Ph.D. in Natural Sciences: Pharmacology
Program Overview
Housed within the Division of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences and administered by the School of Graduate Studies, the Pharmacology Ph.D. program is dedicated to providing the highest quality and comprehensive graduate education in drug delivery, physical pharmacy, bio-pharmaceutics, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, synthetic medicinal chemistry, organic chemistry and biochemistry. With access to state-of-the-art equipment, tools and surrounding resources, our graduates are well prepared to meet the latest challenges in groundbreaking research, and as a result, make significant impacts and contributions to society.
Upon completion of the program, students can go on to work in academia, the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries, or government sectors.
Program Structure
Format
In-person
Typical program length
5 years
Typical course load
2-3 courses per semester
Program Details
Program Requirements
The program is comprised of at least 46 credit hours, including:
- At least 25 hours in the Pharmacology primary discipline
- At least 9 hours outside the primary discipline
- At least 12 dissertation hours
Complete course listing on Academic Catalog
Program Benchmarks
- Submit annual evaluations of your accomplishments and progress.
- Complete part one of your plan of study by the end of the first year after admission.
- Complete part two of your plan of study by the end of the third year or before comprehensive exams are taken.
- Successfully pass comprehensive oral and written exams by the end of the third year.
- Successfully defend your dissertation.
Costs, Aid and Funding Opportunities
Cost is a major consideration when deciding whether to continue your education. Please contact the program coordinator about assistantships that may be available. We also encourage you to learn more about costs and financial aid and external funding opportunities that can make earning your degree more affordable.
- Applicants are considered for employment as graduate assistants and recipients of student fee and tuition fee waivers. Students can email the School of Graduate Studies or call 816-235-1301 with questions about graduate assistantships and other funding possibilities.
- Current students can apply for scholarships. Scholarship information is shared internally via email as it can vary each fiscal year.
Why UMKC?
Learn foundations for innovative drug design
Focus on the mechanism of action for drugs and learn to develop more effective and specific therapies, predicting side effects and contributing to pioneering drug design.
Enhance your impact
Develop an understanding of ADMETox and equip yourself with essential knowledge for optimizing drug safety, efficacy and regulatory approval.
Earn a respected credential
Our graduates have gone on to work for Stanford University, Harvard University, Children's Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, KCAS Bioanalytical and Biomarker Services, ThermoFisher Scientific, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and more.
Application Details
Application Procedures and Requirements
- Prepare required documentation, including:
- Official transcripts from all previously attended institutions
- Statement of purpose outlining your interests and career goals
- Three letters of recommendation
- GRE scores (Optional, but strongly encouraged) - recommended aggregate score of 295+ for verbal and quantitative, and analytical writing 3.5+
- Complete the online application. Please be sure to pay applicable domestic or international program fees.
- Make sure you meet discipline-specific requirements, which are listed in the academic catalog.
- Applicants are encouraged to contact faculty within the Division of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences to see if a faculty member could serve as a research mentor.
Application Deadlines
- The application deadline for this program is December 15 for fullest consideration.
- Applications submitted after the deadline will only be reviewed on a space-available basis.
- It is strongly recommended that applicants reach out to the program coordinator prior to applying.
- Applications received by the December 15 deadline will receive final admission decisions by February 15.
Still Have Questions?
Email our program coordinator for more information.
Gerald J. Wyckoff Director of Research Administration / Chair and Professor, Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences Phone: 816-235-1962 Email: wyckoffg@umkc.edu
Natural Sciences Ph.D. Coordinator: Pharmacology