Pharmaceutics PhD

Saint Joseph’s University’s PhD in pharmaceutics program explores how to best administer a drug to the human body and turn chemicals into effective medications. By learning how to improve the way drugs interact with the human body, you will advance to the forefront of medical progress and enable modern medical breakthroughs. With a doctoral degree, your knowledge and network will help you continue a rewarding career in the healthcare industry as a researcher and innovator.

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What Sets Our Program Apart

  • Long-standing relationships with healthcare companies and pharmaceutical organizations present you with many fieldwork and job opportunities in pharmacy.

  • Obtaining a PhD degree in pharmaceutics from Saint Joseph’s University offers the opportunity to work in our recently renovated Industrial Pharmacy Laboratory, a full-scale, GLP-compliant pharmaceutical research facility fully equipped to support analysis, preformulation and formulation research of drugs.

  • Our small class sizes promote personal attention as you collaborate and work with pharmaceutics and pharmaceutical sciences faculty who are experts in areas including drug delivery, pharmacokinetics, precision medicine and more.

What Can I Do with a PhD in Pharmaceutics?

With a PhD degree in pharmaceutics, you can find career success in:

  • Pharmaceutical research
  • Academia
  • Regulatory affairs
  • Government research
  • Drug delivery
  • Pharmacokinetics
  • Pharmacodynamics
  • Drug product development
  • Formulation
  • Process optimization and stability

Pharmaceutics also provides excellent preparation for a medical career in any other health profession.

Program Details

  • The PhD in pharmaceutics requires:

    • At least 20 credit hours of acceptable non-research graduate level courses
    • At least 20 research credit hours
    • An approved written dissertation and the successful oral defense of that dissertation

    View required courses for this program in the academic catalog. Please contact us if you have any questions about the program curriculum.

  • The tuition for Pharmaceutics PhD students entering fall 2022 is $1,676 per credit*. *Pricing does not include room and board, health insurance or any professional, clinical or transportation fees. Visit our Tuition & Fees page for a detailed breakdown.

    Financial aid in the form of scholarships, student loans, graduate assistantships and discount eligibility may also be available to you to help offset the cost of your degree. Explore your options on our Financial Aid page.

Why Study Pharmaceutics in Philadelphia?

Here in Philadelphia, you’re in the heart of the biotechnology and health science industry, surrounded by 250 medical facilities and within two hours of 75% of all U.S. pharmaceutical firms. The city's diverse population and variety of health science employers offer the unique opportunity to gain experience in pharmaceutical research.

Pharmaceutics PhD Admissions Information

  • You must meet the following prerequisites to be considered for admission to the PhD in pharmaceutics program:

    • Have a bachelor’s degree in science or health from an accredited university or college
    • Complete the following prerequisite courses*
      • Mathematical Analysis I–III or equivalent to Pre-Calculus, Calculus I–II (10 credits)
      • Pharmaceutics and Biopharmaceutics I/ II/Pharmaceutics lab (8 credits)
      • Introduction to Biostatistics or equivalent (3 credits)
      • Physical Chemistry I or equivalent (4 credits)
      • Differential Equations or equivalent (3 credits)
      • Analytical Chemistry/Lab (4 credits) OR Cell Biology Methods/Lab or equivalent (5 credits)
      • Research Methods in Pharmaceutics or equivalent (2 credits)
    • Take the GRE 

    *Credit hours are listed to aid determination of equivalent prerequisite courses and to plan course loads for the full time status. Please contact the program director if you have any questions.

    • Apply online.
    • Submit official college transcripts from all colleges attended. If you attended Saint Joseph’s, we will obtain this transcript for you.
    • Submit a ​1000-word  personal statement explaining your short and long term study and career goals. PhD applicants must also identify at least two of the program’s faculty whose research interests align most closely with yours. Personal statements may be submitted as part of application via the application portal. 
    • Submit resume or CV.
    • Submit three letters of recommendation.

  • The application deadline for admission to Saint Joseph’s PhD in pharmaceutics program are:

    • Priority Review for ALL applicants: March 1
    • Domestic Student Deadline: June 1
    • International Student Deadline: March 1

  • International applicants must show proof of English language proficiency such as TOEFL or IELTS scores. Check the Graduate Admission page for additional requirements.

Related Programs

Pharmaceutics MS

Saint Joseph’s University’s accredited master’s in pharmaceutics program explores how best to administer a drug to the human body and turn chemicals into effective medications. With a pharmaceutics graduate degree, you’ll advance to the forefront of medical progress.

Pharmaceutical Chemistry Major

Saint Joseph’s is the only university in the region offering a bachelor’s degree in pharmaceutical chemistry. With this degree, you’ll learn all aspects of drug development, from initial design to delivery.

Pharmaceutical Sciences Major

Find your calling in developing, manufacturing and evaluating medications as a pharmaceutical sciences major. Saint Joseph’s is one of the few universities in the U.S. that offers a BS in pharmaceutical sciences degree.

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