Oregon State University is a leading public research university that is the state’s land-grant university and is one of only two universities in the U.S. to have sea-, space-, and sun-grant designations. The College of Pharmacy at Oregon State places high priority on graduate education and the improvement of human health by advancing the discovery and understanding of medicines. We offer a research-oriented graduate program of study in pharmaceutical sciences that is individually designed to meet each student’s career interests and goals. Our nationally renowned faculty members have strengths in wide-ranging areas of pharmaceutical science, and many have been recognized for teaching excellence, outstanding research and their professional activities. Research focus areas include the discovery and design of anti-infective agents and treatments for chronic diseases, the design and development of innovative drug dosage forms using nanotechnology, and the mechanisms and consequences of drug interactions with living organisms. These research areas generally align with the three graduate program tracks of drug discovery, gene regulation and disease, and targeted drug delivery, while presenting the opportunity for cross-disciplinary training in a highly collaborative environment.

Prospective students may apply to the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) selecting one of these three discipline tracks in which to complete research rotations before selecting a major advisor / research group. Departmental seminars, journal clubs, an annual retreat, travel support to attend conferences, and opportunities to obtain teaching qualifications contribute to training and professional development, and we encourage students to explore internship opportunities. We envision that our pharmaceutical sciences graduates will be competent to expand the knowledge of their discipline(s), communicate research findings and teach future pharmaceutical scientists.