Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Ph.D.

Graduate Coordinator: Dr. Thomas Coombs

The Pharmaceutical Chemistry Ph.D. ensures that UNCW students are prepared for a flexible career in pharmaceutical chemistry. The Chemistry & Biochemistry faculty enable this goal by offering a broad range of pharmaceutical chemistry courses and research foci, from traditional and non-traditional natural products drug discovery and medicinal chemistry to formulation of therapeutic antibodies. In addition to employment opportunities in the pharmaceutical industry, graduates of this program will be ideally positioned to work in the rapidly expanding contract research (CRO) and biotechnology sectors, pursue academic careers, or establish innovative start-up companies. Bolstered by a generous endowment Dr. Yousry and Linda Sayed, former UNCW faculty members and founders of Quality Chemistry Laboratories, this program is one of the most rapidly growing initiatives at UNCW.

Admission Requirements

Students can enter the Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Chemistry program in the following three ways:

1. Students with a M.S in Chemistry or other STEM-related discipline entering directly into the Ph.D. program, or

2. Students with a B.S. (based on a 4-year program) in Chemistry or other STEM-related discipline entering the MS in Pharmaceutical Chemistry and transitioning into the Ph.D. program, or

3. Students with a B.S. in Chemistry or other STEM-related discipline entering directly into the Ph.D. program.

Minimum requirements for students in categories 1 and 2

a. An overall grade point average of at least 3.0 out of 4.0 for the most recent degree earned.
b. GRE score of at least 65th percentile (average for the verbal, quantitative and analytical writing sections).
c. For applicants whose native language is not English: Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) with a score of at least 550 on the paper test or 79 on the online test, or International English Language Testing System (IELTS) with a score of 6.5 or 7.0.

Minimum requirements for students in category 3

a. An overall grade point average of at least 3.5 out of 4.0.
b. GRE score of at least 75th percentile (average for the verbal, quantitative and analytical writing sections).
c. For applicants whose native language is not English: Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) with a score of at least 550 on the paper test or 79 on the online test, or International English Language Testing System (IELTS) with a score of 6.5 or 7.0.
d. Evidence of independent research.

Candidates admitted to our master’s program can apply for the Ph.D. program after 2 years with approval of the graduate committee and the thesis advisor.

Documents to be submitted for admission

UNC Wilmington application for graduate admission
Official transcripts of all college work (undergraduate and graduate)
Official scores on the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) less than 5 years old
Curriculum vita
Official score on the TOEFL (if applicable).
A minimum of three letters of recommendations from individuals who are knowledgeable of the student’s academic acumen and ability to complete the Ph.D. degree in Pharmaceutical Chemistry
A personal statement describing educational, professional and research experiences, career goals and reasons for pursuing the Ph.D. degree
Abstract from the student’s master’s thesis research (optional)
Copies of publications (optional)

Degree Requirements

The Pharmaceutical Chemistry Ph.D. requires at total of 60 credits post-baccalaureate including 40 credits post masters.

The 60 credits (post M.S.) will come from coursework, research, and dissertation at the doctoral level. We divide those credits into four categories: core Chemistry courses (15 credits), electives selected from Electives I (6 credits), electives selected from Electives II (6 credits), and directed individual study and dissertation (33 credits).