Index
- Overview
- Selection of Major Advisor
- Core Course Requirements – PhD
- Monitoring Student’s Progress: PhD Program
- Preliminary Evaluation
- Doctoral Committee
- PhD Comprehensive Examination
- Approval of Dissertation Proposal & Admission to Candidacy
- Dissertation
- Dissertation Defense
- Expected Milestones
- School of Pharmacy Survey of Recent Graduates
- Grade Policy
Overview
The School of Pharmacy offers training at the graduate level to unique, highly motivated individuals. Our mission is to train the next generation of leaders and decision makers seeking to improve the health of the community through outstanding basic and clinical research. Major strengths include highly accomplished, well funded research faculty, multidisciplinary training opportunities, and cutting edge technologies.
Training consists of a sequence of required core courses, elective courses, journal clubs, faculty-directed research, and an original research project leading to a final thesis or dissertation. Students may select to in one of four Primary Tracks: medicinal chemistry, biochemical pharmacology, pharmaceutics, or clinical pharmaceutical sciences.
The PhD Program requires a minimum of 72 credits. For all graduate programs at the University of Pittsburgh the minimum acceptable GPA is 3.0. No student may graduate with a GPA less than 3.0. Most students complete the PhD degree within five years. The statute of limitations for completion of the PhD degree is ten years. (See Statute of Limitation/Leaves of Absence in the University bulletin for more information.)
Selection of Major Advisor
It is highly recommended that at the start of their program each student identifies a major advisor who agrees to supervise his/her work and is responsible for overseeing the development of the student’s program of study. Each student must complete the selection of a major advisor form and send it to/or drop it off to the Graduate Program Coordinator (Lori Altenbaugh) and the Director of the Graduate Programs (Bailey Tobias). If a student has not identified an advisor upon entering the program, the Director of Graduate Programs will serve as the interim advisor for a MAXIMUM of the first two semesters. At the conclusion of the first two semesters, a major advisor MUST be selected and the selection of a major advisor form must be submitted. To serve as an advisor for a PhD student the faculty member must have graduate faculty status. That status can be determined here: Graduate Faculty Dashboard. If a student identifies an advisor that does not yet have graduate faculty status, that advisor may serve as a co-advisor and directly mentor the student alongside a faculty member with graduate faculty status, who would serve as the Major Advisor.
Core Course Requirements – PhD
*For core course exemptions and track specific information please refer to track specific curricular grids.
PHD 1ST YEAR - FALL
| Course Number | Course Title | Course Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Pharm 3011 | Principles of Biochemistry | 1 |
| Pharm 3028 | Pharmacology and Therapeutics | 4 |
| Pharm 3040 | Statistics | 3 |
| Journal Club | 1-2 | |
| Pharm 3042 | Research Practicum | 2-5 |
PHD 1ST YEAR - SPRING
| Course Number | Course Title | Course Credits |
|---|---|---|
| PHARM 3023 | Foundations in Pharmaceutical Science | 4 |
| PHARM 3024 | Pharmaceutical Sciences Seminar | 1 |
| PHARM 3000, 3009, 3027, 3048 | Journal Club (choose one) | 1 |
| PHARM 3042 | Research practicum | 2-9 (All students should be registered for 15 credits in total) |
PHD 2ND YEAR - FALL
| Course number | Course Title | Course Credits |
|---|---|---|
| PHARM 3038 | Grant Writing I | 2 |
| PHARM 3024 | Pharmaceutical Sciences Seminar | 1 |
| Pharm 3000, 3009, | Journal Club (choose one) | 1 |
| PHARM 3042 | Research practicum | 5-11 (All students should be registered for 15 credits in total) |
PHD 2ND YEAR - SPRING
| Course number | Course Title | Course Credits |
|---|---|---|
| PHARM 3039 | Grant Writing II | 2 |
| PHARM 3024 | Pharmaceutical Sciences Seminar | 1 |
| PHARM 3009, 3027, 3048 | Journal Club (choose one) | 1 |
| PHARM 3042 | Research practicum | 11 (All students should be registered for 15 credits in total) |
PHD 3RD YEAR - FALL
| Course Number | Course Title | Course Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Pharm 3042 | Research Practicum | 9-12 (All students should be registered for a minimum of 12 credits in total) |
| Track specific, elective, or PhD Dissertation | 3-4 |
PHD 3RD YEAR - SPRING
| Course number | Course Title | Course Credits | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pharm 3042 | Research practicum | 12-15: All students should enroll for a minimum of 15 credit in total | |
| Track-specific Electives | 3-4 | ||
| FTDQ 0000 | Full Time Dissertation | 0 | If no more credits needed to reach 72 credits |
Monitoring Student’s Progress: PhD Program
Each student will follow a program of study developed in conjunction with the major advisor. The program of study must contain all of the program core courses as well as required and elective courses. Each student’s progress will be reviewed annually by their advisor and by the Graduate Program Academic Affairs Committee. When a student fails to make satisfactory progress in the program, the Director of the Graduate Program will be informed and the Committee will request the student’s advisor to develop, and submit for Committee approval, a plan of remedial action. When approved, the student will be bound by the conditions set forth in the plan. Failure to meet these conditions will result in dismissal of the student from the Graduate Program.
