Pharmacology and Toxicology is the broad discipline that decribes
what drugs do and how they act within living
systems. Graduate education, research and scholarly work leading to
the Master of Science (M.S.) and Doctor
of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degrees in the College of Pharmacy of The
University of Texas at Austin are designed
to assist the student to attain the highest level of professional and
academic competence. Our program aims to
prepare students with sound training in the fundamentals of a
recognized pharmaceutical specialty, and provide
an experience in independent and supporting research. A student
receiving an advanced degree from the College of
Pharmacy is prepared for a career in research and scholarly work in
an academic institution, industry or government.
Return to Top
Applicants should have a baccalaureate degree in a discipline such as
pharmacy, chemistry, biochemistry, or a biological science. This training
should include coursework in organic chemistry, calculus, physiology and some
biological science (for example microbiology).
Return to Top
The programs of study are individualized to meet the needs of each student.
All students take "core" courses in pharmacology, toxicology,
methods in pharmacology/toxicolgy, statistics, molecular biology,
communication skills, and
grant writing. Additional courses are available in specific areas of study.
Skills in communicating scientific data orally are developed through
students participating in a weekly seminar program.
A student's acceptance into Ph.D. candidacy is dependent on the successful
oral defense of a student-prepared research proposal, oral exams and
intensive laboratory projects. The oral candidacy exam is not required for
the Master's degree. The student will choose an adviser after completing
one semester in the graduate program. The student and the adviser will
select a "master's level" research project. By the end of the first
calendar year in the program, the student will submit a preproposal to a
selected research committee on the topic of his/her research to be
conducted during the second year. The student must complete the research
project and submit a manuscript reporting the data to his/her research
committee by the end of the spring semester of the student's second year.
During the summer of the second year, the student will prepare a detailed
NIH style grant proposal on the anticipated dissertation research topic.
This proposal will be submitted to a faculty selected examining committee
by the last day of the summer session. A comprehensive oral exam must be
scheduled within one month. This exam, which involves both a defense
of the written proposal and the demonstration of an adequate knowledge base
of basic science, will be administered by the student's examining committee.
Satisfactory completion of these requirements, along with earning a letter
grade of B or better in all required graduate courses, allows the student to
enter Ph.D. candidacy.
All students are required to prepare and defend a dissertation (Ph.D.) or
thesis (Master's) based upon original research. This constitutes the
major effort of the graduate program which can be completed in two years
(Master's) or four years (Ph.D.).
Return to Top
Career opportunities in pharmacology and toxicology are excellent.
Medical centers, pharmacy schools, and private facilities
employ pharmacologists and toxicologists to conduct research and to
teach medical, dental, pharmacy and nursing courses to graduate students.
The pharmaceutical and chemical industries hire pharmacologists and
toxicologists to test new drugs and chemicals for their utility and safety.
Government agencies such as the Food and Drug Administration, National
Institutes of Health, and the Public Health Service, also utilize
pharmacologists and toxicologists in basic research and in formulating
drug laws and chemical regulations.
Further information such as average salaries and job markets can be
found by visiting the student sections for the corresponding
professional society web pages -
American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics
or
Society of Toxicology.
Return to Top
Pharmacology/Toxicology:
Description |
Faculty |
Students
|
Related
Programs |
Related
Links |
Admission