Guidelines
The Concentration in Pharmaceutical Sciences & Pharmacy Research (CPSPR) offers interested and motivated pharmacy students an opportunity to pursue research interests, gain hands-on research experience, and earn recognition for excellence in basic pharmaceutical sciences research which may provide a competitive advantage for future career and post-graduate educational opportunities. The CPSPR is available to Doctor of Pharmacy students beginning with the Class of 2020.
Prerequisites for Admission to the Concentration in Pharmaceutical Sciences & Pharmacy Research
Pharmacy students with a potential interest in applying for admission to the Concentration in Pharmaceutical Sciences and Pharmacy Research (CPSPR) must enroll in PSC 6201 Introduction to Pharmaceutical Sciences Research offered in the second quarter of the Doctor of Pharmacy Program. This 1 credit hour elective course will provide an introductory overview of pharmaceutical sciences and pharmacy practice research, research support capabilities in the South College School of Pharmacy, and the research interests and activities of science and practice faculty that are open to student participation.
Enrollment in PSC 6201 Introduction to Pharmaceutical Sciences Research is limited to P1 pharmacy students who earn a first quarter GPA of 3.0 or better with no individual first-quarter course grade less than a B.
Admission to the Concentration in Pharmaceutical Sciences & Pharmacy Research
Students enrolled in PSC 6201 Introduction to Pharmaceutical Sciences Research that determine that they want to participate in the CPSPR must identify and consult with a faculty research mentor and complete an application for acceptance into the CPSPR. The application must be submitted to the CPSPR program coordinator not later than the last day of class of the Fall Quarter of the Doctor of Pharmacy Program. The application requires the signature of the student, the designated faculty research mentor, the research mentor’s department chair, and the approval signature of the CPSPR program coordinator.
Applicants will be accepted into the program based upon consideration of their first and second quarter GPA (3.0 minimum), as well as grades earned in individual courses in the first and second quarter of the Doctor of Pharmacy program (B minimum). The student and their selected research mentor will be notified of successful acceptance into the program, pending posting of Fall Quarter Grades, by December 15 or as soon as possible prior to the start of the subsequent Winter Quarter. It should be understood that the maximum number of students from each matriculating class accepted into the program will be limited by the maximum number of students that can be accommodated by available research mentors and/or School of Pharmacy research resources. Based upon these factors, the number of students accepted into the CPSPR may vary with each newly admitted class.
Course of Study
The Concentration in Pharmaceutical Sciences & Pharmacy Research requires successful completion of a minimum of 18 credit hours of approved research and research-related electives, including the APPE course PPR6932 Pharmaceutical Sciences Research, for which the student must prepare and submit a research manuscript to an appropriate journal for publication (acceptance for publication is not required) to successfully complete the CPSPR. The minimum credit hour requirement for the Concentration includes a minimum of eleven (11) additional research-related elective credit hours above the elective requirements of the Pharm.D. curriculum.
| Requirements of the CPSPR vs the Pharm.D. Curriculum |
| |
Pharm.D. Curriculum |
CPSPR |
| Elective Credit Hours Required |
7 |
14 |
| APPE Research Elective |
Not Required |
4 |
| Total Required Electives |
7 |
18 |
| Availability of non-APPE Electives |
Quarters 6-8 (P2 Year) |
Quarters 2-8 (P1-P2 Year) |
| Research Manuscript Required |
No |
Yes |
Prior to submission of an application for admission to the CPSPR, the student’s identified faculty research mentor will develop an individualized course sequence that will meet the requirements for completion of the CPSPR and consider the student researcher’s proposed line of investigation, and availability and sequence of applicable SOP electives that meet the needs of the individual student researcher.
Performance Expectations for Students Accepted into the Concentration in Pharmaceutical Sciences & Pharmacy Research
Students accepted into the CPSPR must maintain a GPA of 3.0 in the Doctor of Pharmacy program in every quarter and earn not less than a B in any course taken as a component of the CPSPR. Failure to maintain this standard will require that the student withdraw from the CPSPR.
Students may voluntarily withdraw from the CPSPR at the completion of any quarter, for any reason. In the event of a student’s withdrawal from the CPSPR, the student may, with the agreement of the faculty research mentor, continue with any active research; but without specific benefits achieved through successful completion of the CPSPR.
In the event of failure of any elective attempted as part of the CPSPR, the affected student is subject to the applicable reexamination and academic progression policies of the School of Pharmacy.
Graduating students who successfully complete the CPSPR will be formally recognized by presentation of honor cords or other appropriate regalia and an award signifying “Excellence in Pharmaceutical Sciences and Pharmacy Research.” Additionally, their official transcript will denote “Concentration in Pharmaceutical Sciences and Pharmacy Research.”
