PHARMACOLOGY

A. COURSES OFFERED AT NCSU:
Graduate work in the Pharmacology Concentration Area includes research at the molecular and cellular level in pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, drug interactions, drug residues and metabolites, anesthetics and autonomic drugs, pulmonary biology, oncology, ophthalmology, gastroenterology, reproductive endocrinology, and lipid-, peptide-, and oxygen-derived mediators of inflammation. Research approaches employ a wide variety of molecular, biochemical, pharmacological, and microscopic techniques, utilizing cell culture and whole organisms. Graduate training in pharmacology is also accomplished via didactic courses, journal clubs, and seminars that span the above areas of focus.

CBS Core Courses Required of all Students:
CBS 565 Fundamentals of Comparative Biomedical Sciences (3 credits)
ST 511 Experimental Statistics for Biological Sciences (3 credits)
CBS 662 Responsible Conduct of Research (1 credit)
CBS 800 Seminar series (1 credit; minimum 3 credits total)

Courses Required for Pharmacology Concentration:
CBS 860 Instrumentation in Pharmacological Research (1 credit)
CBS 762 Principles in Pharmacology (3 credits)
CBS 787 Pharmacokinetics (3 credits)
TOX 710 Biochemical Toxicology (3 credits)
CBS 810D Seminar in Pharmacology (1 credit; minimum 3 credits total)

Elective Courses for PhD Students:
Other elective courses are approved by the student's advisory committee. Students requiring foundational courses are encouraged to consider TOX 501 General Toxicology and BCH 451/553 Biochemistry.

B. GRADUATE COMMITTEE:
Before the end of the second year of the PhD program, the student is expected to select a graduate committee. This Committee will serve to direct and guide the student through the PhD program. The Committee will consist of the Supervisor (Chairperson) and a minimum of three other members of the Graduate Faculty. A member of the graduate faculty from outside of the degree program appointed by the Graduate School will serve to monitor the student's oral examinations. The Graduate School representative is to ensure that the process is conducted in a manner that is fair to the student.

C. PRELIMINARY EXAM:
It is expected that after the first year, and before the beginning of the third year, the graduate student will take a comprehensive preliminary examination. The Graduate School of NCSU requires that this exam be taken not earlier than the end of the second year, and not later than one semester (four months) before the final oral examination. The Graduate Student should schedule this examination at a convenient time after consulting with his/her supervisor.

This examination is intended to be comprehensive and assess the student's preparations to be a scholar in the discipline of pharmacology. The Preliminary Examination will consist of a written examination followed approximately a week later by an oral examination. The written examination will consist of questions prepared by members of the student's Graduate Committee. It is a closed-book exam consisting of a series of essay questions or problems that generally takes one day to complete. Satisfactory completion of the written examination is required before a candidate can sit for the oral preliminary examination. The oral examination will cover the same breadth and depth as the written examination. It is designed to test the student's ability to relate factual knowledge to specific circumstances, to use this knowledge with accuracy and promptness, and to demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the field of specialization. It will consist of questions asked by members of the student's graduate committee.

D. PhD DISSERTATION PROPOSAL:
Graduate students for the PhD degree should submit a Plan of Work. The Plan of Work is the official document that must be approved by the student's advisory committee and submitted to the Graduate Studies Committee (GSC) of the Comparative Biomedical Sciences (CBS) Program for approval before it is forwarded to the Graduate School. The proposal should include proposed courses. The student also should include a brief description of the proposed field of study and research focus area, and a list of the members selected for the Graduate Advisory Committee.

The selection of a dissertation must follow the guidelines imposed by the Graduate School. The publication, Guide for Preparation of Theses is a helpful guide.

During the second year, the student should be in preparation of research proposals to define the scope of work for the dissertation. This proposal can be used to submit to granting agencies for research funding. Description of research project should include a background of the proposed study area (literature review), hypotheses to be tested, description of studies to be conducted, methods to be used, methods of analysis, and a time-line that includes significant milestones.

E. FINAL ORAL EXAMINATION:
The final oral examination will take place after the dissertation is complete, except for revisions that the committee feels are necessary. This examination must take place not earlier than one semester after the Preliminary Examination. The examination consists of oral questions concerning methods and conclusions reached in the research and as reported in the dissertation.

CODE OF CONDUCT:
All graduate students are required to adhere to the NCSU Code of Student Conduct. Graduate students should be familiar with the NCSU Graduate Student Rights and Responsibilities document.

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