Ph.D. (and MS) Curricular Requirements by Discipline Track

Students will need to consult with their major advisor to discuss discipline tracks and choice of electives within each discipline.

MS students will have the same discipline-specific requirements for didactic courses, responsible conduct of research, and seminar as Ph.D. students. The research and project requirements are different for thesis and non-thesis MS students, and should be discussed with the major advisor, together with a choice of electives. 

Drug Discovery

  • PHAR 501/601: Three research rotations, 3 – 5 credits each term, year 1
  • PHAR 507: Seminar, every academic term, 1 credit every term
  • PHAR 525: Foundations of Drug Action, 3 credits fall (735 for PharmD/Ph.D. students)
  • PHAR 669: Introduction to Grant Proposal Writing, 2 credits fall (Ph.D. only)
  • GRAD 520: Responsible Conduct of Research 2 credits
  • BB 590 & 591: Biochemistry I & II, 6 credits, fall & winter
  • CH 535: Structure Determination by Spectroscopic Methods 3 credits fall
  • PHAR 537: Bioorganic Chemistry (Biosynthesis), 3 credits winter, even years

Gene Regulation and Disease

The graduate minor in Biological Data Sciences is highly recommended for several of the Pharmacology research groups.

  • PHAR 501/601: Three research rotations, 3 – 5 credits each term, year 1
  • PHAR 507: Seminar, 1 credit every academic term, every year
  • BB 590, 591, 592: Biochemistry I, II & III, 3 credits fall, winter and spring
  • PHAR 525 and 527: Foundations of Drug Action I and II, 3 credits each, fall and winter (735 and 737 for PharmD/Ph.D. students)
  • GRAD 520: Responsible Conduct of Research, 2 credits, any term
  • PHAR 669: Introduction to Grant Proposal Writing, 2 credits, fall term, year 2 (Ph.D. only)

Targeted Drug Delivery

Students must be proficient in using computers. Insufficient computer skills may be remedied with undergraduate coursework, e.g., CS 101. Students whose undergraduate degree is not in the pharmaceutical sciences or pharmacy must take PHAR 733 and/or 734, Pharmaceutics I and II (winter and spring terms).

  • PHAR 501/601: Three research rotations, 3 – 5 credits each term, year 1
  • PHAR 507: Seminar, every academic term, 1 credit every term
  • PHAR 525: Foundations of Drug Action, 3 credits fall (735 for PharmD/Ph.D. students)
  • PHAR 669: Introduction to Grant Proposal Writing, 2 credits fall (Ph.D. only)
  • GRAD 520: Responsible Conduct of Research, 2 credits
  • PHAR 574: Nanomedicine, 3 credits winter odd years
  • PHAR 573: Current topics in Pharmaceutical Sciences, 1 credit winter and spring every year

Earn your Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical sciences with Oregon State University.