APPLICATION AND ADMISSION PROCEDURES

Prospective students should submit an application form and request transcripts of grades from their undergraduate institution(s). In addition, three letters of reference, and GRE scores are required. Students whose native language is not English should also submit Test of English as Foreign Language (TOEFL) scores. 

While not having a set deadline, it is suggested that completed applications be received no later than January 20 of each year to be considered for admission in the following fall semester. 

For application forms and further information, contact:

OR e-mail your address information below for application forms and additional information

Students with particularly outstanding undergraduate records may be eligible for a number of special awards.  The Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry has been named as a Madison and Lila Self Graduate Fellowship Program Partner at The University of Kansas.  The Self-Fellowship program provides stipend and tuition to outstanding students  for four years of graduate study.  Other university-level awards include the Honors Fellowship, awarded on a competitive basis to incoming graduate students throughout the university, the Dissertation Fellowship, awarded to outstanding students during their last year of doctoral study, and the Graduate Minority Opportunity Fund Fellowship, awarded to outstanding ethnic minority students for work towards the doctoral degree.  At the department level, the Takeru Higuchi and the Siegfried Lindenbaum Fellowships are awarded each year to incoming graduate students with high promise.

In addition, graduate students in the department have competed successfully for a number of external fellowships, including National Science Foundation (NSF), American Foundation for Pharmaceutical Education (AFPE), Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers' Association (PhRMA), Parenteral Drug Association (PDA), and United States Pharmacopeia (USP) Fellowships.  Additional application materials must be supplied for many of these awards; interested students should contact the graduate studies adviser in the department for more information.

THE PH.D. DEGREE IN PHARMACEUTICAL CHEMISTRY
The requirements for the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees cannot be expressed in terms of a given number of credits, the completion of a series of courses, or the achievement of a minimum grade point average.  The objective of the program is to achieve a level of competence in those areas deemed important in the broad area of pharmaceutical chemistry.  However, reaching this objective is clearly related to having a sound background upon entering the program, successfully completing key graduate level courses, and demonstrating an ability to conduct original laboratory-based research. 

Entering Background 
It is an expectation that entering students have competence in mathematics that is equivalent to having completed the standard sequence in calculus plus elementary differential equations, a course in physical chemistry emphasizing thermodynamics and an introductory course in pharmacokinetics.  

Expected Background  in Chemistry, Mathematics and Pharmacy or Their Equivalent
MATH 320 Elementary Differential Equations
CHEM 640 Biological Physical Chemistry
or 
CHEM 646 Physical Chemistry I
PHCH 625 Pharmacokinetics

Further, it is highly recommended that most students take the following courses to adequately prepare for the comprehensive examination. In all cases, if a student has successfully completed (grade B or better) an equivalent course at another institution, it is not necessary to repeat that course.

Chemistry Courses
CHEM 740 Principles of Organic Reactions 
CHEM 742 Physical Organic Chemistry I 

Pharmaceutical Chemistry Courses
PHCH 801 Issues of Scientific Integrity 
PHCH 862 Pharmaceutical Equilibria 
PHCH 864 Pharmaceutical Analysis 
PHCH 866 Pharmaceutical Mass Transport
PHCH 972 Mechanisms of Drug Deterioration and Stabilization
PHCH 976 Advanced Topics in Biopharmaceutics and Pharmacokinetics
 
One of the Following
PHCH 865 Pharmaceutical Analysis II
PHCH 870 Pharmaceutical Biotechnology

Non-Required Special Interest Coursework
While not required, depending on individual interests, there are numerous courses available from several departments that are open to Pharmaceutical Chemistry Graduate Students at The University of Kansas (For students appointed as Fellows on one of the NIH funded training grants, please refer to the appropriate training grant brochure or the training program director for clarification as to any additional requirements). The following group represents a partial sampling of such special interest courses that have been taken by students in recent years.  It is suggested that such additional coursework be selected by consultation with the students research mentor and/or dissertation committee.
 
