Pharm.D./Ph.D. Degree Details
The VCU School of Pharmacy offers a Pharm.D./Ph.D. dual degree program for outstanding VCU Pharm.D. students to obtain both a Pharm.D. degree and a Ph.D. degree in pharmaceutical sciences. The dual degree program provides curricular efficiencies in both the Pharm.D. and Ph.D. programs, opportunities for summer research and elective advanced pharmacy practice experiences (APPEs), which allow dual degree students to graduate with their Pharm.D. after four years and with efficiencies to complete the Ph.D. degree after approximately two to three additional years.
Overview and admissions process. Current VCU Pharm.D. students or VCU Pharm.D. applicants with documented research experience are eligible to apply. Admission will be granted based on the student’s academic record and likely success in completing the challenging Pharm.D./Ph.D. curriculum and a rigorous, hypothesis-driven Ph.D. dissertation research project.
Students accepted in the Pharm.D./Ph.D. dual degree program will be reviewed semi-annually until their Pharm.D. graduation. Once students earn their Pharm.D., they will be reviewed by their respective home Ph.D. departments according to guidelines of the pharmaceutical sciences graduate program.
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry (MEDC)
- Department of Pharmaceutics (PCEU)
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology (PHTX)
- Department of Pharmacotherapy and Outcomes Science (PHAR)
- Graduate Research Assistant (GRA)
- Graduate Teaching Assistant (GTA)
- Pharm.D./Ph.D. subcommittee (Pharm.D./Ph.D. SC)
- Principal Investigator (PI): mentor and Ph.D. advisor
- Summer research fellowships (SRF) occur following P2 and P4 years for Pharm.D., Ph.D. students, funded by VCU School of Pharmacy or PI
Application and Admission
Application deadline: April 15
Note: The Graduate School application for our Pharmaceutical Sciences Ph.D. program's concentrations list a Feb. 1 deadline. These applications remain open for Pharm.D./Ph.D. applicants with a deadline of April 15.
The program is developed for VCU Pharm.D. students to matriculate into the pharmaceutical sciences Ph.D. program in fall of their P3 year, though applicants may be considered for matriculation in fall of their P4 year. If admitted, the change in the student’s tuition rate from Pharm.D. student to in-state graduate student will be effective starting with the P3 fall semester. However, the student remains responsible for paying the in-state tuition during the P3 (G1) and P4 (G1) years.
Current and prospective students interested in this dual degree program must submit these materials via the VCU graduate application:
- CV
- Personal statement/essay
- Three letters of recommendation that comment on research accomplishments, experience and potential (Current VCU Pharm.D. students: please include at least one letter from a prospective graduate faculty sponsor letter in PHTX or VCU School of Pharmacy)
Applicants who are not already enrolled in our Pharm.D. program must also follow these steps to apply to our Pharm.D. program via PharmCAS.
- GPA: >3.0 (required)
- Personal statement/essay
- Interview by at least two Pharm.D./Ph.D. subcommittee members
- Research experience (summer research fellowship or equivalent) is required
- Letters of recommendation
- Research experience/interests compatible with the research of VCU School of Pharmacy graduate faculty
Applicants who are not already enrolled in our Pharm.D. program must also meet the admissions requirements for our Pharm.D. program.
Typical Program Outline
- Application to the Pharm.D./Ph.D. dual degree program
- Application for a competitive summer research fellowship
Also called the G1 and G2 years
- Full-time Pharm.D./Ph.D. dual degree students will take core or elective graduate courses as Pharm.D. electives (applied towards six credits of didactic Ph.D. credits) and two elective APPEs (applied towards 10 credits of their Ph.D. research). Students will be charged the Virginia resident graduate tuition rate.
