Ph.D. Program

Ph.D. Program Requirements

  • Successful completion of the College of Graduate Studies First-Year Common Curriculum.
  • Completion of laboratory rotations during the first year and selection of a major advisor and department/program of study.
  • Successful completion of Pharmacology course work beyond the First-Year Common Curriculum. Courses are updated yearly. Students should also enroll in PCOL 744, Pharmacology Journal Club.
  • Statistics requirement: The College of Graduate Studies requires that students demonstrate a predetermined level of statistical competence. This may be achieved by completing CGS 700 in the second or subsequent years of graduate study, or by providing transcript evidence of satisfactory completion of previously-taken statistical course(s) that fulfill the College requirement.
  • Students are required to maintain a 3.0 or better GPA.
  • Attendance at all Cell and Molecular Pharmacology student and postdoctoral seminars. The department holds an informal student and postdoc run research in progress group. All trainees are required to present a seminar in this series at least once per year.
  • Attendance at Cell and Molecular Pharmacology hosted MCBP seminars during the academic year (Thursdays at noon).
  • Successful completion of the Qualifying Examination at the end of 2nd year.
  • Successful completion of the Proposal to Candidacy requirement by the end of the 3rd year.
  • Publication as first author of at least one original research article in a peer-reviewed journal.
  • 15 credit hours of laboratory research in each semester in the year and beyond (PCOL 970).
  • Successful completion of dissertation proposal and its defense (PCOL 970).

To Apply (Admissions are Handled Centrally by the Office of Enrollment)

Online Application

Please select “Pharmacology” if you are interested in our Program of Study.

For all inquiries about the Cell and Molecular Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics Ph.D. program, please contact Dr. John P. O'Bryan, Director of the Pharmacology Graduate Training Program, at obryanjo@musc.edu or 843-792-8393.

Resources

College of Graduate Studies Ph.D. Handbook

Admission to Candidacy Examination Guidelines

Admission to Candidacy Examination Evaluation Form