Drug Discovery & Development Course Information
The following courses are required for the Drug Discovery and Development graduate program track.
Students are required to complete 9 units of coursework in the minor subject, 18 units of dissertation and a minimum of 36 units of coursework in the major subject including:
- 4 seminar credits (minimum)
- 6 laboratory rotation units
- 8 research conference credits (minimum)
Core Courses
The course will present basic principles that underlie each of these program tracks and will provide a basis for more advanced work in these areas of study.
An introduction to principles of drug discovery, design and development covering processes and tools such as computational chemistry, combinatorial chemistry and subjects such as molecular target identification, drug-receptor interactions, DNA and proteins as molecular targets, drug metabolism and drug delivery systems.
The class emphasizes writing; manuscripts, manuscript and grant reviews, Scientific presentations, and applications for awards, future employment etc. Significant class participation is mandatory. This course satisfies the bioethics requirement of NIH funded grants. Signature of Course Director is required for individuals who do not meet the pre-requisite requirement.
The development and exchange of scholarly information in a small group setting. The scope of work shall consist of research by course registrants, with the exchange of the results of such research through discussion, reports, and/or papers.
Lab Meeting
ABBS students: (MCB 792, fall & spring) / Track Specific Admission students: (PCOL 792, fall & spring)
Electives
Students will choose electives to total a minimum of 36 units for the major. For a list of electives available, refer to the Drug Discovery and Development Handbook.
Please Note: Core courses in the Drug Discovery and Development graduate program track are listed under various prefixes. All research and dissertation units are registered under PHSC.
Example Course Schedule
Courses:
PHSC 501 - Introduction to Pharmacology, Drug Discovery & Pharmaceutics
BIOC 565 - Proteins and Enzymes
PHSC 670 - Principles in Drug Discovery, Design and Development
MCB 792 - ABBS Laboratory Rotations/ PHSC 792 - TSA Directed Research Laboratory Rotations
PHSC 696a - Seminar
Electives
Units:
4
3
4
6 (minimum 3 rotations)
1 unit per semester
2
Courses:
CHEM 550 - Synthetic and Mechanistic Organic Chem
PHSC 696a - Seminar
PCOL 695a - Research Conference
PHCL 595b - Science Writing, Presentation & Bioethics
Minor Courses
Units:
3
1 unit per semester
2 units per semester
2
9 units minimum
Laboratory Rotations & Research
The program track in Drug Discovery and Development requires first-year students (in either ABBS or Track Specific Admission) to do three rotations with an option of a fourth. The objective of the rotations is to introduce you to research and familiarize yourself with the scope and nature of the faculty's research endeavors.
The research laboratory rotation constitutes a major part of the first year graduate curriculum and performance in the rotation will bear heavily on the overall evaluation of the student. Performance criteria to be used by the laboratory director will include assessment of the student's initial familiarity with the research, development of library and literature skills, ability to apply the scientific method and use pharmacological and toxicological principles, development of laboratory skills, attitude toward the research project, and a final written report/or oral presentation prepared by the student.
By the end of the first year’s rotations, students will have selected a faculty adviser who will guide their dissertation research for the remainder of their graduate studies.