Coursework

While enrolled in the graduate program in Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, students will strive, with faculty and staff, to advance the science of human pharmacology and therapeutics while maintaining the highest standards of ethics in research and education.

The new Applied Pharmacogenomics MS program will offer a wide range of courses from genetics to bioinformatics to implementation science. Courses will also cover areas of health informatics, pharmacoeconomics, clinical decision support, and ethical and legal issues associated with the application of pharmacogenomics in health care.

Please see MS and PhD focus area details below.

Graduate Program Coursework

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Degree Requirements (MS and PHD)

Requirements for PHD

The PhD degree requires core graduate credits, a minimum of 24 course credits and 24 doctoral thesis credits. Students design their program with the guidance of their advisors.

Students must pass one written preliminary examination and one preliminary oral examination before writing the dissertation. The final oral examination for the PhD is a defense of the thesis. This must be done within five calendar years after passing the preliminary oral examination.

Requirements for the MS Degree

The MS Degree requires core graduate credits, a minimum of 24 course credits, and 10 thesis credits. Students design their program with the guidance of their advisors.

Plan A

  • Master's thesis
  • A final oral examination for degree completion.  The basis of the oral exam is defense of the MS thesis.

Plan B

  • Two papers of publishable quality; one paper must include a research component in which there is analysis of data.
  • A final oral examination for degree completion.  The basis of the oral exam is defense of the MS degree papers.

PhD Core Courses and Focus Areas

PHD CORE COURSES AND FOCUS AREAS

Required Courses

ECP 5220         Regulatory Issues in Drug Research (2 credits)
ECP 8982        Inter-institutional Journal Club in Translational Research (1 credit)
ECP 8983         Scientific Communications in Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology (1 credit)
ECP 8100         Seminar (1 credit)
ECP 8230         Principles of Clinical Pharmacology (2 credits)
ECP 8888         Thesis Credit (24 credits)

Statistics Course Requirement

One semester required, two suggested

PUBH 6450      Biostatistics I (4 credits)
PUBH 6451      Biostatistics II (4 credits)
STAT 5101       Theory of Statistics I (4 credits)
STAT 5102       Theory of Statistics II (4 credits)

Potential Focus Areas

Infectious Diseases Focus
ECP 5620         Drug Metabolism and Disposition (3 credits)
MICA 8002      Structure and Function of Bacteria and Virus (4 credits)
MICA 8003      Immunity and Immunopathology (4 credits)
MICA 8010      Microbial Pathogenesis (3 credits)
PHAR 6224      Pharmacogenomics (2 credits)
PUBH 6450      Biostatistics I (4 credits)
PUBH 6451      Biostatistics II (4 credits)
PUBH 7420      Clinical Trials (3 credits)

Neuroscience/Neuropharmacology Focus
CMB 8361/NSC 8026/PHCL 8026  Neuro-Immune Interactions (3 credits)
NSC 5461         Cell and Molecular Neuroscience (4 credits)
NSC/PHM/CMB 8481  Advanced Neuropharmaceutics (3 credits)
NSCI 5501        Neurodegenerative Diseases:  Mechanisms to Therapies (3 credits)
PUBH 6450      Biostatistics I (4 credits)
PUBH 6451      Biostatistics II (4 credits)
PUBH 7420      Clinical Trials Design (3 credits)

Pharmacogenomics Research Focus
ECP 5620         Drug Metabolism and Disposition (3 credits)
ECP 8900         Genomics Readings
GCD 4034        Molecular Genetics and Genomics (3 credits)
GCD 4143        Human Genetics (3 credits)
GCD 8073        Genetics and Genomics in Human Health (3 credits
PHAR 6224      Pharmacogenetics (2 credits)
PUBH 6381      Genetics (2 credits)
PUBH 6450      Biostatistics I (4 credits)
PUBH 6451      Biostatistics II (4 credits)
PUBH 7420      Clinical Trials (3 credits)

 Pharmacometrics Focus
ECP 8500         Advances in Pharmacometrics Modeling and Simulation (1 credit)
ECP 8501         Pharmacometrics (2 credits)
ECP 8502         Introductory Population Pharmacokinetic Methods (2 credits)
ECP 8503         Intermediate Population PK/PD Methods (2 credits)
ECP 8504         Modeling Biologics (2 credits)
ECP 8505         Application of physiological-based pharmacokinetic modeling (PBPK) to model-informed drug development (2 credits)
ECP 8506         Clinical Trial Simulation (2 credits)
PUBH 7420      Clinical Trials (3 credits)
PUBH 7430      Correlated Data (3 credits)
PUBH 7440      Introduction to Bayesian Analysis (3 credits)
PUBH 7450      Survival Analysis (3 credits)
STAT 5101       Theory of Statistics I (4 credits)
STAT 5102       Theory of Statistics II (4 credits)

