Mar 28, 2024  
2019-2020 Graduate Catalog 
    
2019-2020 Graduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ph.D.


Chapman University School of Pharmacy (CUSP) offers a year-round Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Pharmaceutical Sciences for students interested in the diverse research areas of drug design and discovery, pharmaceutics, drug delivery, pharmacology, pharmacokinetics or structural biology. A minimum of 3-4 years of study will be required depending on prior academic experience.

Admission Requirements

A master’s degree in chemistry, biology, biochemistry, pharmaceutical sciences, biotechnology or related areas from a regionally accredited university or college or international university or a Pharm.D. or an M.D. from accredited Institutions in North America with a cumulative 3.000 GPA or higher.

1. GRE (Graduate Record Examination) General Test scores for competitive applicants:

  • Verbal: 500/153 (old vs. revised GRE scores)
  • Quantitative: 550/146
  • Analytical Writing: 4.0/4.0

2. Two letters of recommendation from a professor or employer who is familiar with your academic abilities.

  • If applicant graduated within last three years, one letter must be from a professor with whom they studied.

3. Official transcripts for all undergraduate and graduate coursework.

4. Resume or curriculum vitae with relevant experience.

5. A personal statement of approximately 1-2 pages, double-spaced, which includes your:

  • Interest in the Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences at Chapman University.
  • Research goals.
  • Career goals.
  • Academic and research achievements.

Additional requirements for international applicants

1. Transcripts - Applicants submitting transcripts from foreign universities must submit International transcript evaluation from one of the services below:

2. English Proficiency Exam - International applicants whose native language is not English must submit results of the CAE, TOEFL, IELTS, or PTEA.

  • CAE minimum score = 180
  • TOEFL minimum score = 550 (paper-based) or 80 (internet-based)
  • IELTS score = 6.5
  • PTEA score = 53

International applicants who hold a bachelor’s degree or higher from a university in the United States or in another country where English is the language of instruction are not required to take the CAE, TOEFL, IELTS or PTEA examination.

Requirements for the Doctor of Philosophy in Pharmaceutical Sciences degree

Students pursuing the Doctor of Philosophy in Pharmaceutical Sciences degree are held to the University’s Academic Policies and Procedures . In addition these specific degree standards apply:

  • Completion of at least 64 credits.
  • Minimum grade “C+” or above required in all coursework.
  • Maintain 3.000 GPA in the degree.
  • Complete a culminating dissertation based on original research.

The following courses make up the Doctor of Philosophy in Pharmaceutical Sciences curriculum:

seminar course (6 credits)


research and dissertation (≥24 credits)


total credits ≥64


*Chapman M.S.P.S. and Pharm.D. graduates are credited for 20 core and/or elective lecture course credits. M.S. graduates from other institutions are credited up to 12 credits towards the core and/or elective lecture courses, based on the relevance of prior course work as determined by the department.