Preliminary Evaluation
At the end of the first year of doctoral study, all students must have a preliminary evaluation. This evaluation serves to identify those students who may be expected to complete the doctoral program successfully and also to reveal potential areas of weakness in the student’s preparation. The evaluation is conducted by the student’s major or interim advisor in conjunction with the other faculty members. While there is no set format for the evaluation, it should focus on the student’s performance in didactic coursework and in research activities. Results of the evaluation must be reported promptly to the Graduate Program Academic Affairs Committee but not later than the last day of the term in which the evaluation occurs. The date and results of the preliminary evaluation will be entered into the student’s permanent graduate academic record as one of the “Milestones” recognized by the University. If the results of the evaluation indicate that the student is not expected to complete the program satisfactorily, dismissal from the program will be recommended.
Doctoral Committee
A student’s doctoral committee should be appointed by the end of the first year of graduate study or, as soon thereafter as possible. The doctoral committee has the responsibility to advise the student during the progress of doctoral research and has the obligation to require high quality research. In addition, the committee conducts the final oral examination and defense of the doctoral dissertation, and determines whether the dissertation meets acceptable standards. The doctoral committee has the authority to require the student to rewrite any portion, or all, of the dissertation.
Members of the doctoral committee are proposed by the student’s major advisor for the approval of the Pharmaceutical Sciences Graduate Academic Affairs Committee and the Senior Associate Dean of Research. The committee must consist of at least three faculty members in the School of Pharmacy (at least two of whom must be members of the student’s focus area), and at least one faculty member external to the School of Pharmacy. The majority of committee members, including the committee Chair, must be members of the graduate faculty. The student’s major advisor usually serves as the Chair of the doctoral committee. When the committee has been selected, the student will complete and submit to the Graduate Program Coordinator, and to the Pharmaceutical Sciences Graduate Academic Affairs Committee the “Approval of Doctoral Committee Form.” When the form has been received and approved, the event will be entered into the student’s permanent graduate academic record as a “Milestone.”
A faculty member who has a secondary appointment in the School of Pharmacy, but whose primary or principal appointment is in another school may serve as the external member of the committee. Under special circumstances and with the approval of the Pharmaceutical Sciences Graduate Academic Affairs Committee, he or she may serve as the chair of the committee as long as there are two faculty members from the student’s focus area with primary appointments in the School of Pharmacy on the committee.
A faculty member from another department or school of the University who does not have a secondary or joint appointment in the candidate’s department may serve as co-chair of a doctoral committee, but not as the sole chair.
When a committee member leaves the University, he or she is generally replaced unless the dissertation is almost complete or the member plays an essential role on the committee. In the latter case, the Dean’s approval should be obtained. When the chair of a committee leaves, and cannot be conveniently replaced, a co-chair must be appointed from within the department, and the restructured committee requires approval of the chair of the Pharmaceutical Sciences Graduate Academic Affairs Committee and the Dean. If the defense takes place within a few months of the chair’s departure, the requirement of a co-chair is waived.