MS Core Courses and Focus Areas

MS CORE COURSES AND FOCUS AREAS

Required Courses

ECP 5220         Regulatory Issues in Drug Research (2 credits)
ECP 8982         Inter-institutional Journal Club in Translational Research (1 credit)
ECP 8983         Scientific Communications in Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology (1 credit)
ECP 8100         Seminar (1 credit)
ECP 8230         Principles of Clinical Pharmacology (2 credits)

ECP 8777         Thesis Credits (Plan A)
OR
ECP 8776         Project Credits (Plan B)

Statistics Course Requirement

One semester required, two suggested

PUBH 6450      Biostatistics I (4 credits)
PUBH 6451      Biostatistics II (4 credits)
STAT 5101       Theory of Statistics I (4 credits)
STAT 5102       Theory of Statistics II (4 credits)

Potential Focus Areas

Infectious Diseases Focus
ECP 5620         Drug Metabolism and Disposition (3 credits)
MICA 8002      Structure and Function of Bacteria and Virus (4 credits)
MICA 8003      Immunity and Immunopathology (4 credits)
MICA 8010      Microbial Pathogenesis (3 credits)
PHAR 6224      Pharmacogenomics (2 credits)
PUBH 6450      Biostatistics I (4 credits)
PUBH 6451      Biostatistics II (4 credits)
PUBH 7420      Clinical Trials (3 credits)

Neuroscience/Neuropharmacology Focus
CMB 8361/NSC 8026/PHCL 8026  Neuro-Immune Interactions (3 credits)
NSC 5461         Cell and Molecular Neuroscience (4 credits)
NSC/PHM/CMB 8481  Advanced Neuropharmaceutics (3 credits)
NSCI 5501        Neurodegenerative Diseases:  Mechanisms to Therapies (3 credits)
PUBH 6450      Biostatistics I (4 credits)
PUBH 6451      Biostatistics II (4 credits)
PUBH 7420      Clinical Trials Design (3 credits)

Pharmacogenomics Research Focus
ECP 5620         Drug Metabolism and Disposition (3 credits)
ECP 8900         Genomics Readings
GCD 4034        Molecular Genetics and Genomics (3 credits)
GCD 4143        Human Genetics (3 credits)
GCD 8073        Genetics and Genomics in Human Health (3 credits)
PUBH 6381      Genetics (2 credits)
PUBH 6450      Biostatistics I (4 credits)
PUBH 6451      Biostatistics II (4 credits)
PUBH 7420      Clinical Trials (3 credits)

Applied Pharmacogenomics Focus (Plan B only)
PUBH 6381 Genetics (2 credits)
HINF 5430 Health Informatics I (3 credits)
HINF 5510 Applied Health Care Databases (3 credits)
HINF 5520 Clinical Informatics and Patient Safety (2 credits)
HINF 5531 Health Care Analytics and Data Science (3 credits)
SAPH 8235 Pharmaceutical Economics and Policy (3 credits)
SAPH 8610 Pharmacoepidemiology (3 credits)
SAPH 8700 Hospital Pharmacy Administration (3 credits)
NURS 7113 Clinical Decision Support (2 credits)
NURS 7051 Data Science for Healthcare (2 credits)
NURS 5115 Interdisciplinary Healthcare Informatics (3 credits)
BTHX 8114 Ethical and legal Issues in Genetic Counseling (3 credits)
GCD 5914 Ethics and Legal Issues in Genetic Counseling (3 credits)
PHAR 6962 Ethics in Pharmacy Practice (2 credits)
PUBH 7551 Principles of Management in Health Services Organizations (2 credits)
PUBH 7556 Health and Health Systems (2 credits)
PUBH 7565 Innovation of Healthcare Services (2 credits)
PUBH 7533 Leading with Impact in Healthcare (1 credit)
PUBH 8816 Implementation Science (2 credits)

