Pharm.D./Ph.D. Dual Degree Program

Accelerated program for Pharm.D./Ph.D.

INTRODUCTION

The University of Tennessee College of Pharmacy has developed a unique dual degree (Pharm.D./Ph.D.) program for carefully selected, highly qualified students. This program combines the existing Pharm.D. and Ph.D. programs currently based in the College of Pharmacy and the College of Graduate Health Sciences, respectively. Students who are accepted into the program may choose to emphasize either Health Science Administration, Medicinal Chemistry or Pharmaceutics. The program is designed to reduce the time normally required for a student to complete both degrees, and provide a stimulus for pharmacy students to enroll in the Ph.D. program.

RATIONALE AND NEED

The impetus and rationale for the development of such a program has been reviewed in the Executive Summary of a study, commissioned by the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy and titled "Graduate Education in the Pharmaceutical Sciences: The Quest for Quality." This report stated in part:

The challenges facing the graduate education component of the pharmaceutical education enterprise are greater than at any time in its history. Paradoxically, they result from the great success research and graduate education in the pharmaceutical sciences has enjoyed in the last several decades as evidenced by the explosive growth in the utilization of pharmaceutical scientists in the pharmaceutical and related industries.

The University of Tennessee College of Pharmacy is committed to increasing the number of comprehensively educated pharmaceutical scientists. Students who are accepted into the dual-degree program, and demonstrate acceptable progress, may expect to receive the Pharm.D. and be eligible to be licensed as a pharmacist after completing four years of the program. The remaining portion of the program will require approximately 3-4 additional years to complete the requirements for the Ph.D., with the total time depending on the student's background and progress.

FINANCIAL SUPPORT

Financial support is equivalent to $4,000 plus tuition waiver annually during the first four years of study (as the student completes the Pharm.D. curriculum), which includes a summer stipend. Following completion of the Pharm.D. curriculum, an annual stipend of $19,500 will be awarded, along with a waiver of tuition while the student completes the Ph.D. requirements.

The financial support is available to the student as long as s/he: (1) maintains a 3.0 GPA; and (2) continues in the Pharm.D./Ph.D. dual degree program. In the event that a student withdraws from the Ph.D. program this financial support will be considered a loan and the student will be required to repay the full amount plus interest.

REQUIREMENTS FOR ADMISSION TO THE DUAL DEGREE PROGRAM

1. An applicant must first be admitted to the Pharm.D. Program. After receiving confirmation of the admission, the applicant should contact Dr. C. Ryan Yates, the coordinator of the dual degree program, who will provide an application form.
2. An applicant must have a minimum of three years of undergraduate course work. Preference in admission to the program will be given to those with a bachelor's degree.
3. An applicant must have a minimum grade point average of 3.0 (on a scale of 4.0 = A).
4. An applicant must have a Graduate Record Exam score of 1,000 total (Verbal and quantitative) and 4.0 on the analytical section. NOTE: If you plan to apply to the dual degree program it will be to your advantage to take the GRE as soon as possible after you apply to the Pharm.D. program.
5. A meeting with Dr. Yates is recommended. If possible, this should be scheduled at the time of the interview for the Pharm.D. program.

Pharm.D./Ph.D. CURRICULUM

Once admitted, the student will begin the program the summer prior to the fall semester of their first year in the Pharm.D. program. During this summer the student will be assigned to one or two labs to obtain an overview of the research programs in the College, as well as gain some initial experience in conducting research. The assignments will be based on the student’s interest in the various areas of research in the College, i.e. Health Science Administration, Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmaceutics. Some information about these areas of research is on the College of Pharmacy Graduate Programs Website.

During the first and second years of the Pharm. D. Program the student may substitute certain graduate courses for required or elective Pharm.D. courses. In this way the students can earn graduate course credits prior to completion of the Pharm.D. degree. In addition, the summer prior to enrolling in the College of Pharmacy, and the summers following the first year and second year of the Pharm.D. curriculum are also spent conducting research.

Inquiries about the dual Pharm.D./Ph.D. program should be addressed to:

C. Ryan Yates, Pharm.D., Ph.D.
847 Union Ave, Room 5P
 Memphis, TN 38163
Phone: 901-448-4135
FAX: 901-448-6940
Email: cyates4@utmem.edu