Education

Overview

Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry faculty members teach PhD students to think creatively and openly, and to explore ideas that cross traditional fields of study. They also prepare doctor of pharmacy (PharmD) students with scientific knowledge fundamental to clinical practice.

Degree programs

The department is responsible for aspects of the following degree programs:

PhD graduate degree programs

Department faculty members teach in many PhD graduate degree programs.

The School of Pharmacy administers these five programs:

PharmD and MD professional degree programs

Faculty members in the three School of Pharmacy departments develop and deliver the School’s Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) degree program, which is administered by the Dean’s Office. Faculty members outside the School also teach in the PharmD program.

Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry faculty members also teach in the Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree program, which is administered by the School of Medicine Dean’s Office.

  • PharmD
    The PharmD professional program prepares pharmacists to lead and innovate in pharmacy practice, policy, and science; to remain lifelong experts in the safe and effective use of medicines; and to contribute to patient-centered care within health care teams. There is also option to pursue a PharmD-PhD dual degree.
  • MD
    The MD professional program emphasizes self-directed learning, connections across disciplines, and competency-based education.

Postdoctoral programs

Fellowship programs

Fellowships provide early-career PharmD, PhD, and MD graduates with specialized training ranging from the lab to the clinic, company, and government agencies. Explore fellowship opportunities supported by UCSF and the UCSF School of Pharmacy.

Postdoctoral research

Postdoctoral research fellowships support scholars whose work is critical to the research mission of UCSF. Department faculty members welcome inquiries from postdoctoral research fellows who have already received fellowship funding for postdoctoral study by an external agency.

At UCSF, faculty members usually prefer to receive the names of prospective postdoctoral scholars directly from research colleagues. See: Office for Postdoctoral Scholars and Finding a Postdoctoral Advisor. Some but not all postdoc positions are listed at OCPD Opportunities and Jobs Board.

Inter­disciplinary approach

PhD education is a highly interdisciplinary endeavor at UC San Francisco—a natural outgrowth of UCSF’s hallmark interdisciplinary approach to research.

The education of health professional students is becoming increasingly interdisciplinary as issues of health care cost, quality, access, and disparities in the United States call for dramatic changes in how care is delivered.