Introduction	Note:  More information may
Requirements for the Pharm.D./Ph.D. program	be obtained from the Bulletin of the
Integrated curriculum for the Pharm.D./Ph.D. program	Medical University of South Carolina.
Biomedical Track
Toxicology Track

The Medical University of South Carolina College of Pharmacy offers a combined Pharm.D./PhD. Degree program to qualified pharmacy students who are interested in clinical and research education.  This program combines the features of a professional Pharm.D. degree with the advanced training and research of a Ph.D. degree. By carefully structuring the dual degree program, it is possible for students to complete the requirements for both the Pharm.D. and Ph.D. degrees in a shorter time than would be expected if the two degrees were obtained separately. The benefits of a combined Pharm.D./Ph.D. program are several fold.  First, the students may select graduate courses during the second and third year of the Pharm.D. program that will satisfy requirements for both programs and shorten the length of the program.   Second, the student can develop during her/his initial years in the College of Pharmacy an appreciation of and aptitude in research.  Third, the student can identify a research area and a faculty advisor prior to becoming a full-time Ph.D. student.  Fourth, by tracking into the Pharm.D./Ph.D. program, the student can better appreciate the importance didactic material presented in professional courses to their area of proposed graduate study and research.

Students who complete the Pharm.D./Ph.D. degree will be uniquely qualified to translate basic pharmaceutical sciences research to clinical applications.  Graduates of the Pharm.D./Ph.D. program will be well qualified to pursue careers in research and/or teaching in academia, governmental agencies, the pharmaceutical industry, or in a variety of other health-care settings.  The areas of emphasis of the program are biomedical chemistry and toxicology. Additionally, students who complete the combined program will meet all requirements for licensure as a pharmacist.

II. Requirements for the Pharm.D./Ph.D. program

The Pharm.D./Ph.D program is designed for highly motivated and qualified individuals who are seeking a combination program in the clinical and basic sciences.  Enrollment into the Pharm.D./Ph.D. program at the Medical University of South Carolina is restricted to accepted and currently enrolled Pharm.D. students.  There are two possible times for a student to apply for entry into the dual degree program.  Upon seeking admission to the College of Pharmacy, the student may request entry into the Pharm.D./Ph.D. program.  Secondly, the student may also apply during the first of second year of the Pharm.D. program.

All students in the Pharm.D./Ph.D. program will receive a stipend while completing the Ph.D. requirements. Students will receive a stipend for research conducted in the summers. The full-time stipend will begin when the students become full-time graduate students, approximately the spring semester of the 4th year.  The stipend will be consistent with the College of Graduate Studies policy.

General Requirements for Completion of the Pharm.D./Ph.D. Program

A. Completion of all requirements for Pharm.D. program
B. Complete all required coursework for Ph.D. program
C. Pass a comprehensive written and oral examination at the end of all Ph.D. coursework.
D. Complete a written dissertation based on his/her laboratory work an
E.  Pass a final examination (Dissertation defense)

III. Integrated curriculum for Pharm.D./Ph.D. program

 Unlike the Pharm.D. component with its fixed curriculum, the Ph.D. is a research degree so it is impossible to put a firm timetable on the duration of the program. Typically, Ph.D. students require five years to complete the requirements for their degree.  However, the efficiencies built into the Pharm.D./Ph.D. program should shorten the time required to approximately 7 years when compared to completing each degree separately would require approximately 9 years.  The integrated curriculum is outlined in Table 1, with elements of the Ph.D. program bolded.

TABLE 1. INTEGRATED CURRICULUM
 

1st year Fall	1st year Spring
Pharmaceutical Care/Medical Terminology	Biotechnology/Immunology
Pharmaceutical Care Laboratory	Pharmaceutical Experiential Unit
Introduction to Drug Information	Medicinal Chemistry I
Anatomy	Drug Delivery II
Drug Delivery I	Physiology
Biochemistry

1st year Summer

Laboratory Rotation*

2nd Year Fall	2nd Year Spring
Pharmaceutical Experiential Unit II	Ambulatory & Self Care Therapeutics
Pharmacy Management	Patient Assessment
Community Pharmacy or Hospital Pharmacy Rotation	Pharmacy Care Laboratory II
Biopharmaceutics/Pharmacokinetics	Clinical Pharmacokinetics
Medicinal Chemistry II	Pharmacology II
Pharmacology I	CGS 711 (Essentials of Scientific Practice II)**
CGS 710 (Essentials of Scientific Practice I)**	CGS 760 Unanswered Questions**
CGS 760 Unanswered Questions**

2nd Year Summer

Laboratory Rotation*

3rd Year Fall	3rd Year Spring
Therapeutics I	Therapeutics II
Design for Outcome Research	Advanced Drug Information
2nd Year Course in Ph.D. Track (see Tables 2 & 3)	2nd Year Course in Ph.D. Track (see Tables 2 & 3)

4th Year Summer (rotations begin May 1st) and Fall	4th Year Spring
Acute Care rotations x 2, Ambulatory Care x 1, Drug Information x 1, Community or Hospital rotation x 1, Elective rotations x 3	Complete Pharm.D. program Enter Ph.D. program full-time
Research x 3 rotations	Research
	2nd Year courses in Ph.D.Track (see Tables 2& 3)

5th Year Fall	5th Year Spring	5th Year Summer
Research	Research	Research

6th Year Fall	6th Year Spring	6th Year Summer
Research	Research	Research
2nd Year courses in Ph.D.Track (see Tables 2 & 3)	2nd Year courses in Ph.D.Track (see Tables 2 & 3)

7th Year Fall	7th year Spring
Research	Research
Dissertation	Dissertation
	Complete Ph.D. Program

*Bolded items denote Ph.D. coursework.
** Suggested curriculum which may vary for each student

TABLE 2. BIOMEDICAL CHEMISTRY TRACK
 

Class	Credit Hours
Advanced Pharmaceutical Analysis (PHMSC 710)	3
Physical Organic Chemistry  (PHMSC-758)	2
Elective I & II1	2-3
Bio-organic Chemistry (BMB 753)	4
Advanced Medicinal Chemistry (PHMSC-720)	2
Seminar (all semesters)	1
Research	2
Dissertation	3

¹Electives

Class	Credit Hours
Drug Disposition & Metabolism (PHAS 500)	2
Introduction to Spectroscopy (PCOL 722)	3
Advanced Organic Chemistry (Cof C, CHEM 531)*	3
Physical Chemistry (Cof C, CHEM 441)*	3

  * Courses may be satisfied as prerequisites.

TABLE 3. TOXICOLOGY TRACK
 

Class	Credit Hours
Chemical & Environmental Toxicology	3
Environmental Stress Signaling & Cellular Consequences 3	3
Cellular Defenses against Foreign Chemicals	4
Organ Systems Toxicology	3
Elective I & II2	3-4
Seminar (each semester)	1
Research
Dissertation

    ²An approved list of electives is under development by the Toxicology Advisory Committee