The Graduate Admissions Committee in the Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Outcomes Sciences reviews all applicants to the Pharmaceutical Outcomes Sciences track of the Ph.D. program. Typically, qualified applicants will have diverse backgrounds with a Pharmacy degree or an undergraduate degree in a health-related discipline.

Serious consideration will be given to applicants with a minimum overall grade point average of “B”. The GRE verbal score should be a minimum of 294 for the combined verbal and quantitative scores and a minimum score of 4 on the analytical section. Applicants whose native language is not English are also required to submit a satisfactory score on an approved test of English language proficiency.

Candidates may apply for admission at any time during the year; review of completed applications begins December 15 for matriculation the following Fall semester. 

All students must be admitted by the Dean of the Graduate School, following the recommendation of the appropriate school or college. Information regarding programs, policies, and admission processes is available on the Graduate School website. 

Admission is for the specific purpose stated by the Graduate School and the student must reapply in order to pursue further study or change the degree sought.  Non-degree students must also be admitted to the Graduate School.  

International Students

Students whose native language is not English must take a diagnostic test to assess their capabilities in English shortly after arrival on campus. English speaking capability will be assessed in a mandatory workshop held by the Graduate School in August or January of each year.  Those students found to be deficient in writing, reading or speaking English are provided opportunities for further study. 

The typical length of time required to complete the Ph.D. degree in Pharmaceutical Outcomes Sciences is 4 years. All graduate students, in consultation with their major advisor and advisory committee, must develop an individualized program of study within 24 months of matriculation. 

General Requirements

Students who enter the Ph.D. program in Pharmaceutical Outcomes Sciences complete at least 60 hours of graduate course work. Students who enter the Ph.D. program in Pharmaceutical Outcomes Sciences with a Master’s of Science degree in a health-related field must successfully complete at least 34 hours of graduate course work. Ph.D. candidates are required to complete four departmental seminar courses (PHAR 711A-D). 

An average grade of “B” or better is required in all courses within a student’s program of study and grades below "C" are considered as failure. See the Graduate Student Handbook [pdf] for required and elective courses.

Research Activity

Every graduate student in Pharmaceutical Outcomes Sciences is expected to maintain a vigorous research program. This is demonstrated through the submission of abstracts and presentation of posters and talks at national and international meetings, as well as participation in the preparation of manuscripts submitted for publication in peer-reviewed journals.

Dissertation

All students are required to submit a dissertation based upon original research, meeting all requirements of the Graduate School prior to award of the degree. 

The following is a brief outline of the steps required during the completion of the Pharmaceutical Outcomes Sciences Ph.D. program: 

1. Completion of all required coursework by the end of the degree program. The core curriculum should be completed by the end of the second year.
    
2. Selection of a research advisor should occur by the end of the first year. The student must notify the CPOS Graduate Program Coordinator in writing of his/her selection using the Research Advisor Selection form [pdf]
    
3. Selection of the Graduate Advisory Committee. A graduate committee must be selected by the end of the first year in consultation with the major advisor and Graduate Program Coordinator.
    
4. The Qualifying Examination should be taken upon completion of the first year of coursework.
    
5. The Ph.D. program of study must be completed by the end of the second year. Students must use the Graduate School's DPOS Doctoral Degree Program form. The student must sign the Program of Study, as well as the Chair of the student’s committee, and forward the document to the Graduate Program Director through the CPOS Graduate Program Coordinator.
   
   
6. Dissertation Committee Formed. When the student is ready to begin dissertation work, the advisory committee will be dissolved and replaced with the dissertation committee, selected in consultation with the major advisor. The student must notify the Graduate Program Coordinator of the committee’s composition in writing using the G-DCA Doctoral Committee Appointment Request form [pdf].
    
7. The comprehensive written/oral examination must be taken no later than the end of the third year in the student's degree program.
   
   
8. Dissertation proposal defense. The dissertation topic should be chosen in consultation with the student’s major advisor. The student must submit a written dissertation proposal to their dissertation committee. This proposal must be provided at least two weeks before the scheduled oral defense presentation. The defense date and time must be agreed upon by all committee members. If the student does not receive approval from the committee during the initial defense, the committee will recommend revisions to strengthen the proposal, and a second defense may be scheduled. 
    
9. Dissertation completion. Upon completion of the dissertation work and writing, completed copies of the dissertation should be given to all graduate committee members at least two weeks prior to the defense of the dissertation. All dissertations are submitted online to the Graduate School and should follow department requirements and suggestions for formatting. 
   
   
10. A dissertation seminar and defense must be completed within eight years of the start of the Ph.D. program. The dissertation seminar will normally be 40-60 minutes in length with appropriate visual aids and will be open to the public. Following the dissertation seminar, the student will reconvene with his graduate committee for the defense of the dissertation. An affirmative vote of at least 75% of the graduate committee in attendance will constitute a passing performance pending any minor changes in the dissertation required by the committee.
    
    If the student fails to achieve an affirmative vote of at least 75% of the committee members in attendance, the committee may recommend major revisions of the dissertation followed by a second and final defense of dissertation to be conducted within one year. Failure in a second defense of the dissertation will normally result in awarding of a master's of science degree in pharmaceutical sciences.

The College of Pharmacy awards a number of instructional and/or research assistantships to graduate students. Visit the Graduate School website to learn more about paying for graduate school. 

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