Drug discovery and development (DDD) is the process by which new drugs are discovered, developed and approved for clinical use. It also encompasses the knowledge, skills and techniques required for pursing the process. Many types of job function are involved in the DDD process including, but are not limited to, biologists and chemists (both broadly defined), scientific writer, IP lawyer and project manager (all requiring additional training and credentials), etc.
This Certificate in Drug Discovery & Development (DDD) is a certificate program with four courses (total 12 semester credit hours) offered by the University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth College of Pharmacy (HSCCP). It is designed for new college graduates, Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) students, and other full-time or part-time students including working professionals seeking to gain a systematic understanding of how drugs and medicines are discovered and developed, and to increase student’s understanding of clinical, medical, and regulatory affairs of the DDD process. This certificate program will enhance the career options or promote the career advancement of students who complete this program. The program is delivered fully online, with the exception that HSCCP PharmD students take PHAR 7322 in person as it is a required course in the pharmacy curriculum. This certificate program can be completed within one to two years, depending on individual student’s schedule and engagement level.
Admission Requirements
- Preferred education:
- BA/BS degree in chemistry or a discipline of life sciences from an accredited U.S. institution or an internationally comparable institution
- Currently enrolled in a PharmD program
- At least 6 semester-credit hours (SCHs) of Biology, 3 SCHs of Calculus, 6 SCHs of Chemistry, and 3 SCHs of Statistics.
- GPA 2.75 or higher on a 4.0 scale
- English proficiency. ESL students are preferred to have a minimum TOEFL iBT score of 92, a minimum IELTS score of 6.5. This requirement is waived for students who have studied for at least 2 semesters in the US or if English was the language of instruction for their undergraduate degree.
- Applicants who don’t meet all of these criteria may provide appropriate justification(s) for being considered on a case-by-case basis.
Application Procedures
2021-2022 Application Deadline - July 31, 2021.
2022-2023 Application Deadline - June 30, 2022 *Please see the Admissions Webpage for updated 2022-2023 Application Requriements*
Application requires the following:
- Required one-page personal statement of interest in the program (maximum 400 words)
- Other optional supporting documents, such as CV or resume
- Submit official transcript(s) from all institutions attended.*
*Please note the following:
- $50 application processing fee required
For questions about the admissions process please email admissions@unthsc.edu.
For questions about the program, contact: Dr. Eric Cheng, Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Director of Drug Discovery & Development Programs, at Eric.Cheng@unthsc.edu, or call (817) 735-0165