A retired faculty member may remain as a member or chair of a committee if he or she is spending considerable time in Pittsburgh or its vicinity and is still professionally active. Retired faculty who meet these criteria may also be appointed as a member or as co-chair (but not chair) of a newly formed committee. Retired faculty who leave the Pittsburgh area and/or do not remain professionally active should be replaced on committees and the revised committee approved by the chair of the Pharmaceutical Sciences Graduate Academic Affairs Committee and the Dean.
PhD Comprehensive Examination
Prior to sitting for the exam the student need to complete the PhD-Comp-Exam-Date-Approval form. Students are required to pass a comprehensive examination before being admitted to candidacy. The comprehensive examination should be completed as soon as possible following the completion of all required coursework, and no later than the summer prior to entering the 4th year of the program. In no case may the comprehensive examination be taken in the same term in which the student is graduated. Specific details about the examination and its conduct are given in separate guidelines (below). The comprehensive examination will be conducted by an Examination Committee (see below). When the comprehensive examination has been concluded, the Chair of the examination committee will complete and submit the form PhD Comprehensive Examination Report to the Graduate Program Coordinator. Should a student be required to retake the examination, a new form must be completed and filed with the Committee. Each Committee member must submit the Comp and Doctoral Eval form. When the comprehensive examination has been successfully completed, the event will be entered into the student’s permanent graduate academic record as a Milestone.
Guidelines for Proposal
The format for the comprehensive examination will be a written proposal (Guidelines for written Proposals-2021) followed by an oral examination. Students must generate their own research question, testable hypothesis, aims, and experimental approach independent of their advisor or committee members. Students may, however, get feedback from peers or faculty (that are not on their comprehensive exam committee).
The comprehensive examination is to be completed as soon as possible after completing all required courses for the student’s focus area, no later than the summer prior to entering the 4th year of the program, and no later than eight months prior to scheduling of the dissertation defense. It is expected that the oral comprehensive examination will be taken during the summer term of the 2nd year in the graduate program.
Comprehensive Exam Committee
The oral comprehensive examination committee for each student will be chaired by a faculty member in the School of Pharmacy who is a member of the graduate faculty. Composition of the committee will be determined by the academic advisor and the student’s doctoral committee, and will include at least two members from the student’s selected focus area. The chair will be decided, in advance of the meeting, by the faculty who comprise the committee, and will be a member of the student’s selected focus area. The student’s academic advisor may NOT be a member of the committee, but may be present as an observer during the exam. Composition of the committee must consist of at least three faculty members from the School of Pharmacy, with the majority being graduate faculty. The committee may include faculty members from outside the School of Pharmacy.
Guidelines for the Examination
The graduate student will give an oral presentation that is succinct, yet complete (approximately 20-30 minutes), and supported by visual aids (slides/overheads).
The committee will then ask questions which test the student’s knowledge and abilities in the following areas:
- Literature evaluation skills
- Writing skills
- Scientific background
- Understanding of study design
- Utility of animal models of disease or conditions relative to the human situation
- Analytical methods
- Clinical measurement methods
- Data management and statistical analysis
- Differentiation of clinical and statistical significance
- Additional questions pertaining to any of the coursework or general knowledge may be included
Results of the examination will be communicated to the student immediately following the exam. Comp and Doctoral Eval Form must be completed by each member of the Committee. It is the students responsibility to bring the form to the meeting and to collect completed forms and submit to the Graduate Program Coordinator.
Results of the examination will be one of the following:
- Pass – advance to candidacy
- Remedial work needed – Remedial work may include a minor rewrite of the proposal or a major rewrite and re-defense of the proposal. Remedial work must be completed within six months from the time of examination.
- Specific needs for additional learning experiences (e.g., scientific area, statistics, writing, etc.) may be identified.
- Fail -A student who fails the qualifying examination will be terminated from the PhD program.
In all cases, the Chair of the examination committee will complete and submit the to the PhD Comprehensive Examination Report to the Graduate Program Coordinator.
Approval of Dissertation Proposal & Admission to Candidacy
Students should schedule an overview or prospectus meeting with their doctoral committee as soon as possible following successful completion of the comprehensive examination. At this meeting, the student must present a dissertation proposal describing the research topic and experimental plan, for evaluation and approval by the committee. The research plan must contain sufficient detail to permit the doctoral committee to provide detailed guidance in shaping the conceptualization and methodology of the plan. The doctoral committee must unanimously approve the dissertation topic and research plan before the student may be admitted to candidacy for the doctoral degree. Approval of the proposal does not imply either the acceptance of a dissertation prepared in accord with the proposal or the restriction of the dissertation to this original proposal.
