Graduate Program Philosophy

Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences

Background

At a faculty retreat in 1993, it was agreed that the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences (PSC) needed to enhance collaboration and interdisciplinary interactions among the faculty and graduate students. It was noted that interdisciplinary education and research should not become so overwhelming that the graduate students and faculty were unable to maintain any desired discipline identity or focus in their research area. After much discussion and debate, the following is a compilation of the faculty's efforts to bring together a program that answers these concerns and continues the Department's commitment to excellence in graduate education.

Graduate Program Philosophy

Graduates of the program will be trained as independent creative scientists to function well in academe, the pharmaceutical industry, and in government agencies. Characteristics of the graduate will include dissemination of knowledge through presentations and publications, demonstrated communication abilities and knowledge of his/her science, and a degree of specialization.
All graduate students will have an interdisciplinary component to their knowledge base. This component shall include principles of drug action and a segment relating to major drug classes and delivery systems from pharmacological, pharmaceutical and medicinal chemistry viewpoints.
There will be sufficient flexibility in the overall program so that admissions decisions, coursework, rotations, and thesis projects can emphasize interdisciplinary research efforts.
The plan of study will have sufficient flexibility to credit previous learning experiences.
The program shall promote research creativity through collegial interaction, diversity, mutual respect and interchange of ideas.
The Department will seek an increased funding base to further develop a high quality graduate program