Pharmacology, MS - for continuing students only

Pharmacology: Admission Requirements

Applicants must enter the program in the fall semester in order to begin the required coursework in the core curriculum. The deadline for submission of applications is generally March 1. International applications can be accepted after March 1 but must take into consideration the delays associated with the necessary visa arrangements. In addition to the basic requirements established by The Graduate College, the division has the following requirements for admission to its program:

• The baccalaureate degree from an accredited college should include a background in biological, physical or quantitative sciences.
• Coursework in biology, cellular biology, molecular biology, physics, chemistry, organic chemistry, physical chemistry and mathematics, including calculus, is highly recommended. Upper-level biochemistry or physiology courses are also highly recommended.
• The Graduate College requires academic transcripts from all baccalaureate and post-baccalaureate educational experiences. These should provide a minimal grade point average of 3.0 overall (A = 4.0). The pharmacology admission committee also looks for higher grades in science courses and evidence of research experience. Competition for PhD candidates is significantly higher. The Graduate College requires all graduate students to take the GRE examinations, and scores on these tests are considered by the admission committee. All applicants whose native language is not English are required to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). Applicants from foreign countries must have their transcripts evaluated by an independent agency (i.e., ECE and WES).
• As required by The Graduate College, a clear, concise expression of the applicant’s interests and goals needs to be included as an essay in their application. Identifying a particular area of interest within the field of pharmacology is very helpful in identifying potential laboratories for the students.
• The Graduate College requires three letters of recommendation and it is recommended that they be from science faculty who can evaluate the character of the applicant, their academic and research performance, and their ability to think and work independently.

The Division Director and the Admissions Committee evaluate applications. All prior academic experience and the letters of recommendation will be evaluated for an indication of the applicant’s potential for success as a graduate student and future independent investigator. The statement by the applicant describing goals and motivation will be studied to determine the compatibility between the applicant’s requirements and the capabilities of the graduate program. With rare exceptions, PhD applicants will be required to appear for an interview with faculty members before admission to the program.

Students applying for the master’s program will meet the same set of minimum standards as those applying for the doctoral program. Students applying for the master’s program are encouraged to visit the Department, although a formal interview is not required.

The number of faculty available to mentor the student’s research limits acceptance into both the master’s and doctoral programs. Students are therefore encouraged to apply early. Students entering the master’s program will not be eligible for stipends and must pay tuition.

Acceptance into the doctoral program is limited by the availability of faculty and also by the availability of stipends. All accepted doctoral students receive a competitive stipend and tuition scholarship. The stipend and tuition scholarship is renewed each year providing the student is making satisfactory progress towards the degree.

Minimal Credit Hours Required for MS and PhD Degrees

Typically, the 53 credit hours accumulated in the five semesters listed above are necessary for the completion of a Master of Science (MS) degree. However, a student with advanced training in a related field may complete the MS degree by completing one year of study (36 semester hours). For example, this option is available to individuals with advanced degrees who wish to develop research skills. Such applicants have already covered many of topics in the GCC courses and may have taken medical pharmacology courses. These applicants will spend the bulk of their time on research, and take research-related courses (e.g., Medical Research Strategies, Writing Practicum, seminars and advanced pharmacology courses, etc.) provided the faculty waive didactic requirements.

The doctoral degree is generally completed within five years. Advanced students entering with a master’s (MS) degree in pharmacology or a doctor of medicine (MD) degree may have classes in the first two years waived based on their prior record. The degree may then be completed in a shorter time providing the student progresses through the process outlined below. The advanced student must be enrolled full-time at Rush University for at least two academic years, including one summer for a total of 63 credit hours. All MS and PhD students must be enrolled at Rush in the semester they graduate.

Pharmacology: Thesis/Dissertation Program Progression

Pharmacology: Academic Policies

To remain in good standing, The Graduate College requires that a student maintain an overall “B” average. It is also expected that all grades in required pharmacology courses will be “B” or better. Required courses must be taken for a letter grade while other courses may be taken as pass/no pass.

Students are expected to attend all classes and spend the appropriate time in the lab. All outside employment is strongly discouraged as it interferes with the time and effort necessary to complete the program.

Students are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner. This includes respecting the rights of others and being kind and courteous to students, faculty/staff and patients. Intimidation of other students and faculty/staff will not be tolerated and is grounds for dismissal. Sexual harassment as well as harassment related to race, color, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, age, marital or parental status, or disability is prohibited. The Rush University Catalog details the policies regarding inclusion of minorities and those with disabilities as wells as the policies and procedures for reporting harassment.

Students working with laboratory animals must follow IACUC guidelines and will be subject to disciplinary action in the case of abuse.

The Division of Pharmacology follows the University Policies on Academic Honesty and the University Statement on Student Conduct. Students are expected to abide by the Graduate College Honor Code.

Pharmacology:

Pharmacology: Graduation Requirements

The student must complete all required courses except for those waived by the Graduate committee and have completed the minimally required course hours as detailed in the curriculum section. For both the master’s degree and the doctoral degree, the student’s committee must approve the thesis or dissertation, respectively, and have the completed document accepted by the Graduate Program Director and the University Librarian. In addition to these requirements, all PhD candidates will be required to attend at least four ethics seminars a year following completion of their first academic year in order to ensure ongoing training.

Pharmacology: Curriculum

When the applicant enters the program, a research advisor is assigned, and the student begins directed research on an active project. In the first two semesters, there is minimal research as classroom studies are emphasized. During these terms, both master’s and doctoral Graduate College students take the Graduate Core Curriculum (GCC) classes and required pharmacology (PHR) courses. The summer term is devoted to laboratory research. Research and advanced pharmacology courses provide the core of the second-year studies. For the master’s and doctoral students, the research experience differs in the second year. The master’s students are involved in a directed research project, while the doctoral students are developing a novel research project.

A typical course sequence is described as follows: