Pharmacology and Toxicology Ph.D. Program

Pharmacology and Toxicology Ph.D. Program

Degree Requirements

Prospective Ph.D. students in pharmacology and toxicology are admitted through the Biomedical Sciences Doctoral Portal (BSDP). Once admitted, students enter the BSDP, which oversees the first year of Ph.D. training across six graduate programs: Biochemistry, Human Genetics, Microbiology, Neuroscience, Pharmacology and Toxicology, and Physiology and Biophysics.

Students admitted in the BSDP who pursue a Ph.D. in Pharmacology and Toxicology follow the curriculum and course plan specific to the Pharmacology and Toxicology doctoral program. Students have the option of matching with faculty advisors who are within the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology or with faculty in other academic departments associated with the School of Medicine. Official entry into the Ph.D. program in Pharmacology and Toxicology occurs upon completion of the third research rotation during the spring semester of the student's first year in the BSDP.

For details on applying, the BSDP site provides instructions for submitting your application through the VCU Office of Graduate Admissions. Applicants interested in pursuing a Ph.D. in Pharmacology and Toxicology are encouraged to indicate this interest in the personal statement of their BSDP application. Applicants are also encouraged to identify faculty members whose research aligns with their interests and with whom they would like to complete research rotations.

Curriculum

All students in the Pharmacology and Toxicology Graduate Program take “core” courses in pharmacology and toxicology that provides a broad understanding of the mechanism of actions of drugs and therapeutic drug classes . This is followed with advanced courses in more specialized areas of pharmacology and toxicology that relate directly to the student’s research interests. Students participate in a weekly seminar program that teaches them how to present research data more effectively.

Applicants should hold a bachelor’s degree in a biological or biomedical science, such as biology, chemistry, biochemistry, pharmacy, or a related discipline.  Prior coursework in the following areas are recommended:

• General and organic chemistry
• The biological sciences
• Physiology
• Biochemistry

Ph.D. students in the Pharmacology and Toxicology Graduate Program take courses designed specifically for graduate students with an emphasis on research design and experimentation. They do not take classes with medical students or other professional students. The minimum full-time course load for graduate students is 9 credits in the fall and spring semesters and 3 credits in the summer.  Student must achieve a minimum 3.0 overall GPA in graduate courses and a minimum 3.0 GPA in pharmacology and toxicology courses to graduate.

Coursework

For a comprehensive list of coursework by year see the Pharmacology & Toxicology page in the current VCU Bulletin

Comprehensive Examination

The comprehensive examination consists of two components: a written research proposal and an oral examination. The written component requires students to develop a research proposal, which is subsequently defended during the oral examination. The oral examination evaluates the student's ability to defend their proposal and demonstrate a broad understanding of general pharmacology concepts. Both components are evaluated by the Graduate Advisory Committee.

The student is required to schedule the oral component through the Office of Graduate Education (available on GradTrak) with at least two weeks prior notice. A Dean’s representative is appointed to conduct the oral examination.

Disseration Proposal and Defense

Students in the program are required to complete a body of research sufficient to produce a written doctoral dissertation document and publicly defend that work in order to receive their degree. The Graduate Advisory Committee is responsible for approving of the scope of the dissertation project and grading the oral defense. 

Graduate Student Handbook

Download the Pharmacology & Toxicology Graduate Student Handbook (pdf)