918 | PhD Dissertation I | 1-9 |
| PHS 919 | PhD Dissertation II | 1-9 |
| Total Hours | 7-27 | |
Philosophy, PhD Program Requirements
Completion of 74 credit hours of course work.
Qualifying Examination
The exam should be taken as soon as a student completes the Foundation/Leveling Courses, usually within the 1st year of the graduate program. The purpose of the qualifying examination will be to test the student’s level of understanding of basic concepts in the pharmaceutical sciences. This examination not only will be a test of a student’s preparation to undertake doctoral work, but also will be used as a diagnostic tool to indicate whether or not further work in any of the these areas will be needed. Until the student passes the qualifying examination (minimum 75%), he/she will be limited in the advanced doctoral coursework that he/she can take.
Comprehensive Examination
The examination is intended to test a student’s mastery of the skills and knowledge that should have been acquired in the program of study. Upon the successful completion of this examination and other graduate school requirements, the student becomes a candidate for the doctoral degree. The examination will be taken at the end of the period of formal course work and study, but prior to the commencement of substantial work on the dissertation. The examination cannot be taken until all credit hour requirements are completed. A candidate will be given two attempts to take and pass the Comprehensive Examination (minimum 75%). Therefore, concerted work on the dissertation will not normally begin until the student has passed the comprehensive examination. A doctoral student who fails the comprehensive examination the second time may petition for a third examination. The petition must show a plan of action in which the petitioner will engage to enhance his/her chances for satisfactorily completing the examination that was failed. The chairperson of the student’s doctoral committee, the department head, the dean of the college and the dean of the graduate school must approve the petition. A student who fails to pass the doctoral comprehensive exam or any part of it after the third attempt will be automatically discontinued as a student in the doctoral degree program.
Doctoral Candidacy
The doctoral student must satisfy the following requirements before he/she can be admitted to candidacy for the degree:
- Be admitted unconditionally to the Doctor of Philosophy in pharmaceutical sciences degree program.
- Satisfy the residency requirement of two consecutive semesters of full-time residence or an approved equivalence.
- Pass the doctoral comprehensive examination.
Dissertation Work and Oral Public Defense of the Dissertation
After achieving candidacy, the advisor in consultation with the candidate will recommend a dissertation committee to the Dean of the Graduate School. The dissertation committee will consist of a minimum of three graduate faculty members with demonstrated expertise in the focus of the dissertation. These three members include the dissertation advisor, one member from a faculty of the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, a third member who will be a graduate school representative appointed by the Dean of the Graduate School, and potentially an additional member from an outside institution. The dissertation advisor will serve as chairman of the dissertation committee. When the dissertation proposal has been approved the candidate will:
- complete the required research,
- prepare a dissertation, and
- make an oral defense to the committee.
If failed, the candidate must petition the Dean of the Graduate School, through his department, for permission to take the examination a second time. A second examination will not be permitted within a period of one semester after a failure is recorded on the first attempt. The dissertation serves a number of purposes and involves the following:
- satisfying the academic community.
- Meeting the university standards.
- Demonstrating to the supervisory committee that the student is capable of undertaking and successfully completing
Dissertation or thesis research courses receive grades of satisfactory or unsatisfactory only. Grades are assigned only after the defense of the dissertation or thesis. A successful defense and submission of the dissertation or thesis requires the supervising member of faculty to assign a satisfactory grade for the appropriate research courses.
Publications
The ability to develop and test scientifically meritorious hypotheses and publish the findings in peer-reviewed, indexed scientific journals is a critical skill for advanced careers in pharmaceutical sciences. The Ph.D. candidate must demonstrate ability in this area by:
a. Making a minimum of two presentations at national research meetings.
b. Publishing a minimum of one paper in a peer-reviewed indexed scientific journal.
c. Submitting a minimum of one research paper for publication in an indexed-refereed journal.
Time Limit for the Completing of the Doctor of Philosophy Degree
After being admitted to a program leading to the Doctor of Philosophy degree, a student will be allowed seven calendar years in which to complete all the program requirements. Continuation in the doctoral degree program beyond the seven-year limit must be approved by the student’s Doctoral Degree Advisory Committee and the Dean of the Graduate School. The maximum time allowed to complete the doctoral program, including an approved extension, is nine calendar years. This time limit does not include work done as part of the requirements for the master’s degree. Credits earned more than seven years prior to the date of completion of doctoral degree requirements at Texas Southern University cannot be accepted toward satisfying the doctoral degree requirements.
Readmission
A student who discontinues matriculation in the Graduate School for one or more semesters must apply for readmission. The evaluation of applications for readmission will be based on University and specific program admission requirements in existence at the time of the re- admission application.