Applicants should hold a baccalaureate degree in a discipline such as pharmacy,
chemistry, biochemistry, or biology. This training should include the following
coursework: two semesters each of calculus, organic chemistry, and pharmaceutical
or biological sciences and one semester of physical chemistry.<
The student's academic and research programs are tailored to meet his or
her specific interests and professional goals and are decided upon by that
student and the supervising professor. However, all students take a set
of "core" courses in advanced organic chemistry, advanced medicinal
chemistry, advanced biochemistry, and molecular biology (12 semester hours).
Within one calendar year of admission, each student declares a sub-specialization
in Medicinal Chemistry (synthetic medicinal chemistry, bioorganic chemistry,
or structural molecular biology) and fulfills the core requirements of that
sub-specialization.
Following completion of the core requirements, and typically near the end
of the second year of study, the student will be required to take the candidacy
examinations (doctoral program only). The written candidacy examination
consists of a single comprehensive exam prepared by the student's Examination
Committee consisting of division faculty and other faculty members whose
selection is based upon the student's specialization and research. Within
90 days of passing the written exam, the student submits a formal, original
NIH proposal to the Examination Committee concerning a topic chosen by the
student and approved by the Examination Committee. This serves as the basis
for the oral candidacy examination. Upon successful completion of both
examinations, the student is admitted to candidacy and the Dissertation
Committee is formulated and charged with supervising the dissertation research
and final defense.
For the Master's Degree, the written and oral candidacy examinations are
not required. However, all Master's students must complete and defend a
thesis based upon original laboratory research.
Master's and Ph.D. medicinal chemists find rewarding careers in all sectors
of the scientific community. Salaries and advancement opportunities compare
favorably with graduates in other biochemical and pharmaceutical sciences.
Recent graduates from our program have assumed positions at academic institutions,
medical schools, the Food and Drug Administration, and in pharmaceutical
industry.
