The Department also offers a curriculum and research opportunity for combination Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD)/PhD degrees in Pharmaceutical Sciences. The core courses, along with the concentration in a major area of research, provide a valuable broad background of preparation for an academic or industrial career. The major objective of the program is to provide the student an opportunity to gain high quality graduate education and research experience.

Graduates of the Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences will:

• Integrate and apply knowledge of the pharmaceutical and biomedical sciences to problems in drug discovery and development.
• Conduct research with skill and competence, including hypothesis development, experimental design, data analysis, and interpretation.
• Critically evaluate scientific literature and analyze contemporary scientific issues.
• Communicate effectively in both written and oral forms to a wide range of audiences.

• Demonstrate professionalism and ethical conduct.

The graduate program is housed in the Avera Health and Science Center on the Brookings campus. The Avera Health and Science Center has well-equipped classrooms that utilize modern technology for delivering the curriculum. The facility has modern research laboratories that support our growing research program.