Pharmaceutical Sciences
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The Ph.D. in Natural Sciences: Pharmaceutical Sciences program is within the Division of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences and is dedicated to providing the highest quality and comprehensive graduate education in drug delivery, physical pharmacy, biopharmaceutics, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, synthetic medicinal chemistry, organic chemistry and biochemistry.
With access to state-of-the-art equipment and surrounding resources, including internships, our graduates are well prepared to meet the latest challenges in groundbreaking research and make significant contributions to society in areas such as academia, the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries and the governmental sector.
- Program Type: Doctorate
- Academic Unit: School of Graduate Studies
- Degree Type: Doctor of Philosophy
- Standard credit hours: 45
- Delivery Mode: In-person
- Typical Program Length: 5 years
- Typical Course Load: 2-3 per semester
- Estimated Program Cost: $24,930
- * All rates or costs are for illustrative purposes only. Estimated cost is calculated by multiplying the appropriate 2025/2026 UMKC academic year resident rate by standard credit hours. Fees are NOT included in the calculation. Your hours and total costs may differ, depending on transfer hours, course choices, academic progress, program- and university-specific fees, and your qualified tuition rate. Learn more about tuition and financial aid.
Why UMKC
In-depth medicinal chemistry knowledge
Gain the tools needed to design and synthesize compounds, understand chemical relationships and contribute to pharmaceutical solutions.
Focused study on drug development and delivery
Gain essential expertise needed to advance pharmaceutical research, improve patient outcomes and undertake the complex challenges associated with pharmaceutical creation and distribution.
Extensive training with tools for pharmaceutical development
Gain proficiency using advanced tools and technologies needed for accurate drug interpretation and development.
After Graduation
Graduates of this program have gone on to work for established and respected private sector companies and universities. Other graduates have been accepted to prestigious fellowship programs at Harvard-MIT, UCLA, Stanford and Northwestern. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, demand for medical scientists is expected to grow much faster than the average for all occupations.
Potential careers
- Pharmaceutical scientist
- Biochemist
- Medical scientist
- Pharmaceutical researcher
- Pharmaceutical sales
- University professor
Where our students work
- Stanford University
- Harvard University
- Children's Mercy Hospital in Kansas City
- KCAS Bioanalytical and Biomakers Services
- ThermoFisher Scientific
- US Food and Drug Administration
- And more
$126,948
Median salary/year
* Based on data from Lightcast.io for Biochemists and Biophysicists (19-1021.00)
Potential Courses
Advanced Organic Medicinal Chemistry
This course examines the physical-chemical basis of drug action, particularly the formation of drug-target complexes. This includes the mathematical description of this binding, as well as an advanced…
Fundamentals of Pharmaceutical Sciences
This is an entry-level course for all incoming graduate students who select pharmaceutical sciences as their primary discipline or co-discipline. This course teaches the fundamentals of the pharmaceut…
Research and Dissertation
A requirement for all doctoral students, allowing them to focus on emphasis areas such as pharmacy, pharmaceutical chemistry, pharmacology, pharmacy administration and toxicology.
Visit the Academic Catalog for a full listing of courses and descriptions.
Related Programs and Pathways
How to Apply
- Prepare required documentation, including:
- Official transcripts from all previously attended institutions
- Statement of purpose outlining your interests and career goals
- Three letters of recommendation
- GRE scores (optional, but strongly encouraged) — recommended aggregate score of 295+ for verbal and quantitative, and analytical writing above 3.5
- Complete the online application. Please be sure to pay applicable domestic or international program fees.
- Make sure you meet discipline-specific requirements, which are listed in the Academic Catalog.
- Applicants are encouraged to contact faculty within the Division of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences to see if a faculty member could serve as a research mentor.
Applying to the Program
- Applications submitted after the deadline will only be reviewed on a space-available basis.
- It is strongly recommended that applicants reach out to program coordinator Kun Cheng, Ph.D., prior to applying.
- Applications received by the deadline will receive final admission decisions by Feb. 15.
Application Dates
First Consideration Fall Deadline
Apply by: Dec. 15
Talk to an advisor if applying after the Dec. 15 deadline.
Estimated Tuition Per Semester
$4,986
Resident Rate
(per semester)
$7,479
Midwest Student Exchange Program
(per semester)
$12,519
Nonresident Rate
(per semester)
Reduce Your Cost. Maximize Your Investment.
An amazing education shouldn’t break the bank, which is why we offer a number of automatic and competitive scholarships, grants and other financial aid opportunities — plus financial guidance from our expert advisors.