Graduate Program in Pharmacology and Physiology
Welcome to the Department of Pharmacology and Physiology’s Graduate Program. The Department of Pharmacology and Physiology offers graduate programs leading to the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees. The program requires independent research conducted under the direction of departmental faculty members who are engaged in highly active research programs that incorporate molecular, cellular and behavioral approaches to address a wide range of research interests.
We are fortunate to have a department that emphasizes both pharmacology and physiology and believes that the scientific foundations, current research and future directions of pharmacology and physiology depend heavily on an appreciation and integration of these two disciplines. Pharmacology emphasizes the study of drug action in biological systems with a view towards understanding cellular and molecular mechanisms, developing therapeutics, and using drugs to probe and elucidate physiological responses. Physiology focuses on the regulation, modulation and functioning of organ systems. Understanding the physiology of organ systems requires a detailed knowledge of the mechanisms involved from single molecules to single cells, to the level of tissues, to the whole organ and finally to the whole organism.
Ultimately and frequently these two disciplines come together when attempting to understand the effects of drugs on a physiological process, such as in hypertension, or when an individual suffers pain from an injury or a diseased organ that is then treated with a drug. Our commitment is to provide our students with the educational and scientific foundation necessary for a satisfying and sustainable career available in the wide variety of career options found in the biomedical sciences, and to do so in an environment that is stimulating and supportive, and in keeping with trends and advances in these disciplines.
Faculty and Research Interests
Our faculty are involved in multiple research projects with funding from the NIH, private foundations and pharmaceutical companies. The Pharmacology and Physiology faculty's interests and research endeavors demonstrate the rich and diverse breadth of the department and the many opportunities for research and collaborative opportunities. As many of the distinctions between scientific disciplines have blurred, we are fortunate to have close relationships with the other basic science departments within the medical school, with students pursuing cross-disciplinary research and coursework in those departments. The department has also recently initiated a graduate level program in drug discovery and development that provides additional opportunities for faculty and students from both a scientific and career options perspective to understand the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industry and to meet many of the leaders in the field who participate in this program. Many of those individuals are members of our adjunct faculty.
General Information about the Graduate Program
All students entering the graduate program must successfully complete the core curriculum before advancing to the specific requirements for their degree. Students within the Department of Pharmacology and Physiology will also complete graduate-level courses listed below and will have the opportunity to choose from a variety of elective courses offered by each of the other basic science departments. The M.S. program requires two years of full-time study and research, whereas the Ph.D. program typically requires 5 years of full-time study and research. Online applications to the Biomedical Graduate Studies Program are available at: http://www.drexel.edu/grad/programs/ducom/apply/.
Courses for the Graduate Program in Pharmacology and Physiology
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PHRM 502: Current Topics in Pharmacology and Physiology
PHRM 503: Pharmacology and Physiology 1st Laboratory Rotation
PHRM 504: Pharmacology and Physiology 2nd Laboratory Rotation
PHRM 505: Pharmacology and Physiology 3rd Laboratory Rotation
PHRM 507: Principles of Neuropharmacology
PHRM 512: Graduate Pharmacology
PHRM 512a: Methods in Biomedical Research
PHRM 516: Special Topics in Pharmacology and Physiology
PHRM 525: Drug Discovery and Development
PHRM 600: Pharmacology and Physiology Thesis Research
PHGY 503: Graduate Physiology
Program Guidelines – Policies and Procedures
The policies and procedures for the department, along with program guidelines, provide students in the department with more detailed information about timelines, policies and procedures important to the program and progress within the program. We invite you to explore all of the information provided and to contact us if you have any questions or would like additional information.