- Graduation with Pharm.D. degree
- After the award of the Pharm.D. degree, dual degree students will receive tuition, fees and the VCU health insurance plan, as well as a stipend
- Students will be full-time Ph.D. students employed as graduate teaching assistants (GTAs) funded by the School of Pharmacy and Graduate School or as graduate research assistants (GRAs) funded by the advisor
- Students will be engaged in graduate coursework and Ph.D. research
- Students will also complete comprehensive exams during this time
- If additional time is needed to complete degree requirements, students may be employed full-time as GRAs (funded by student’s advisor) or may choose to self-fund their final years
- Graduation with Ph.D. degree
Promotion
During the P3 (G1) and P4 (G2) years, Pharm.D./Ph.D. dual degree students will be reviewed annually by the Pharm.D./Ph.D. SC, as well as after each semester by the School of Pharmacy Academic Performance Committee. The Pharm.D./Ph.D. SC criteria for matriculation as well as promotion throughout the P3 (G1) and P4 (G2) years include:
- GPA: >3.0
- PI (principal investigator, i.e., graduate advisor) and graduate program director of home department letters, documenting satisfactory progress on Pharm.D./Ph.D. dual degree curriculum/research
Beginning in the G3 year, the Pharm.D./Ph.D., dual degree students will be subject only to regular, annual graduate student performance reviews by their respective home departments
Curricular Plan
The graduate course requirements for individual students depend on the departmental requirements for each track: MEDC (Dept. of Medicinal Chemistry), PCEU (Dept. of Pharmaceutics), PHAR (Dept. of Pharmacotherapy and Outcomes Science) and PHTX (Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology).
Depending on the background and training of the student, additional Pharm.D. and/or graduate core courses may be waived or substituted upon request, supported by the graduate advisor (PI) and upon formal review and written approval by the Pharm.D./Ph.D. SC.
The following lists the approved curriculum (by semester in the Pharm.D./Ph.D. program):
- Pharm.D. curriculum (August to May)
- Summer research fellowship (June to July)
- Research presentation at VCU School of Pharmacy summer luncheon and VCU School of Pharmacy Research and Career Day are required
- Pharm.D. curriculum (August to May)
- Pharm.D./Ph.D summer research fellowship (June to July)
- Research presentation at VCU School of Pharmacy summer luncheon and VCU School of Pharmacy Fall Research and Career Day are required
- Pharm.D. curriculum
- Maximum of a three credit graduate core course per semester (e.g., PSCI 607), counting as Pharm.D. electives
- Matriculation into Ph.D. program begins in the fall semester of the P3 year. The student will be dual enrolled in the Pharm.D. and Ph.D. programs. Tuition will be paid by the student at the Virginia resident Ph.D. graduate rate.
- Need to obtain approval for P4 APPE schedule/plan by the Office of Experiential Education no later than fall of the P3 year
- Summer: N/A (APPE)
- Approved APPE schedule (summer/fall)
- Research APPEs in P4 spring
- Graduate core courses in P4 spring [Credits for PHAR 765 (research elective APPE #1, 5 credits) and PHAR 766 (research elective APPE #2, 5 credits) count towards both degrees.]
- Graduation with Pharm.D. degree
- Summer: Pharm.D./Ph.D. summer research fellowship (research presentation at VCU School of Pharmacy summer luncheon and VCU School of Pharmacy Fall Research and Career Day are required)
- Ph.D. curriculum and research
- Doctoral dissertation defense and graduation with Ph.D. degree
Special Ph.D. Research Timelines
Pharm.D./Ph.D. dual degree students are expected to work diligently on their dissertation research throughout their tenure in the program; however, their available time for research will depend on their Pharm.D. and graduate coursework, especially during their P3 (G1) through P4 (G2) years. Their P2 and P4 (G2) summer research fellowships as well as their P4 (G2) spring semester will be dedicated towards making significant progress towards their dissertation research proposal in close consultation with their graduate advisor (principal investigator; PI).
Pharm.D./Ph.D. dual degree students are expected to select their graduate advisory committee by the end of the fall semester in the G3 year and should complete their comprehensive exams (and proceed to Ph.D. candidacy status) prior to their G4 year. Pharm.D./Ph.D. dual degree students are highly encouraged to apply for an F30 individual training grant from NIH (or equivalent) and submit it prior to their G3 year.
