A Folder

PharmD-PhD Program

Highly qualified students interested in both the clinical aspects of pharmacy and research in the pharmaceutical sciences are invited to consider the joint PharmD / PhD program. This new addition to our programmatic offerings makes it possible for students to earn both degrees more quickly than would be possible if each were done separately. Ordinarily, it would take 8-9 years to complete these two degrees. The joint program offers the potential of reducing that time from two to four years beyond the usual PharmD to a total of 6 to 8 years.

Students admitted to the joint program can begin taking required course work for the PhD in their P-1, P-2, and P-3 years. Summers between the P1-P2 and between the P2-P3 years can be effectively used for research and laboratory rotations. Initially, it is anticipated that students already in the professional (PharmD) program will be recruited into the joint program. The joint program permits a student to combine the PharmD with any of the PhD programs offered in the College: Biopharmaceutical Sciences, Medicinal Chemistry, Pharmacognosy, and Pharmacy (pharmacy administration).

There is a demand for pharmacists with PhDs in academia, in the pharmaceutical industry, in government, and in managed care organizations. PharmD/PhDs are relatively rare, and have a unique background in clinical and basic sciences.

Only very dedicated pharmacy students, who meet the normal standards for admission to the particular PhD program of interest, will be considered for the joint program. The faculty does not expect to admit more than a few students per year. Further, the College expects that students seeking admission to the joint program will be seriously interested in, and dedicated to the completion of both degrees.

Students may be admitted to the joint program at any time during the P1, P2 or P3 years. A plan of study will be devised, and agreed upon by all concerned, for joint-program students. This plan will describe a detailed road map for completion of the PharmD and the PhD degree programs. These plans may differ from student to student. The faculty expect that PharmD students will interrupt their PharmD program, after the P-2 year or after the P-3 year, to become full-time graduate students and complete the requirements for the PhD program prior to completing the PharmD degree. The College currently expects to find financial support, including at least a partial waiver of tuition, for joint-program students during their PharmD years as well as during the PhD program years.

Requirements for Participation in the Joint PharmD/PhD Program

Students in the joint program must meet all of the requirements of both the UIC COP for the Doctor of Pharmacy degree, as well as the UIC Graduate College and the specific PhD Program requirements for the Doctor of Philosophy degree, as presented in the current requirements of each college. For each participant, there is a Plan of Study. All interested parties participate in formulating the plan of study, and each will sign the plan indicating concurrence.

Students will be classified by the University as PharmD students/candidates during some semesters, and as a PhD students/candidates during other semesters. While enrolled and classified as a student in the College of Pharmacy Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) Degree program, students must comply with the then existing policies of the College of Pharmacy . While enrolled and classified as a student in the Graduate College , in a PhD degree program, students must comply with the then existing policies of the Graduate College and of the particular program. Students must demonstrate satisfactory progress each semester toward completion of the requirements of the Program. Satisfactory progress is defined as meeting the criteria to continue in the PharmD program while enrolled and classified as a PharmD student, and as meeting the criteria for satisfactory progress defined by the PhD program while enrolled and classified as a PhD student. Students must maintain an overall 3.00 GPA on a 4.00 scale. If progress is judged unsatisfactory, a written notice of one's deficiencies (first written notice) will be issued. Failure to remedy the stated deficiencies will result in a second written notice, and the student will be placed on academic probation. Failure to improve sufficiently to be removed from academic probation within one semester following receipt of the second written notice will result in dismissal from the joint program.

Students in the joint program will receive financial support in the form of stipends and tuition waivers. They may be liable for taxes on all or some portion of the support provided. If, during the PharmD or PhD portions of the Program, students are awarded a stipend from an external funding agency, as a result of regional or national competition (e.g. AACP, AFPE, NIH), the amount of the stipend that is paid, in addition to the tuition waiver, will be determined by the then existing policies of either the College of Pharmacy or the PhD program in which the student is then enrolled. The joint program discourages any outside employment for its students to allow completion of program requirements in a timely manner. After acceptance into the joint program, and the formulation and execution of a Study Plan, a student's withdrawal or dismissal from the joint program will immediately create an obligation to repay the University of Illinois at Chicago tuition that has been waived and stipend monies that have been received through Research Assistantships.

Application Procedure for Current UIC PharmD Students

All four PhD programs in the College are prepared to receive applications from current PharmD students for admission to the joint program, generally for the next Fall semester. The following materials should be submitted to the Director of Graduate Studies for the PhD program to which the student wishes to apply.

