Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology

Typical Program of Study

The objectives of the curriculum in the graduate program in Pharmacology and Toxicology are 1) to provide a strong background in basic biomedical sciences that provides the underpinning for modern-day pharmacology and toxicology, 2) to train students in the fundamental concepts of pharmacology and toxicology as a discipline, and 3) to facilitate more specialized training as needed for the dissertation research. Coursework is normally completed during the first two years.

First Year, Fall Semester

  • Fundamentals of Pharmaceutical Sciences (Pharm 7113)

  • Methods in Pharmacology (PHTX 6600)

  • Journal Club (PHTX 6710 or 6720)

  • Seminar (PHTX 7890)

  • Biomedical Sciences Requirement

  • *Research rotation (PHTX 7920)

First Year, Spring Semester

* Three research rotations of approximately 15 weeks each occur in the first year. Students chose a faculty research advisor and begin dissertation research during the summer after the first academic year.

Second Year, Fall Semester

Second Year, Spring Semester

Preliminary qualifying exams are taken early in the second summer.

Third Year

  • Formation of dissertation committee (Fall semester)

  • Presentation of dissertation proposal to Faculty Committee and to Department

  • Dissertation research

Fourth-fifth years

  • Dissertation research 










BIOMEDICAL SCIENCES REQUIREMENT

The required curriculum in basic biomedical sciences consists of required courses in molecular biology, biochemistry and cell biology and may be fulfilled by the following courses:


Molecular Biology Requirement:

  • Genetic Engineering for Drug Delivery (PHCEU 7960); Fall semester OR

  • Genetic Engineering (BLCM 6400); Fall semester OR

  • Gene Expression (MBIOL 6440); Fall Semester

  • Molecular Biology and Genetic Engineering (BIOL 5110); Fall semester

Biochemistry Requirement:

  • Protein and Nucleic Acid Biochemistry (BLCM 6410 or MBIDL 6410); Fall semester OR

  • Biological Chemistry I (CHEM 6510); Fall semester

Cell Biology Requirement:

  • Cell Biology (MBIOL 6480); Spring semester OR

  • Cellular Physiology (BIOEN 6050); Fall semester










PHARMACOLOGY & TOXICOLOGY REQUIREMENTS

The following courses are required of all students in the program:

  • Fundamentals of Pharmaceutical Science (PHARM 7113); (normally taken Fall semester of the first year)

  • Methods in Pharmacology (PHTX 6600); (normally taken Fall semester of the first year)

  • Priciples of Toxicology (PHTX 7114); (normally taken in Spring semester of the first year)

  • Pharmacology I (PHTX 6211); Fall semester; (normally taken in Spring semester of student's second year)

  • Pharmacology II (PHTX 6221); Spring semester; (normally taken in Spring semester of student's second year)

  • Professional Skills (PHTX 6690); Fall semester; (normally taken in Fall semester of student's second year)

  • Research Ethics (PHIL 7570); Fall semester; (may be taken any Fall semester)

  • Statistics (PHTX 6680); Spring semester; (normally taken in Spring semester of second or third year)

In addition, the program requires three advanced pharmacology and toxicology courses from the list below:

  • Analytical Toxicology (PHTX 7620; Spring; 2 semester hours)

  • Mechanisms of Toxicology (PHTX 7630; Spring*; 2 semester hours)

  • Enzymology of Xenobiotic Metabolism (PHTX 7650; Fall*; 2 semester hours)

  • Advanced Topics in Cardiovascular Pharmacology (PHTX 7410; Spring*; 2 semester hours)

  • Biochemical Mechanisms of Signal Transduction (PHTX 7500; Spring*; 2 semester hours)

  • Neuropharmacology (PHTX 7270; Spring; 2 semester hours)

  • Advances in Neuropharmacology (PHTX 7280; Spring; 2 semester hours)

  • Advances in Endocrine Pharmacology (PHTX 7100; Spring*; 2 semester hours)

  • Cell Biol II (H GEN 6481; Spring; 1.5 semester hours)

Depending on the student's interests, other courses may be taken at any time. Some of the courses taken by graduate students in Pharmacology and Toxicology include:

  • Neuroanatomy (ANAT 7710; Fall; 3 semester hours)

  • Gene Expression (MBIOL 6440; Fall; 1.5 semester hours

  • Basic Immunology (PATH 7330; Fall; 3 semester hours)

  • Biomedical Applications of Mass Spectrometry (MDCH 6560; Spring; 2 semester hours)

  • Structural Methods (BLCHM 6430; Fall; 3 semester hours)

  • Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience (NEUSC 6040; Fall; 4 semester hours)
A course semester followed by an asterisk (e.g., Spring*) indicates that the course is not offered every year.