At the prospectus meeting, the doctoral committee will also confirm that the student has met all of the requirements for admission to candidacy. To qualify for admission to candidacy, students must be in full graduate status, have satisfied the annual evaluation requirements, have completed all required coursework with a minimum quality point average (QPA) of 3.00, have passed the comprehensive examination, and have received approval of the proposed subject and plan of the dissertation research from their doctoral committee.
When all of the above conditions have been satisfied, the student will complete and submit the Approval of Dissertation Proposal and Admission to Candidacy to the Graduate Program Coordinator.
The date of admission to candidacy is entered into the student’s permanent graduate academic record as a “Milestone.” Note that admission to candidacy for the Doctor of Philosophy degree constitutes a promotion of the student to the most advanced stage of graduate study and provides formal approval to devote essentially exclusive attention to the research and writing of the dissertation.
Dissertation
Each student must write a dissertation that presents the results of research carried out by the student. An appropriate research project involves a substantive piece of original and independent research grounded in an appropriate body of literature. It is relevant to an identifiable field as it is currently practiced. It represents a hypothesis tested by collection and analysis of data and provides a significant contribution or advancement to that field. It is the responsibility of the student’s doctoral committee to evaluate the dissertation in these terms and to recommend awarding of the doctoral degree only if the dissertation is judged to demonstrate these qualities.
Dissertation Defense
The final oral examination in defense of the doctoral dissertation is conducted by the doctoral committee and need not be confined to materials in, and related to, the dissertation. Students must submit a graduation application and associated paperwork for the scheduling and advertisement of the dissertation defense to the program liaison at the start of the term in which the student intends to graduate. Note that the date, place, and time of the examination must be published in the University Times, well in advance of the oral examination and dissertation defense. For this reason, the student shall report the date, place and time of the open portion of the final oral examination and dissertation defense to the graduate program liaison at least 30 days prior to the defense date. The graduate program liaison will arrange for publication of the announcement in the University Times, and for dissemination of the information to School of Pharmacy faculty and other interested parties via email, and via a special seminar flyer posted at least two weeks prior to the oral examination and dissertation defense.
Only members of the doctoral committee may be present during final deliberations and may vote on the passing of the candidate. After completing the examination, and after the Chair of the doctoral committee has ensured that the dissertation is in final form, the student will submit the form to the graduate program liaison. If the decision of the committee is not unanimous, the case is referred to the dean for resolution.
In order to allow for final corrections, changes and/or additions to the dissertation to be made and approved by the dissertation committee, the final oral examination and dissertation defense should be held no later than one month prior to the last day of the term in which the student wishes to graduate. The report must be filed before 5:00 PM on the last day of the term in which the student is to graduate. Students are also required to submit the final dissertation in electronic format (ETD) no later than 30 days following the date of graduation. No exceptions can be made to these rules.
The date and results of the final oral examination and dissertation defense will be entered into the student’s permanent graduate academic record as a “Milestone.”
Expected Milestones
Year One
| MILESTONES AND MAJOR EVENTS | STUDENT RESPONSIBILITY | |
|---|---|---|
| August Prior to Start of Fall Term |
|
|
| Fall And Spring Term |
|
|
| Summer Term |
|
|
Year Two
| MILESTONES AND MAJOR EVENTS | STUDENT RESPONSIBILITY | |
|---|---|---|
| Fall and Spring Term |
|
|
| Spring Term | See above | See above |
| Summer Term |
|
|
Year Three
| MILESTONES AND MAJOR EVENTS | STUDENT RESPONSIBILITY | |
|---|---|---|
| Fall and Spring Term |
|
|
| Spring Term | See Above | |
| Summer Term |
|
Year Four
| MILESTONES AND MAJOR EVENTS | STUDENT RESPONSIBILITY | |
|---|---|---|
| Fall, Spring, and Summer Terms |
|
|
Year Five
| MILESTONES AND MAJOR EVENTS | STUDENT RESPONSIBILITY | |
|---|---|---|
| Fall and Spring Terms |
Notes: * The date, time, location of the defense, candidate’s name, departmental affiliation and title of dissertation must be made public to the School of Pharmacy no less than 30 days prior to the date of defense. The same information must be published in the University Times well in advance of the defense date (normally 2 weeks). **The final ETD is due no later than 30 days following the date of graduation. (Address all questions pertaining to the submission of forms and documents related to graduation to the program liaison.) |
|
| Fall and Spring Term | Graduation |
School of Pharmacy Survey of Recent Graduates
NAME: _____________________________________________(please print)
