Department of Pharmaceutics

Driving tomorrow’s innovations in the pharmaceutical sciences

Pharmaceutics, a multidisciplinary field integrating pharmacy and the life sciences, focuses on converting chemical entities into dosage forms that deliver and maintain the right drug levels at target sites in the body for safe and effective treatment. Our department brings expertise in physical pharmacy, biopharmaceutics, clinical pharmacokinetics, formulation, bioanalysis, drug metabolism and drug transport together to educate future researchers and industry experts and support advancements in discovering and developing drugs. Along with the Center for Biomarker Research and Precision Medicine and the Center for Pharmaceutical Engineering and Sciences, we are advancing the quality and safety of medications and pharmaceutical products that will allow for treatment or management of a variety of health conditions.

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Degree Offerings

Our M.S. and Ph.D. programs offer comprehensive training in advanced pharmaceutical sciences, robust research opportunities, and a collaborative learning environment.

Two researchers working with lab equipment wearing lab coats.

Research

Our department is a leader in drug discovery and development.

Three research students working with lab equipment.

Courses

Review a list of pharmaceutics courses on the VCU Bulletin site.

A researcher talks to students in a research lab.

Student Organizations

Explore our dynamic student organizations that offer opportunities for connection, professional development and leadership.

Student leaders, all wearing Pharmaceutics T-shirts, get together for a photo during Multicultural Potluck Day

Who We Are

Faculty and Staff

Meet our dedicated faculty and staff, whose expertise and commitment drive our mission and foster a dynamic learning environment.

Graduate Students

Meet our current students, who are actively contributing to cutting-edge research and advancing their fields within the department.

Alumni

Explore the achievements of our alumni, who exemplify the success and impact of our department's education and training.

Pharmaceutics News

Keynote speaker Anna Prilutsky addresses the audience in the Library of Virginia auditorium at the 3rd Annual School of Pharmacy Convocation.

Aug. 22, 2025

Haleon R&D leader at Convocation: Innovation is ‘figuring out how to open doors for those who will make a difference’

Keynote speaker Anna Prilutsky addressed faculty, staff and new students to share how she got her start in her career as an innovator before the community celebrated seven faculty and staff honorees and five faculty promotions.

Six VCU School of Pharmacy faculty and staff members join the dean and Rodney the Ram (VCU's mascot) to celebrate their years of service to the university

May 23, 2025

For their service to VCU, these big numbers reflect their even bigger impact

Nearly 3,000 faculty and staff are cited for milestone years at the annual service celebration – and two School of Pharmacy faculty have dedicated at least 35 years of service to the university.

Recent pharmaceutical engineering graduate Asma Al-Terawi, Ph.D., in her doctoral tam, hood and gown poses for a family photo with her husband and their three sons after the VCU School of Pharmacy Hooding and Diploma Ceremony on May 9, 2025.

May 16, 2025

At graduation, Class of 2025 reflects on perseverance and the support that got them through

Keynote speaker Tiffani Bailey Lash, Ph.D., encourages Ph.D. and Pharm.D. graduates to "embrace the tools of tomorrow without forgetting the humanity that brought you here."