BIOL 672 Gene Expression
BIOL 688 The Molecular Biology of Cancer
BIOL 702 Laboratory Practice Radiation Safety Procedures
BIOL 703 Radioisotopes in Radiation Safety in Research
BIOL 718 Laboratory in Molecular Biology 
BIOL 918 Physical Biochemistry
CHEM 711 Applied Electronics for Scientists
CHEM 959 Bioanalytical Chemistry 
CHEM 966 Physical Organic Chemistry II
MDCH 861 Drug Metabolism

Pre-Comprehensive Bi-Annual Reviews
Student performance is initially monitored by a bi-annual review process.  Progress in coursework is reviewed and the student has the opportunity to present a summary of their research progress to the faculty.  Feedback as regards satisfactory or unsatisfactory progress, in either coursework or research efforts, along with future expectations are provided to the student in a timely fashion.  Typically, after two to two and one-half academic years, the majority of students have demonstrated sufficient progress in diadactic and experimental work to be eligible to undertake the comprehensive written and oral exams.  Current policy is that all students must be eligible to undertake the comprehensive exams after three years (three fall and spring semesters) or they will be asked to terminate the program.   

FLORS Requirements
Before a student may take the comprehensive written and oral examinations, he or she must complete the FLORS (foreign language or research skill) requirement.  This may be fulfilled by the demonstration of competence in a foreign language in which there is a substantial body of scientific literature or by successfully completing an acceptable skills development course.  Research skills in biometry (BIOL 841), radioactive material handling (BIOL 702, 703), computer programming (C&PE 121), electronics for scientists (CHEM 711), drug metabolism (MDCH 861), cell culture techniques (BIOL 756), gene expression (BIOL 672), molecular biology of cancer (BIOL 688), laboratory in molecular biology (BIOL 718), drug metabolism (MDCH 861), pharmaceutical analysis II (PHCH 865), animal methods (BIOL 704), and the writing and defense of an original research proposal (PHCH 974) may all fulfill the research skills requirement.

The Comprehensive Examination
After satisfying course work and demonstrating suitable research skills, the student is eligible to undertake the preliminary qualifying examination.  This process evaluates the student's background in the basic biological, chemical and physical sciences that are central to successful research in pharmaceutical chemistry.  The examination is a two-part process, a written examination followed by an oral exam.  The subject matter covered by the written exam is largely derived, but not limited to, the departmental courses, seminar presentations and the student's research experience.  The oral examination usually follows the written exam within 3-5 days.  This exam allows the committee to explore with the student any areas of apparent weakness revealed the written exam, and to review the adequacy of performance in coursework, research and seminars.  After successfully completing the written and oral exams, the student is qualified as a Ph.D. candidate.

Seminar Requirements
All graduate students are required to attend the weekly departmental seminar.  Seminars consist of presentations by guest speakers, faculty members, and students.  After one year of residence, graduate students are called upon to present seminars on a regular basis.  The seminar may be based on progress achieved in their research or on a literature review of work related to their research.

The Ph.D. Dissertation
Prior to the end of the first semester of graduate studies, each student must choose a faculty research advisor.  The advisor, in conjunction with the student selects a dissertation research project, follows the student's progress in coursework and research, and chairs the student's comprehensive oral examination committee and dissertation defense committee.  Each Ph.D. candidate is required to submit and defend a dissertation resulting from research of sufficient originality and quality for publication in peer reviewed scientific journals.  These investigations are conducted under the supervision and guidance of the faculty adviser, with input from the dissertation committee as needed, and normally require from 18 to 24 months of sustained effort.  A minimum of three academic years in residence is required for the Ph.D. degree.

THE M.S. DEGREE IN PHARMACEUTICAL CHEMISTRY
Except under unusual circumstances, the Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry does not recruit students seeking the M.S. degree.  However, all students who pass the comprehensive written and oral examinations for the Ph.D. degree receive a non-thesis M.S. degree.  Students enrolled in the Ph.D. program who wish to terminate with the M.S. degree must satisfactorily complete at least one third of the courses recommended for the Ph.D. degree, present a thesis based on original research or a suitable technical report based on the review of published research in a particular area, and pass a final oral general examination.