Pharmacometrics Focus
ECP 8500         Advances in Pharmacometrics Modeling and Simulation (1 credit)
ECP 8501         Pharmacometrics (2 credits)
ECP 8502         Introductory Population Pharmacokinetic Methods (2 credits)
ECP 8503         Intermediate Population PK/PD Methods (2 credits)
ECP 8504         Modeling Biologics (2 credits)
ECP 8505         Application of physiological-based pharmacokinetic modeling (PBPK) to model-informed drug development (2 credits)
ECP 8506         Clinical Trial Simulation (2 credits)
PUBH 7420      Clinical Trials (3 credits)
PUBH 7430      Correlated Data (3 credits)
PUBH 7440      Introduction to Bayesian Analysis (3 credits)
PUBH 7450      Survival Analysis (3 credits)
STAT 5101       Theory of Statistics I (4 credits)
STAT 5102       Theory of Statistics II (4 credits)

Course Descriptions

ECP Thesis Credit Courses

ECP 8333:FTE:  Master's

ECP 8444: FTE: Doctoral

ECP 8776: Project Credits: Master's Plan B (1-18 credits)

ECP 8777:  Thesis Credits: Master's (1-18 credits)

ECP 8888:  Thesis Credits: Doctoral (1-24 credits)
 

ECP Courses

ECP 5220: Regulatory Issues in Drug Research. Regulatory issues encountered in conducting drug research trials.  Performing different aspects of clinical trials.

ECP 5620: Drug Metabolism and Disposition. Oxidative/conjugative enzymes systems involved in human drug metabolism/disposition. Various in vitro models used to evaluate drug metabolism or chemical entity, pros/cons of each. Factors involved in conducting in vivo studies. Components used to predict in vivo drug disposition from in vivo studies.

ECP 8100: Seminar. Discussion of contemporary issues and research problems in the areas of experimental and clinical pharmacology.

ECP 8200: Research problems. An individually designed research experience directed at contemporary problems related to the drug use process.

ECP 8220: Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology. Theory of advanced methodologies, applications and evaluation techniques used to determine efficacy and toxicity of new drug therapies. Advanced techniques for collecting and evaluating data.

ECP 8230: Principles of Clinical Pharmacology. Factors determining drug exposure, drug receptor pharmacology, drug response. Personalized medicine including drug interactions, obesity, age (geriatrics/pediatrics), critical illness, therapeutic evaluation, drug development.

ECP 8500: Advances in Pharmacometric Modeling and Simulation.

ECP 8501: Pharmacometrics. Theory and application of contemporary methods for analysis of concentration-time data and exposure-response relationships.

ECP 8502: Introductory Pharmacokinetic Methods. Theoretical background for using a mixed effects model in a population analysis. Building fixed and random effects into a pharmacostatistical model. A project will allow the student to become familiar with a contemporary population pharmacokinetic analysis program.

ECP 8503: Intermediate Population PK/PD Methods. Present the theory and hands-on application of intermediate population methods using nonlinear mixed-effects model applied to pharmacologic systems.

ECP 8504 Modeling Biologics. Develop computer skills to apply nonlinear regression models to describe the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of biologics.

ECP 8505 Applied PBPK Modeling.  Theory and implementation of contemporary methods for analysis and implementation of contemporary methods for analysis and simulation of PBPK to support model-informed drug development.

ECP 8506: Clinical Trial Simulation. Theory/application of contemporary methods of using simulations to design more efficient/informative clinical trials.

Internships

ECP Internships

Internships provide excellent opportunities for all students and are required for the Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology PhD and MS degrees.

What is the internship requirement?

Students complete a professional experience as part of their program. This internship must be a) a minimum of 8 weeks, and b) related to the student’s academic focus and career goals. The experience is not for credit, although credit can be added through independent study (see “Can I get credit for my internship?” below).

Is there paperwork required for an internship?

Yes. You must email the organization name, internship location (city and state, or virtual), start date and end date to the Graduate Program Coordinator.

Can I waive the internship requirement?

Students that can document substantial professional experience in their career field of interest may petition to waive their program’s internship requirement.

Can a graduate assistantship count as an internship?

An assistantship at the University (RA or TA) is an academic job rather than an experience in professional pharmacology. Therefore, assistantships are not internships.

Can I participate in two experiences to meet the requirements?

Yes, if the two experiences are related to your academic and career interests and total 8 weeks or more.

Can I get credit for my internship?

The internship itself is not for credit. However, you may work with a faculty member to conduct a project related to the internship as an independent study and may earn one to three credits, depending on the project. You may also need permission from the internship organization if you plan to use confidential data or information.