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2015-2016 University Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]
Pharmacology, PhD
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 Return to: Degree and Certificate Programs
PhD program is closed for entry beginning Fall 2015
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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
Research Overview
During the first and second years, the student selects a research project in conjunction with a faculty mentor. The student and mentor then select a committee of faculty to guide the student’s research activities. This committee approves the proposed research project and determines when the student has completed his or her dissertation. The research project is designed to advance knowledge in a specific discipline and to yield “first-author” scientific publications for the student. Research internships at pharmaceutical companies may also be available to the students and are designed to enhance the research activities of the student.
Academic Advisor/Principal Advisor
The graduate division director functions as the academic advisor to the student during the first year. The director during this time determines the course schedule with the student and monitors the student’s progress. Beginning in the first year, the student is expected to gain laboratory experience. This activity is intended to lead to the definition of research interests and to the selection of a principal advisor or mentor from the faculty of the Division of Pharmacology. The advisor then accepts the supervisory role in the development of the student as a scientific investigator.
Qualifying Exams
By the end of June of the second year, the student will be expected to take the qualifying exams. Written exams will last two full days and cover all aspects of the basic principles of pharmacology through essay questions provided by the faculty. Each exam question may be graded by multiple faculty members and reviewed by a faculty committee. Passing the comprehensive exam allows the student to move on to the research phase.
Dissertation Research Committee
After passing qualifying exams, the student and mentor select a research committee. This committee advises the student and evaluates the dissertation. The Graduate College requires that the committee includes the student’s mentor/advisor and at least one other member of the Division of Pharmacology. It is also mandatory that there be one outside faculty member from either another Rush department or other institution. We require that a majority of the members of the five-member committee be faculty at Rush who are members of The Graduate College. The chair of this committee, who cannot be the student’s mentor/advisor, will be chosen at the first committee meeting and will preside at all subsequent meetings and arrange for a timely completion of the dissertation work. The dissertation committee strives for consensus in all its actions. A majority vote of the committee’s membership, however, is sufficient for all activities except the final approval of the dissertation.
In addition to the five committee members, the Director of the Pharmacology Graduate Division, and/or the Chair of the Pharmacology Department serve as ex officio members of the committee. Ex officio members can participate in the meetings but cannot vote. However, either The Chair of Pharmacology or the Division Director is eligible to be selected to the five-person committee as full members of the committee and can vote in this circumstance.
Dissertation Proposal and Presentation
The student will propose a publication-grade research project. The research project will include a review of relevant literature, a Specific Aims section that includes clear research goals, a Significance section that includes an evaluation of the potential impact of the project, an Innovation section that includes a discussion of how this proposal departs from the literature and offers a new conceptualizations or methods. The Approach section then details Preliminary Data and proposed experiments and methods. A detailed bibliography over all sections is required. The Specific Aims, Significance, Innovation and Approach sections will take the form of an NIH grant application (R-21). The students should follow the NIH grant application guidelines in completing the proposal. The dissertation proposal must be presented at a department seminar and approved by the student’s committee. It forms the basis for the student’s continued research. The dissertation committee must meet at least twice before the student is considered for graduation. Upon completion of all experiments agreed to by the dissertation committee, the student will present the dissertation to the University in written form (approved by the Director of the Library of Rush University Medical Center) and present the work in a public one-hour lecture attended by the dissertation committee and faculty of the University. The dissertation committee then meets in closed session to approve the dissertation. Typically the meeting immediately follows the public lecture. In line with the rules and procedures of The Graduate College, the committee strives for a consensus, but the dissertation can be approved over the objections of a single committee member. However, if two committee members disapprove the dissertation, then it is not approved. The awarding of the PhD degree requires the demonstration of a capability for independent research and a contribution to scientific knowledge.
Completion of the Degree
The Office of the Registrar must be notified of impending completion of the degree by submission of an Intent to Graduate form at the beginning of the final term. As the Dissertation is reaching final form, the student should consult with the University Librarian to assure that the Dissertation will be formatted correctly. Upon Dissertation approval, the student completes a final checklist to assure the necessary approvals. During this time the student will be required to have an exit interview and provide the College with feedback concerning his or her experience at Rush University.
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.
Student Grievance Procedure
Numerous checks are in place to assure the fair treatment of students. For example, a faculty committee reviews the comprehensive exams. Likewise, the chair of the advisory committee is intended to be a student advocate who must ensure the timely graduation of the student. In addition, a plan for resolving any grievance involving a graduate student in this division is in place. These written procedures are available in the pharmacology student/faculty handbook and the office of the director.
Graduate College/Rush University Academic Policies
Academic policies specific to The Graduate College are located earlier in this catalog. In addition, the Academic Resources and Policies section of this catalog contains Rush University academic policies.
Doctoral Tuition Scholarship and Stipends
All accepted doctoral students receive an assistantship ($25,500 for the 2013-2014 academic year) and a tuition scholarship. The assistantship and tuition scholarship are renewed each year providing the student is making satisfactory progress towards the degree and is not on academic probation.
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:
Note:
GCC = Graduate Core Curriculum - These classes are taken by Master’s and Ph.D. students from a variety of different Graduate College Programs. These provide a basic understanding in the Biomedical Sciences and acquaint the students with the Biomedical literature.
*GCC 511 , GCC 512 , GCC 513 and GCC 514 are 1 hr reading courses associated with GCC 501 , GCC 502 , GCC 503 and GCC 504 respectively.
† MS students need to take a total of 10 hrs in Fall and Spring of the second year in order to graduate with the appropriate number of credits. PhD students are restricted to 9 credit hrs after the first year
BTN = Biotechnology course- Taken with the Biotechnology students, serves as an introduction to experimental design and models of Disease
PHR = Pharmacology specific courses.
Years 3 through 5
For doctoral students, the emphasis is on research in years three through five and a typical registration is as listed below. While registrations appear similar in years three through five, the nature and character of the research changes and the student passes through a number of steps towards completing his or her doctoral degree.
Note:
* Electives may be selected from any graduate program at Rush. Approval of mentor is necessary. A total of 9 semester hours of elective credit is required. Electives may be taken as pass/no-pass or for a letter grade. Special topics courses or Readings courses are offered by faculty to assist the student in developing their expertise in a particular area. These courses count towards the student’s elective requirements. These courses maybe developed by the faculty for a particular student to address an area of knowledge needed for their development, or can be open for a wider audience.
Register for these courses requires permission of the instructor
The Division of Pharmacology reserves the right to revise courses and the student may be required to take the replacement courses. Such a requirement would not apply to students who have already taken a course.
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