Program Overview

College of Pharmacy

The College of Pharmacy at the University of Iowa offers various programs, including the Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD), Graduate Studies, and Post-Graduate Residency Programs.

Graduate Studies

The Graduate Studies program includes:

• PhD in Health Services Research
• PhD in Drug Discovery and Experimental Therapeutics
• PhD in Pharmaceutics
• Graduate Degree: How to Apply
• Graduate Student Life

PhD in Drug Discovery and Experimental Therapeutics

The interdisciplinary curriculum features a mix of required and elective courses from various departments that provide a strong foundational base of knowledge along with options for a tailored experience for students.

Curriculum

The curriculum includes 24 semester hours (s.h.) total with 14 s.h. of required courses and 10 s.h. (minimum) of electives.

Required Courses (14 s.h.)

• PHAR 6515: Perspectives in DDET (2 s.h.)
• PHAR 5510: Graduate Student Seminar (1 s.h.)
• PHAR 5545: Current Medicinal Chemistry (3 s.h.)
• BIOS 4120: Introduction to Biostatistics (3 s.h.; Spring semester)
• PCOL 4130: Drug Mechanisms and Actions (3 s.h.)
  • OR
  • PHAR 7101: Principles of Experimental Therapeutics (3 s.h.)
• PHAR 8148: Introduction to Pharmacokinetics/Pharmacodynamics (2 s.h.) (or 4146)

Elective Courses (10 s.h. minimum)

• BIOS 5120: Design Analysis Biomed Stud
• BIOL 5512: Fundamental Genetics (lecture)
• BIOS 5512: Fundamental Genetics (discussion)
• PHAR 5537: Enz Basis Drug Metab
• PHAR 5541: Total Synthesis Nat’l Prod
• PHAR 5542: Enz Kinetics Enz Mechanism
• PHAR 5512: Drug Disc Mechanisms
• PHAR 5549: Analytical Biochem
• PHAR 6501: Pharm Chem Toxicology
• PHAR 6700: Pharmaco-kinetics/dynamics
• PHAR 7101: Principles of Therapeutics
• PHAR 7102: Appl Clin Translational Science
• CHEM 5321: Spec Methods Org Chem
• CHEM 5328: Mech of Org Reactions

More About Electives

• Note that the above list of electives is not exhaustive, and others may be selected by a student and advisor to best fit the needs of the student and their research goals.
• Additional electives to meet the 10 s.h. (minimum) can be selected at the discretion of the student in consultation with their advisor: Chemistry, Genetics, Pharmacology, Neuroscience, Biochemistry.

Research Rotations

All students entering the program will participate in a minimum of two rotations, each lasting 6-8 weeks, prior to joining a research group. Assignment of a student to a research group/mentor will occur following the completion of rotations based on mutual agreement by the student, advisor, and subprogram director.