New Mailing Address:_________________________________________
__________________________________________
E-Mail (not Pitt E-mail address):________________________________
1. Do you have a position with a two-year institution?
Yes No
a. If yes, what is the name and location of the institution?
Name: ______________________________________________
Location:____________________________________________
b. If yes, is it a renewable position?
Yes No
2. Do you have a position with a four-year institution?
Yes No
a. If yes:
Name:_______________________________________________
Location:_____________________________________________
Title:________________________________________________
b. If yes, what type of position is it?
Tenure track___________
Post-doct_____________ is it a multiple year post-doc? Yes No
Visiting instructor_______ is it renewable? Yes No
3. Do you have a position in either industry or the private sector?
Yes No
a. If yes:
Name:____________________________________________
Location:__________________________________________
Title:_____________________________________________
4. Do you have a position with the government?
Yes No
a. If yes:
Name:______________________________________________
Location:____________________________________________
Title:_______________________________________________
5. Are you going to continue your education?
a. If yes:
Name of Institution_____________________________________
Name of Degree Sought_________________________________
Estimated Date of Graduation_____________________________
Thank you for your time and effort with this survey. All information will remain confidential and will be used solely by the University of Pittsburgh, School of Pharmacy. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact me at altenbaughlm@pitt.edu, or via phone at 412-648-1014
Grade Policy
Policies and Procedures for Grade and Academic Progression
The policies and procedures addressed in this document serve as guidance for actions of the Academic Performance Committee (APC) and for faculty and students who assess performance and earn grades, respectively.
Each graduate student is required to review these Policies and Procedures upon entry into the School of Pharmacy and at the beginning of each academic year; students must sign that they have read and understand the policies and procedures. Any situation that arises that is not specifically addressed by these Policies and Procedures will be adjudicated by the dean after consultation with the APC.
GENERAL POLICIES FOR ALL GRADUATE STUDENTS
Course Load, Grading and Schedule
Students in the Graduate Program in Pharmaceutical Sciences who are financially supported by teaching assistant, teaching fellow, or graduate student researcher appointments must be registered as full-time students and be taking 15 credits per term.
Domestic students who pay their own tuition and fees have the option to attend the program on a part- or full-time basis as approved by the Graduate Program Director and the student’s advisor. International students not supported by the school must be enrolled as full-time students (i.e., 9 to 15 credits per term) in order to comply with visa and regulations of the Office of International Students. The option of part-time study is not available to students with a J-1 or H-1 visa.
Course Withdrawal
A student may withdraw from a course(s) only after written permission has been obtained from the course coordinator, the student’s advisor, and the Graduate Program Director. The course withdrawal must be processed through the School Registrar within the time period specified by the University. Students are not permitted to “unofficially withdraw” by merely not attending classes.
Academic Resignation
Students who wish to resign must officially communicate this in writing to the Director of the Graduate Program. Once approval is granted, it is the responsibility of the student to inform the School Registrar and withdraw from all courses. A student may not “unofficially resign” by failing to attend classes. Resignation constitutes withdrawal from all courses being taken. A student who has resigned from the program and requests readmission to the program must petition the Director of the Graduate Program, who will consult with the AAC.
Leave of Absence
Under special conditions, graduate students may be granted one leave of absence. A maximum leave of two years may be granted to doctoral students or one year to master’s students. The student must write a letter to the Director of the Graduate Program requesting
a leave of absence and must indicate the length and rationale for the leave of absence prior to the leave. The Chair of the APC makes a recommendation to the dean, who approves the leave. If approved, the time of leave shall not count against the total time allowed for the degree being sought by the student. Readmission following an approved leave of absence is a formality.
