Program Overview

Our graduate program in Medical Pharmacology is multidisciplinary in nature. We offer programs that lead to Doctor of Philosophy or Master of Science degree in Medical Pharmacology. The Master of Science degree also offers a special concentration in Perfusion Science. The Program is housed within the Department of Pharmacology in the College of Medicine, and has 12 primary and 9 affiliate faculty members whose research interests and technical expertise are highly diverse.

Our faculty members are active in independent research as well as scientific collaborations with members in the Arizona Cancer Center, Sarver Heart Center, Arizona Respiratory Center, and Departments of Anesthesiology, Medicine, Neurology, Ophthalmology and Surgery at the College of Medicine, and the Department of Chemistry at the College of Science. Well funded research programs and their strong multidisciplinary nature provide our students with a highly interactive approach to medical research and education in pharmacology.

Our faculty also place high priority on teaching, research training and mentoring of graduate students. The graduate training program provides an atmosphere that fosters close collegial relationships between faculty and students, and the diverse research opportunities enable students to tailor their training to meet their academic interests and career goals. We emphasize individual creativity and state-of-the-art, hands-on research to prepare our students for a career in advanced science, technology, education, or industry. We pride ourselves on an excellent track record in our graduates’ placement in leading pharmaceutical and biotech companies, universities and government agencies.

Ph. D. Degree in Medical Pharmacology

The objective of the Ph.D. track in Medical Pharmacology is

• To impart advanced scientific knowledge in pharmacology
• To provide training opportunities in conducting state-of-the-art approaches in basic research in medical pharmacology
• To prepare the students for careers in independent research or related careers in academia, industry or government.
  

Progression through graduate school consists of two stages: pre-candidacy and candidacy. Precandidacy: the student is engaged in taking the required and some elective courses that form the basis of the discipline of pharmacology. At the University of Arizona a minor course of study is also required and our students have many choices available to them. At the completion of the required coursework the student will undertake a Preliminary Examination, which consists of two parts: a comprehensive written examination, whose objective is to test the student’s knowledge of the basic principles of pharmacology, and an oral examination given by the student’s advisory committee, which consists of a primary research advisor and at least four other faculty members of the program selected by the student. The objective of the Preliminary Examination is to assess the student’s level of proficiency in the discipline to ensure that the student has acquired the necessary knowledge and competence to complete the dissertation and successfully defend his/her research work. Upon successful completion of these two examinations the student advances to candidacy, in order to complete his/her research project.

The student will develop and conduct a well-defined research project supported and supervised by the primary research advisor. The focus of the research project will be the area of specialization of that student’s training. The outcome of the project will then serve as the basis of the student’s dissertation as part of the requirement of his/her candidacy and as an archival document. The student will also be required to present and defend his/her thesis work at a public forum and to his dissertation committee. The student is awarded a doctoral degree (Ph.D.) in Medical Pharmacology only after all these stated requirements are fulfilled and approved by all examination parties.

M.S. Degree in Medical Pharmacology

The growth in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical sectors has created a demand for well-trained biomedical scientists who provide technical expertise rather than work at the level of an independent investigator. The M.S. program provides rigorous scientific training similar to that taking place in the Ph.D. track but with different academic requirements and less extensive research training. The average time to graduation is two years. Most of our M.S. graduates go on to research careers; alternative career opportunities include product development, law, administration, marketing, planning or sales. The M.S. track is also used to provide students whose academic background may not adequately prepare them for the Ph.D. program in Medical Pharmacology, or who are unsure of their commitment to the intellectual demands of the Ph.D. program. In this regard, the M.S. program provides relevant job-related experience, and a testing ground to evaluate one’s interest in basic research and desire to pursue a career in independent research or related areas.

Perfusion Science

Perfusion Science incorporates the investigation of pharmacological, biomaterials, laboratory and clinical aspects of extracorporeal circulation.  This discipline will prepare students for professional practice in perfusion with a wide range of experiences including: cardiovascular research, systems design and development, cardio-pulmonary bypass, and life support systems.
More Information... Perfusion Science Page