Pharm.D. (Professional Pharmacy)

The Pharm.D. (Doctor of Pharmacy) is the entry-level degree for professional pharmacy in the U.S. Pharmacists practice in a variety of patient care and research settings, including clinics/hospitals, community pharmacy, managed- and long-term care facilities, government/public health, non-profit organizations and foundations, and the pharmaceutical industry.

Entrance into the Pharm.D. program requires at least two years of Pre-Pharmacy undergraduate prerequisite coursework, followed by the four-year Pharm.D. curriculum. UH College of Pharmacy's student-centered, competency-based professional curriculum includes significant critical thinking and problem-solving exercises, case studies, and small group instruction. The College aspires to foster a commitment to lifelong learning and an environment where students develop the knowledge, attitudes and skills consistent with the profession's high standards.

For more information, please visit the Pharm.D. section.

Graduate Programs

Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences (Concentration in Medicinal Chemistry, Pharmaceutics or Pharmacology)

The Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Pharmaceutical Sciences with a Concentration in Medicinal Chemistry, Pharmaceutics or Pharmacology degree program emphasizes independent research that focuses on the in-depth study of a pharmacological or pharmaceutical problem in each student's chosen research specialty area. This degree program allow students to master the skills necessary for careers in academia, industry and government.

Medicinal Chemistry encompasses the search for, design of and synthesis of new drug entities, structural analysis of drugs, structure-activity relationships, interactions between drugs and molecular targets, natural product chemistry and aspects of drug metabolism. Students in this concentration take substitute Pharmacology courses with Medicinal Chemistry and Chemistry course, and study with designated Medicinal Chemistry faculty.

Pharmaceutics emphasizes development of novel drug delivery methods, absorption, metabolism and drug formulations. Early course work provides a solid foundation in pharmaceutics, pharmacokinetics, physical pharmacy, dosage formulation and delivery systems. Areas of research interest include oral dosage formulations, transdermal and liposomal drug delivery, therapeutic DNA delivery, absorption and metabolism, and pharmacokinetics. Students in the Pharmaceutics program may develop research programs in the areas of drug delivery systems, drug stability, dosage forms and pharmacokinetics.

Pharmacology emphasizes molecular and cellular aspects of pharmacological research to understand function at the cellular, organ and whole body level. Areas of research emphasis in the department include cardiovascular/renal pharmacology, cellular signalling and transport, traditional medicine and natural products, and neuropharmacology. Students in the Pharmacology program may develop research programs in the areas of renal, autonomic, central nervous system, cardiovascular pharmacology, signal transduction, cellular physiology of exercise and aging, protein biochemistry or medicinal chemistry of natural products.

For more information, please visit the Medicinal Chemistry, Pharmaceutics and Pharmacology section.

Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences (Pharmaceutical Health Outcomes and Policy Concentration)

The mission of the Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences (Pharmaceutical Health Outcomes and Policy Concentration) program is to advance research and development in the field of pharmaceutical health outcomes and policy to enhance the safe and effective delivery of pharmaceuticals and pharmaceutical care. Doctoral students are trained to conduct theory-based, systematic and scientific inquiry to generate new knowledge of drug therapy safety and effectiveness, patient and provider health behaviors and preferences, health system organization and delivery, and the impact of the pharmacy profession on public health.

Pharmaceutical Health Outcomes and Policy research encompasses issues and topics related to Pharmacoeconomics, Pharmacoepidemiology, Pharmaceutical Outcomes Management, Health Services Research, Pharmacy Business Administration, Pharmaceutical and Pharmacy Management, Pharmaceutical Marketing, Consumer Health Behavior, Managed Health Care, Health Policy, Pharmaceutical Care, Health Systems Operations, and Information Systems in Health Care.

For more information, please visit the Pharmaceutical Health Outcomes and Policy program section.

Pharmacy Leadership and Administration Concurrent M.S./PGY1-PGY2 Residency

The Houston Program – comprising a Master of Science in Pharmacy Leadership and Administration (PLA)/PGY1-PGY2 Residency in Health-System Pharmacy Administration and Leadership (HSPAL) – is designed to prepare pharmacists with the knowledge and skills necessary to assume positions of management and leadership in healthcare. Open to Pharm.D. graduates who are eligible for Texas licensure, the program offers a unique opportunity for learning, teaching and collaborating with leading institutions of the world-renowned Texas Medical Center.

Students will obtain an M.S. with a focus on pharmacy leadership from UHCOP while concurrently complete PGY1 and PGY2 residency training from the following TMC Institutions: CHI St. Luke's Health/Baylor St. Luke's Medical Center, Harris Health System, HCA Houston Healthcare Kingwood, Houston Methodist Hospital, University of Texas-MD Anderson Cancer Center, Memorial Hermann Health Care System, and Texas Children's Hospital.

For more information, please visit the M.S./PGY1-PGY2 Residency pages under Graduate Programs section.

Dual & Consecutive Degree Programs

Pharm.D./MBA

A collaboration between UHCOP and the UH C.T. Bauer College of Business, the Pharm.D./Master of Business Administration dual-degree program is designed to meet the increasing demand for pharmacy professionals with advanced business skills and knowledge in areas ranging from operations, finance, project management, marketing and entrepreneurship.

The dual-degree program allows students to complete both programs in less time and at lower cost than if the programs were pursued separately. Application and admission to the Pharm.D. and MBA programs are independent. Upon acceptance into both programs, students must petition the Pharm.D./MBA coordinator at both colleges for admission into the dual-degree program.

For more information, please visit the Pharm.D./MBA page within the Dual Programs section.

Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences/M.A. in Applied Economics

The dual-degree program for the Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences (Pharmaceutical Health Outcomes and Policy Concentration) at the UH College of Pharmacy and the M.A. in Applied Economics at the UH College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences presents complementary fundamental and practical knowledge and experiences to excel in Health Economics and Outcomes Research career paths in the insurance, consulting and the pharmaceutical industries; medical device manufacturing sector; and academic and government organizations.

For more information, please visit the Ph.D./M.A. page within the Dual Programs section.

Consecutive Pharm.D. + Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences

Pharm.D. professional students with a strong interest in research can obtain experience and develop a project during their professional years in preparation for entering a Ph.D. program upon completion of the Pharm.D.

For more information, please visit the Pharm.D. + Ph.D. page.