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Pharmaceutics

PhD Didactic Training

Course work for the doctoral program is divided into four components:

  1. Prerequisites which define the level of entry into the program
  2. Required core program and elective courses, which are not required but are encouraged
  3. Seminars and literature review
  4. Research

Prerequisites:

  • College-level mathematics including differential equations (college-level Calculus 1 course that covers concepts of limits, derivatives, and the rate of change of functions), equivalent to UW course Differential Calculus, MATH 124

Please see the Graduate Program Handbook for the typical schedule of core requirements.

Core Program:

This didactic core consists of the following disciplines and specific courses:

  • PCEUT 502: Drug Disposition Science (2 cr)
  • PCEUT 505: Concepts in Pharmaceutical Sciences I (2 cr)
  • PCEUT 506: Concepts in Pharmacokinetics (2 cr)
  • PCEUT 532: Clinical Pharmacokinetics (4 cr)

Additional didactic core courses:

  • BIOST 511: Medical Biometry I (4 cr)
  • MEDCH 501: Medicinal Biochemistry (3 cr)

The above core courses are considered essential for all students in the program. It is unlikely that any of these courses would be waived, except for students entering with previous graduate-level course work in the required areas.

In addition, all students must attend a series of training sessions, preferably during the first academic year. These include but are not limited to: Chemical Safety, Biological Safety, and Bioethics training. Radiation Safety and Animal Care may also be required at some point, if relevant to the student’s thesis research.

Directed Electives:

The purpose of elective coursework is to provide an enhancement of the core training. By its nature, it is highly individualized and should be geared to suit individual interests. There is no formal requirement for elective coursework in the Pharmaceutics doctoral program. However, the student is encouraged to take elective courses that might be a benefit to their thesis project and career goals. For current quarterly course offerings, see the UW Time Schedule.

Seminars and Literature Review

  • PCEUT 520: Seminar (1 cr/quarter; 3 qtr/year until obtain 15 total credits)
    Beginning in the second year, students are to make 1 presentation each year, with a minimum of 3 presentations by the time of graduation. A general topic seminar is presented in the second year; and research presentation in subsequent years.
  • PCEUT 583: Journal club (1 cr/quarter; 3 qtr/year until obtain 15 total credits)
    During their second year, students should expect to present or discuss one article in each quarter as a ‘class lead’ and actively participate in all weekly discussions. During the final examination week at the end of each quarter, first-year students are required to give at minimum ~10-minute research presentation following the conclusion of each quarterly lab rotation, as part of the Journal Club course. Students in their second year and later are expected to attend these quarterly research presentations and provide constructive feedback to their junior peers. See the course coordinator (rotates quarterly) for additional guidance, as well as senior students in the program.

Research

  • PCEUT 600, 800 (variable credits)

Students entering the doctoral program are required to complete 3 research laboratory rotations (PCEUT 600, variable credits), one per quarter, starting Autumn quarter of their first year. The matching of available labs with each incoming student will be facilitated by the department. Student preferences will be given due consideration.

All students must choose their thesis advisor by the end of Spring quarter in their first academic year. An extra rotation during Summer quarter is allowed, although failure to select a dissertation research advisor and laboratory by the end of the fourth quarter in the program (generally Summer quarter of the first year), when dissertation research labs are available and space has been offered, will result in dismissal from the PhD program.

Students must begin research in the lab of their advisor by Summer quarter at the end of their first academic year (PCEUT 600, variable credits). Due to the course work and research demands of the doctoral program, most students may find that after-class and off-hours are the best and most productive time for their laboratory research.

After successful completion of the General Exam, students will sign up for PCEUT 800 until graduation.

You may find additional information in the Pharmaceutics Graduate Student Handbook  and the Applications webpage.