The University of Pittsburgh provides accommodation for graduate students who become new parents. Information on the University’s Graduate Student Parental Accommodation Guidelines can be found here: http://www.provost.pitt.edu/pacwc/policies.html. The parental accommodation period is not considered a formal leave of absence.
A student who does not intend on returning to the Graduate Program must submit in writing a request for academic resignation as outlined above in Section I C no later than one month prior to the date of return stated in the initial request.
Missed or Incomplete Course Work
A student who, for good and valid reasons, is unable to complete some portion of the required material in a course may request that the instructor submit a “G” or “I” grade for the course. A “G” or “I” grade is given entirely at the discretion of the instructor who must be convinced, by appropriate documentation, that the reasons for the incomplete work are valid.
The incomplete work must be made up as soon as possible, and at a maximum, within one calendar year.
A student who has been given a “G” or “I” grade in a course that is a pre-requisite for another course will generally not be permitted to take the next course in the sequence until the “G” or “I“ grade has been replaced with an acceptable grade. Students cannot advance in the program until all “G” or “I” grades have been resolved. If a “G” or “I” grade is not resolved in the designated time, the student will be under academic probation as outlined in Section II below.
COURSE GRADES, ACADEMIC PROGRESSION AND ACADEMIC PROBATION
Course Grades
Students earning a grade of “C” or lower or a grade of “U” in one course will be evaluated by the APC (and advisor if applicable).
Students earning a grade of “C” or lower or a grade of “U” in a core or required course will be placed on academic probation or dismissed from the graduate program contingent upon the evaluation by the APC (and advisor if applicable). If allowed to continue in the Graduate Program, students will have one opportunity to re-take the core or required course(s). Students must achieve a grade of “B” or “S” in the repeated course(s).
Students earning a grade of “D” or lower or a grade of “U” in any elective course will be evaluated by the APC (and advisor if applicable).
Cumulative Grade Point Average
The Grade Point Average (GPA) includes all required and elective courses taken while enrolled in the Graduate Program.
Cumulative GPA will be calculated at the end of each semester. All students enrolled in the graduate program must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.00 or higher. The APC will review the progress of students who fail to maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.00 or above after any term to determine if they will be permitted to continue in the Graduate Program. Students may be eligible to take additional courses to raise their GPA. Students who fail to maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.00 or above after any term will be placed on academic probation or be dismissed from the program. Being placed on Academic Probation is cause for suspension of a student’s financial support (tuition and stipend) from the school until such time as the GPA increases to 3.0. If placed on academic probation, the AAC will work with the student to develop a plan of remediation or other actions.
Students failing to increase their cumulative GPA to 3.00 during one term of academic probation may be permitted a second term of academic probation (as courses are offered on an annual and not semester basis) or may be dismissed from the program.
Students who have a GPA of less than 3.0 are not eligible to sit for comprehensive exams and/or to defend the MS required project.
Dismissal from the Program
Students may be dismissed if they:
1. Earn a grade of “C” or lower or a grade of “U” in one required or core course.
2. Fail to achieve a cumulative GPA of 3.0 after any three consecutive or non- consecutive terms.
The APC may request, via phone, e-mail, or written letter, that a student on academic probation appear before the APC to present his case prior to a final action by the Committee.
DUE PROCESS AND RIGHT OF APPEAL
Graduate students will be notified in writing of their placement on academic probation or dismissal from the program, including the reason for this action. A student may appeal this action by submitting a letter to Chair of the Graduate APC within two business days of the date of notification by the APC. Students may also request to appear before the APC.
In the event that the APC upholds the original decision, a student may make a written appeal to the dean within two days of notification by the APC. The dean may choose to consult with the APC, the student, and/or the student’s advisor prior to arriving at a decision, which will be final.
FINANCIAL SUPPORT OF STUDENTS ON ACADEMIC PROBATION
Any graduate student on academic probation will be responsible for financial obligations of remedial and other coursework and will no longer be eligible for appointment as a teaching assistant or a teaching fellow.
The decision to support a student as a graduate student researcher is made by the APC with input from the advisor.
Approved July 2014