Doctor of Pharmacy / Doctor of Philosophy Pathway Department of Medicinal Chemistry
The Department of Medicinal Chemistry together with the Dean's Office have developed a pathway for students who are interested in simultaneously pursuing a Pharm.D and a Ph.D. in Medicinal Chemistry. This program is intended for students who are interested in a career in basic or clinical research for the discovery and development of new pharmaceutical therapies. It is constructed to intersperse the core curriculum requirements of the Ph.D. program into the curriculum of the Pharm.D. program, making course substitutions where feasible. In doing this, we minimize curriculum redundancy between the two programs while ensuring that the student is adequately prepared for the demands of both degree programs.
During the joint program pathway, students undertake research in the summers between their P1-P3 years. Students are also expected to use at least one clerkship rotation for research. The program is structured so that students can take their Ph.D. qualification exams during their P5 year and their pharmacy licensure exam at the normal time after completion of the P4 year. Following P4 year, the students engage in full time research to complete the Ph.D. program.
Students who are interested in pursuing this pathway should apply to the Pharm.D. program first. Students are accepted into the Ph.D. program during their P1 year if the student meets the program admissions criteria and there is appropriate research mentoring and support for the student. Interested students should contact the Director of Graduate Admissions in the Department of Medicinal Chemistry for application procedures and information.
Students enter directly into the Pharm.D./PhD program. Curriculum based on application to the Med Chem program during the P1 year. First class would be summer rotations
International Students. International students are encouraged to apply to either of the Interdepartmental Graduate Programs as appropriate. Students interested in research in the Department of Medicinal Chemistry would then join a Medicinal Chemistry laboratory in their second year.
Mailing Address and Links to Forms
Terri Elder-Hale
Department of Medicinal Chemistry
30 South 2000 East, Room 311A
University of Utah
Salt Lake City, Utah 84112-5820
terri.elder-hale@pharm.utah.edu
(801) 581-5581
PDFApplication Form
Procedures Document
| P1 Fall |
| Course |
Name |
Credits |
Primary Requirement |
| MDCH 5110 |
Physiol Chem I |
4 |
PharmD |
| PHPRC 5112 |
Intro Pharm Prac |
4 |
PharmD |
| PHARM 5113 |
Basics Pharm Sci |
3 |
PharmD |
| PHPRC 5114 |
Social Foundations |
2 |
PharmD |
| Elective |
2-3 |
| Total Credits |
15-16 |
| P1 Spring |
| Course |
Name |
Credits |
Primary Requirement |
| MDCH 5120 |
Physiol Chem II |
3 |
PharmD |
| PHTX 5121 |
Pathophysiol |
5 |
PharmD |
| PHPRC 5122 |
Drug Lit Eval I |
2 |
PharmD |
| PHPRC 5124 |
Early Practicum Exp |
3 |
PharmD |
| PHCEU 5125 |
Pharmaceutics |
4 |
PharmD |
| Total Credits |
17 |
| Summer P1-P2 |
| Course |
Name |
Credits |
Primary Requirement |
| MD CH 7970 |
Research Rotations |
6 |