Academic Efficiencies
Pharm.D./Ph.D. dual degree students are allowed up to six didactic credits taken during the P3 (G1) and P4 (G2) years that count towards both degrees. Additionally, up to 10 APPE credit hours taken during the P3 (G1) and P4 (G2) years count toward directed research credits for the Ph.D. degree.
Financial Incentives
During the P1 and P2 years, students are self-funded and pay Virginia resident rate or non-resident Pharm.D. tuition rate depending on their status. During the P3 (G1) and P4 (G2) years, Pharm.D./Ph.D. dual degree students remain self-funded, but pay tuition at the Virginia resident graduate student rate (See VCU Bulletin for current Pharm.D. tuition vs. Graduate School tuition). Furthermore, designated summer research fellowships after P1 or P2 years, as well as for P4 (G2) students will be provided. Following the award of the Pharm.D. degree, dual degree students will be guaranteed an assistantship that fully covers tuition, fees and the VCU graduate student health insurance plan, as well as a stipend to cover living expenses.
Beginning in the G3 year (following the award of the Pharm.D. degree), students will be supported, after competitive review as graduate teaching assistants (GTAs) or graduate research assistants (GRAs) and funded by their PI.
Any funding beyond the G4 year for Pharm.D./Ph.D. scholars or GTAs will be provided by the PI, unless university funds or training grants have been awarded.
Continued funding of the student (e.g., tuition discount, summer research fellowship support, tuition, fees and stipend) depends on satisfactory progress throughout the Pharm.D./Ph.D. dual degree program (see Promotion).
* Students may work part-time as a pharmacist, pending written approval from the PI and graduate program director of the home department and associate dean for research and graduate studies as outlined in the VCU School of Pharmacy Graduate Handbook.
Funding as GTA/PI Funded GRA
Scholars may be eligible to receive stipend and tuition and fees support from the VCU School of Pharmacy Pharmaceutical Sciences Graduate Program and/or graduate advisor (PI), as follows:
- Self-funding at Pharm.D. resident or non-resident tuition rate
- Competitive funding for the Pharm.D./Ph.D. summer research fellowship summer of P1 and P2 years ($4,000/eight weeks) will be available
- Self-funding at Pharm.D. Virginia resident graduate tuition rate
- Post-P4 (G2) summer (following award of the Pharm.D.), students will be covered for tuition and fees and will begin receiving the graduate student stipend
Funding as either a GTA through the Pharmaceutical Sciences Graduate Program or a GRA through the PI. GTAs provide departmental teaching services, while GRAs provide research services as part of sponsored research. GTAs and GRAs receive funding for tuition, fees and stipends.
Students considering part-time work as a pharmacist or other position are strongly advised to seek guidance from the PI, program director of the home department and associate dean for research and graduate studies.
PI covers funding as GRA for tuition, fees and stipends.
Continued funding of the student (e.g., scholarship, summer research fellowship support, tuition, fees and stipend) depends on satisfactory progress throughout the Pharm.D./Ph.D. program (see Promotion).
Students considering part-time work as a pharmacist or other position are required to obtain written approval from the PI, program director of the home department and associate dean for research and graduate studies.
Oversight
The Pharm.D./Ph.D. subcommittee of the Dual Degrees Steering Committee (Pharm.D./Ph.D. SC), under the guidance of the associate dean for research and graduate studies, directs and oversees the Pharm.D./Ph.D. program and is charged the following responsibilities:
- Review of summer research fellowship applications for VCU School of Pharmacy funding during the P1 summer (as one way of meeting a prerequisite of current Pharm.D. students for admission into Pharm.D./Ph.D. program)
- Review of Pharm.D. student applications for admission into the Pharm.D./Ph.D. dual degree program and make scholarship and assistantship funding recommendations
- Semi-annual review of Pharm.D./Ph.D. students for promotion from admission until graduation with their Pharm.D. degree
- Overall program oversight including curricular planning, reviewing any proposed course waivers/substitutions and long-term strategic planning