Entrance Requirements
An applicant seeking acceptance in the Doctor of Philosophy program
must have completed an appropriate baccalaureate or master’s degree
program. This degree must be in the natural or physical sciences
and may include degrees in the pharmaceutical sciences, toxicology,
biology or chemistry. Other degree areas are considered on a case
by case basis by the Admissions Committee.
- Basic minimum requirements for a student with an undergraduate
degree include:
a) An undergraduate grade point average of 3.5 or better
b) Suitable Graduate Record Examination (General Exam) scores
c) Two letters of recommendation
- Basic minimum requirements for a student with a suitable
master’s degree include:
a) A graduate grade point average of 3.0 or better
b) Suitable Graduate Record Examination (General Exam) scores
c) Two letters of recommendation
Prior to registration, the student must receive written
confirmation from the Office of Admission as to the approval of
matriculation in the doctoral program. Post M.S. courses completed
prior to acceptance in the Ph.D. program may not be applied toward
the Ph.D. degree requirements. The admissions committee may require
that certain deficiencies be remedied during the first year of the
Ph.D. program.
Admission to the doctoral program does not imply advancement to
candidacy for the degree. Additional requirements, including
satisfactory completion of the core curriculum, passing the
qualifying examination, passing the oral presentation of the
research proposal and the establishment of the Ph.D. research
committee must be fulfilled before a graduate student may be
considered a candidate for a degree.
The Ph.D. research committee is responsible for assisting the
candidate in his/her research, but the primary responsibility for
successfully completing the research and dissertation rests with
the candidate. Students must take PAS 265 Scientific Inquiry:
Regulation and Ethical Challenges on a Pass/Fail basis.