PhD (3 credits for each 6 week rotation) |
| Total Credits |
6 |
| P2 Fall |
| Course |
Name |
Credits |
Primary Requirement |
| MDCH 5210 |
Med Chem I |
2 |
PharmD |
| PHTX 5211 |
Pharmacol I |
4 |
PharmD |
| PHPRC 5213 |
Drug Lit Eval II |
3 |
PharmD |
| PHPRC 5212 |
Therapeutics I |
4 |
PharmD |
| INTMD 7570 |
Research Ethics |
1 |
PhD |
| BLCHM 6400 |
Genetic Engineering |
2 |
PhD |
| Total Credits |
16 |
| P2 Spring |
| Course |
Name |
Credits |
Primary Requirement |
| MDCH 5220 |
Med Chem II |
2 |
PharmD |
| PHTX 5221 |
Pharmacol II |
4 |
PharmD |
| PHPRC 5226 |
Dispensing |
3 |
PharmD |
| PHPRC 5222 |
Therapeutics II |
4 |
PharmD |
| Elective |
2 |
| Total Credits |
15 |
| Summer P2-P3 |
| Course |
Name |
Credits |
Primary Requirement |
| PHPRC 7401 |
Core community clerk |
4 |
PharmD |
| PHPRC 7402 |
Core institutional clerk |
4 |
PharmD |
| PHPRC 7425 |
Community seminar |
1 |
PharmD |
| MD CH 7970 |
Research rotation |
3 |
PhD (one rotation) |
| Total Credits |
12 |
| P3 Fall |
| Course |
Name |
Credits |
Primary Requirement |
| PHPRC 7123 |
Pharmacy Manage |
2 |
PharmD |
| PHPRC 7312 |
Therapeutics III |
4 |
PharmD |
| PHPRC 7313 |
Law/Ethics |
3 |
PharmD |
| PHPRC 7314 |
Comm Pharm |
3 |
PharmD |
| PHPRC 7315 |
Clinical Toxicology |
2 |
PharmD |
| PHCEU 7315 |
Pharmacokinetics |
3 |
PharmD |
| Total Credits |
17 |
| P3 Spring |
| Course |
Name |
Credits |
Primary Requirement |
| PHPRC 7321 |
Intro Clerkships |
3 |
PharmD |
| PHPRC 7325 |
Clin PK |
2 |
PharmD |
| PHPRC 7322 |
Therapeutics IV |
4 |
PharmD |
| NURS 6020 |
Phys Assess |
2 |
PharmD |
| MDCH 7201 |
Herbal Meds |
2 |
PharmD |
| PHPRC 7425 |
Pharmacokinetics |
1 |
PharmD |
| MD CH |
Elective |
2 |
PhD |
| Total Credits |
18 |
| Pick a PhD Advisor at end of Spring semester |
| Summer P3-P4 |
| Course |
Name |
Credits |
Primary Requirement |
| PHPRC 7403 |
Adult Medicine Clerk |
6 |
PharmD |
| PHPRC 7510 |
Ambulatory Care Clerk |
6 |
PharmD |
| PHPRC |
Elective Clerkships |
6 |
PharmD |
| Total Credits |
18 |
| P4 Year Fall |
| Course |
Name |
Credits |
Primary Requirement |
| MD CH 7970 |
Thesis Research |
9 |
PhD |
| PHPR 7200 |
Pharm.D Seminar II |
2 |
PharmD |
| BLCHM 6410 |
Pro. & Nucleic Acids Bio |
3 |
PhD |
| Total Credits |
14 |
| P4 Year Spring |
| Course |
Name |
Credits |
Primary Requirement |
| PHPRC 7511 |
Ambulatory Care Clerk |
6 |
PharmD |
| PHPRC |
Research Clerkship |
6 |
PhD |
| PHPRC 7410 |
DI/PC Clerkship |
6 |
PharmD |
| PHPRC 7200 |
Pharm.D Seminar |
2 |
Pharm.D |
| Total Credits |
23 |
| Take the NAPLEX Exam (May) |
| P5 Year |
| Course |
Name |
Credits |
Primary Requirement |
| CHM 7200 |
Organic Synthesis(Fall) |
2 |
PhD |
| CHM 7240 |
Physical Organic(Fall) |
2 |
PhD |
| CHM 7460 |
Protein Chemistry(Spring) |
2 |
PhD |
| BLCHM 6430 |
Structural Methods |
3 |
PhD |
| MD CH 7890 |
Research Seminar |
1 |
PhD |
| MDCH 7970 |
Research |
18 |
PhD |
| Take Oral Comprehensive Exam in Medicinal Chemistry midyear |
| P6 Year |
| Course |
Name |
Credits |
Primary Requirement |
| MDCH 7970 |
Research |
24 |
PhD |
| P7 Year |
| Course |
Name |
Credits |
Primary Requirement |
| MDCH 7970 |
Research |
24 |
PhD |
