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Pharmacology

The Department of Pharmacology provides professional training in pharmacology for health science students and participates with other departments in educational and research activities such as the Medical Scientist Training Program, the Physician Scientist Training Program, the Molecular and Cellular Biology Program, the Neuroscience Program, the Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center, and the Iowa Cardiovascular Center.

The department was a pioneer in offering pharmacology to undergraduate students with little or no science background. The lecture and discussion sessions in Loading... emphasize the mechanisms of drug action and give students a background for rational decisions concerning use of drugs. Undergraduates interested in science careers may attend an eight-week summer research program that provides opportunities for outstanding students to conduct research in faculty laboratories.

Pre- and postdoctoral students can pursue research training in all areas of pharmacology in the department in preparation for career opportunities in academia, government, and industry.

Graduate Programs

The Department of Pharmacology offers graduate study programs leading to the M.S. and Ph.D. These programs include both didactic and research experience. Qualified students may pursue an M.S. in clinical pharmacology or a combined M.D./Ph.D. in the Medical Scientist Training Program.

Master of Science

The Master of Science in pharmacology requires a minimum of 30 s.h. of graduate credit. Core course requirements are as follows.

Students also are expected to gain maximum experience in laboratory research while completing their course work. Satisfactory preparation and oral defense of a thesis based on the student's own research are required for completion of the program.

Doctor of Philosophy

The Doctor of Philosophy in pharmacology requires a minimum of 72 s.h. of graduate credit. Core course requirements are as follows.

Individual faculty research advisors may require additional courses.

During the first semester in the program, students are required to work in two different faculty laboratories before selecting a laboratory in which to pursue thesis research. Students then are expected to gain maximum laboratory research experience while completing course work. The Ph.D. comprehensive examination (written and oral) is given at the end of the fourth semester. Satisfactory preparation and oral defense of the thesis complete the program.

There is no departmental foreign language requirement.

Admission

Applicants must meet the admission requirements of the Graduate College; see the Manual of Rules and Regulations of the Graduate College or the Graduate College section of the Catalog. They should have a g.p.a. of at least 3.00 and a combined verbal and quantitative score of at least 1200 on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Test. They should have completed undergraduate courses in chemistry, biology, biochemistry, and mathematics.

Admission to the graduate programs is determined by the faculty after receipt of a completed formal application and interview (if appropriate) by faculty members or other designated individuals. Each application is reviewed individually. Some standard admission criteria may be set aside for applicants who possess outstanding credentials in other areas.

Financial Support

The department provides all Ph.D. students and some M.S. students with financial support in the form of stipends and tuition support. Support is renewed annually based on satisfactory progress toward meeting degree requirements.