• Biopharmaceutical Sciences: Dr. Richard Gemeinhart, Room 357, rag@uic.edu
• Medicinal Chemistry: Dr. John Fitzloff, Room 539, Fitzloff@uic.edu
• Pharmacognosy: Dr. Steven Swanson, Room 321, Swanson@uic.edu
  • For the Pharmaceutical Biotechnology track in the PhD Pharmacognosy program, Dr. Alexander Mankin, Room 3052 MBRB, shura@uic.edu
• Pharmacy (Administration): Dr. Stephanie Crawford, Room 258, crawford@uic.edu

1. A Request for Change of Graduate Program form (PDF).
   Complete Section I:
   • Complete Section I. Use code 20FX1567PHAR for the “present college curriculum,” and “PharmD” as “present degree sought.”
   • Use one of the following codes for “new college curriculum,” and “PhD” for “new degree sought.”
     • Biopharmaceutical Sciences: 20FS1903PHD
     • Medicinal Chemistry: 20FS1454PHD
     • Pharmacognosy: 20FS1563PHD
     • Pharmacy (Administration): 20FS1565PHD
2. Official copies of transcripts of all prior college work, including that in your PharmD program.
3. Scores on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Test (Verbal, Quantitative and Analytical Writing). The PhD program in Medicinal Chemistry does not require, but recommends taking and reporting a score for the GRE Advanced Test in Chemistry or Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology.
4. Three letters of recommendation from individuals who can comment knowledgeably on your academic abilities and research potential. Forms for this purpose are available at the Graduate College we site.  Recommenders may attach a separate letter in lieu of writing their narratives on the form. But you should complete your part of the form and decide whether you want to waive your right to inspect the form subsequently.
5. A one-page Statement of Purpose, setting forth the basis for your interest in the joint degree program, amplifying on your qualifications and background experience for admission to the particular PhD program, and explaining how completion of the PharmD and the PhD fits into your overall educational and career goals.

Normal deadlines for applications (for admission to the Fall semester of the same year):

• Biopharmaceutical Sciences: Jan 1 (priority), May 15
• Medicinal Chemistry: Jan 1 (priority), May 15
• Pharmacognosy: Jan 1
• Pharmacy (Administration): Feb 1

Interested students should check with the Director of Graduate Studies for the PhD program to which they wish to apply as early as possible. Although some of the stated deadlines are in May, early applications are encouraged because early admissions decisions are typical.

Application Procedure for Students Applying to the UIC PharmD Program

Students applying to UIC for the PharmD will apply through PharmCAS. In addition to the on-line PharmCAS application, a supplementary UIC package must be downloaded, completed, and submitted. For students who wish to apply to the joint PharmD-PhD program, there is a separate supplementary UIC application package. That separate supplementary package contains materials for applying to the joint program simultaneously with your application to the PharmD program.

The same transcripts of your prior academic work, application information, and recommendation letters will be used to evaluate your application to the PharmD program and to the joint program. An additional item required for the joint program is scores on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) – see http://www.gre.org/.

Joint program applicants should take the GRE in the fall of the year before the year for which you are applying. For example, students applying for Fall 2005 should plan to take the GRE in fall of 2004. The January 15 application deadline for the Pharm.D. is also the application deadline for the joint program. However, we do encourage applicants for the joint program to communicate with the appropriate Director of Graduate Studies earlier if possible.

• Biopharmaceutical Sciences: Dr. Richard Gemeinhart, Room 357, rag@uic.edu
• Medicinal Chemistry: Dr. John Fitzloff, Room 539, fitzloff@uic.edu
• Pharmacognosy: Dr. Steven Swanson, Room 321, swanson@uic.edu
  • For the Pharmaceutical Biotechnology track in the Ph.D. Pharmacognosy program, contact Dr. Alexander Mankin, Room 3052 MBRB, shura@uic.edu
• Pharmacy (Administration)*: Dr. Stephanie Crawford, Room 258, crawford@uic.edu

*Note: The Department of Pharmacy Administration requires that applicants for the joint Pharm.D.-Ph.D. program successfully complete at least one semester in pharmacy school prior to being considered for admission to the joint program. 

A visit to the College's graduate programs web page will give you a detailed picture of the graduate programs and research areas available in the College, and can help guide your choice of PhD program in your application.

Please note: Your application to the PharmD program and to the joint PharmD-PhD program will be considered separately. The decision about whether to admit you to the joint program will not affect the decision about whether to admit you to the PharmD Thus, even if you are not admitted to the joint program, you may still be offered admission to the PharmD.