Molecular Pharmaceutics

Website: pharmacy.utah.edu/pharmaceutics

Phone: 801-581-3715

The Department of Molecular Pharmaceutics offers a Ph.D. degree program through the Graduate School of the University of Utah. The program seeks to prepare graduate students to function independently, competently and technically in a variety of settings including academic, research, administrative, business management, legal, regulatory and investment career tracks. This goal is accomplished through formal didactic courses, seminars and journal clubs, laboratory research rotations, and dissertation research. Every attempt is made by the faculty to help the student complete the program in a timely fashion. Typically, students graduate within 5 years of entering the program, although the nature of some projects and approaches requires a longer time commitment for full completion of the dissertation work.

All applicants are required to use the Apply Yourself online application system through the Admissions Office. Below is a list of materials you will need to complete the process.

• Academic Transcripts. Official copies of transcripts from all colleges and universities attended should be sent directly by the institution (not the applicant). For foreign institutions, include official transcripts in the original language, plus official English translations if the original language is not English.

• GRE Scores. An official report of scores from the General Test of the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) should be sent directly by the Educational Testing Service (ETS) to the Admissions Office. Use the institutional code for the University of Utah, 4853, and the department code for Pharmaceutical Chemistry, 0613.

• Letters of Reference. We require at least three letters of personal reference from course instructors, research supervisors, or employers who are directly familiar with your abilities and performance. The recommender may use the Apply Yourself online system

• Personal Statement. A two-page personal statement (approximately 500 words) outlining your background, research interests (including possible faculty research advisors), goals, and reasons for applying to our graduate program, even for specific areas of research.

• Potential Areas of Research. Applicants should choose among the areas of research offered. See also our research page, and look up individual faculty members by areas of research here.

For international students only:

TOEFL scores. An official report of scores from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is required and should be directly sent to the Admissions Office. You will need to use code 4853 for the International Admissions Office.

For students requesting an I-20 Certificate of Eligibility, the following will need to be provided by the applicant:

1. A financial statement with supporting documents showing a minimum amount in U.S. dollars to cover the first year tuition and living expenses is required.

2. A copy of the first page of applicant’s current passport or national ID card.

Admission Standards

Applicants must have received, prior to commencing graduate study, a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institute, college, or university.

Requirements include a B.S. degree in

• Pharmacy

• Chemistry

• Biology

• Chemical engineering

• Related areas

Applicants are expected to have mastered basic material and fulfilled the prerequisites in the following areas:

• One year of Organic chemistry with laboratories

• One year of Physical chemistry

• One year of Calculus

• One semester of anatomy, cell biology, developmental biology, classical genetics, or physiology

All aspects of an application will be seriously considered during the evaluation process. However, students should have a grade point average equivalent to 3.0 or better on a 4-point scale. International students should have a minimum TOEFL score of 550 on the paper-based test, or a 100 (recommended) on the computer-based test out of a 120-point scale. Average GRE scores are approximately 158 (verbal), 160 (quantitative), 4.5 (analytical).