First-of-its-kind program in North Texas to train future leaders in drug discovery and development.
Applications for the new Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences degree program at UNT Health Fort Worth are now being accepted with students expected to start classes this fall.
Designed to prepare the next generation of scientists, the doctoral program in UNT Health’s College of Pharmacy will focus on advancing drug discovery, development and translational research. Once it receives final approval, it will be the first program of its kind in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. The doctoral program will expand UNT Health’s research and graduate education portfolio, offering rigorous training in pharmaceutical sciences while leveraging the institution’s strengths in interdisciplinary research, health innovation and collaboration with industry and academic partners.
“We are thrilled to be moving closer to the launch of this new degree for the College of Pharmacy,” said Evan Robinson, dean of the college. “Our research confirmed a clear industry need, and this program represents a meaningful step forward in developing the innovative professionals who will help shape the future of the field.” The program was developed in response to growing workforce demand in pharmaceutical sciences. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects strong job growth in the field, with more than 2,700 related positions advertised across the Southwestern United States in recent years.
In addition, supply chain reviews following the COVID-19 pandemic by the Texas comptroller and federal agencies identified significant vulnerabilities in the nation’s pharmaceutical supply chain, limiting the ability to respond effectively to public health emergencies. These gaps have been identified as critical to national security and economic competitiveness. “The Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences program is designed to build on advanced training and prepare graduates to lead in research, industry and academia,” said Rebecca Cunningham, senior associate dean of research and program director. “By requiring applicants to hold a master’s degree or Doctor of Pharmacy, we are ensuring that students enter the program with a strong foundation and are ready to contribute to scientific discovery from Day 1.”
Students who complete the degree will earn a minimum of 60 semester credit hours and complete a dissertation in one of four areas: medicinal chemistry, pharmaceutics, pharmacology and toxicology, or applied outcomes research. Potential career paths within pharmaceutical sciences after graduation include biotechnology, clinical pharmacology and research, drug design and development, formulation development, pharmacoengineering, pharmacogenomics, regulatory sciences, biopharmaceutics, patent law, pharmacoepidemiology and pharmaceutical outcomes.
The program is pending final approval from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. It was approved by the UNT System Board of Regents in May and is scheduled for consideration at the coordinating board’s April 23 meeting. The application deadline is July 1 to start classes this fall. Applicants must hold either a master’s degree or a Doctor of Pharmacy. To learn more about the new degree, go to www.unthealth.edu/pharmsci.
About UNT Health UNT Health Fort Worth is located in the heart of the Fort Worth Cultural District. UNT Health trains the health care providers, public health workforce and scientists of the future in an interprofessional ecosystem. Through its six colleges—Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine, College of Biomedical and Translational Sciences, College of Public Health, College of Health Professions, College of Pharmacy and College of Nursing—students learn to work in teams and develop an innovative mindset that prepares them for a rapidly changing health landscape. UNT Health Clinical Practice Group, the clinical enterprise of UNT Health, provides patient-centered care to people across Tarrant County. UNT Health’s research enterprise provides a foundation to expand the frontiers of scientific discovery to improve health and well-being.
