PharmD-PhD Program
General Information
Application Procedure for Current UIC PharmD Students
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 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 while maintaining the rigor of each program. Ordinarily, it would take approximately 9 years to complete these two degrees sequentially. It is important to point out that the PhD program is not a timed degree; therefore, the exact time to degree will vary due to many factors. The average time to earn the PhD (not joint program) in our programs is approximately 5 years. The joint program offers the potential of reducing that time by approximately two years by counting some requirements for one degree or the other for both degrees. The trade-off is that both degrees are received at the end of the period and neither degree can be awarded before the other is completed.
Students admitted to the joint program can begin requirements for both degrees upon admission. Summers can be effectively used for research and laboratory rotations. 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 Administration.
Only very dedicated pharmacy students, who exceed the normal standards for admission to the PharmD and 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 PharmD program, but early admission will allow the student to take fullest advantage of the program. Students with a baccalaureate degree prior to PharmD matriculation can be formally admitted to the joint program immediately while students matriculating prior to receipt of a baccalaureate degree must wait until 120 credit hours have been earned—from all undergraduate and PharmD courses—to be formally admitted to the PhD portion of the joint program.
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. Interested students should contact the College of Pharmacy Director of Graduate Education, Dr. Richard A. Gemeinhart (rag_at_uic.edu; PHAR 357) and then the Director of Graduate Studies for the PhD program to which they wish to apply as early as possible concerning the application process and departmental specifics for admission. Some admissions requirements specified for direct admission to the PhD programs may be waived.
- Biopharmaceutical Sciences: Dr. Hayat Onyuksel, PHAR 358, bpsdgs@uic.edu
- Medicinal Chemistry: Dr. Pavel Petukhov, PHAR 304, medchem@uic.edu
- Pharmacognosy: Dr. Guido Pauli, PHAR 412, pharmacognosy@uic.edu
- For the Pharmaceutical Biotechnology track in the PhD Pharmacognosy program, Dr. Michael Federle, MBRB 3152, mfederle@uic.edu
- Pharmacy (Administration)*: Dr. Surrey Walton, PHAR 264, walton@uic.edu
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 directly to UIC. For students who wish to join the PharmD/PhD program, please contact the College of Pharmacy Director of Graduate Education, Dr. Richard A. Gemeinhart (rag_at_uic.edu; PHAR 357). Since we are not currently accepting students directly into both programs, please also consult the instructions for applying once a matriculated PharmD student. This process can be initiated as soon as an offer for admission has been accepted by a student if the student has a previously awarded baccalaureate degree.
Please note: We are not currently accepting joint PharmD/PhD applicants at admission. We hope reinstate joint PharmD/PhD admission soon.
Requirements for Continuation in the Joint PharmD/PhD Program
Students in the joint program must meet all of the requirements of both the UIC College of Pharmacy 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. For each participant, a plan of study will be generated. All interested parties, e.g. the PharmD/PhD student, PharmD advisor, PhD Advisor, DGS, and DGE, participate in formulating the plan of study, and each will sign the plan indicating concurrence.
Students must demonstrate satisfactory progress each semester toward completion of the requirements of the both programs. Satisfactory progress is defined as meeting the criteria to continue both programs. At minimum, 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, and the student will be placed on academic probation. Failure to remedy the stated deficiencies will result in a second written notice. 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. Depending upon the situation, a joint degree student may be dismissed from the joint program in full or from either of the two individual degrees.