Frequently Asked Questions (for new students)
Q: How may I apply for graduate study in Pharmaceutical Sciences at UB?
A: Follow the instructions provided at: http://pharmacy.buffalo.edu/psci_adm_grad_apply.shtml
Q: What is the deadline for applying for graduate study in Pharmaceutical Sciences at UB?
A: Please refer to list of deadlines at: http://pharmacy.buffalo.edu/psci_adm_grad_deadline.shtml
Q: How may I obtain information about housing near campus?
A: Housing information may be found at: http://www.ub-housing.buffalo.edu/
Q: What courses are offered by the Department?
A: Courses are described at: http://pharmacy.buffalo.edu/psci_adm_grad_courses.shtml
Q. What courses should I register in for my first semester?
A: The department has a set of required courses for each program. Some of the courses are in sequence, others are offered only every other year. It is therefore important that you consult with the Director of Graduate Studies during your first year of study in the program. After you have chosen an advisor, s/he will provide principal guidance for your academic program, but you should consult with the Director of Graduate Studies regularly to ensure that your program will meet Departmental and University requirements for the degree. Full-time registration is met by registering for 12 or more credits.
Q: What courses are recommended for incoming PhD students (Fall 2005)?
A: Click Recommended Courses. Please note that you will register for courses AFTER you arrive on campus.
Q. How do I get my paychecks, and when does it start?
A. For new Ph.D. students who receive assistantships, paychecks are available from the office either on Wednesday or Friday, depending on the source of funding. You should ask Mrs. Rugg (H517) when and how you would receive your paycheck.
Q. When would I be assigned to teach, and for how many courses?
A. Current department policies require two full-time equivalents (FTE’s) of two courses of teaching from each Ph.D. student, generally in their 2nd or 3rd years of study. The Department does not usually ask its teaching assistants (TA) to conduct “lectures”. Most TA duties involve teaching in the laboratory, in tutorials, and/or assisting the professors in grading and organizing the course. The Department believes that this experience is valuable to all Ph.D. students, so this requirement applies to all students irrespective of source of funding.
Q. I want to change registration in a course after my conference with the Director of Graduate Studies. How do I go about doing it?
A. You would need the approval of the Director of Graduate Studies to change any course registration that has been agreed to. It is NOT permissible for you to take a course without approval from the Department. For funded students, you may have to pay tuition on your own if you violate this rule, and the department may withdraw part or all of its stipend support.
Q. I want to transfer graduate credits. Is it advisable? How many credits can be transferred?
A. Generally, up to graduate 36 credits can be transferred into a Ph.D. program. However, credit transfer can affect tuition waiver, and your graduate program requirements, and the policies of the graduate school may change from year to year. It is crucial that you obtain the approval of the department and your research advisor before you submit any application for credit transfer.
Q. I may be exempted from certain departmental courses because I have passed a similar graduate course. How do I get this exemption?
A. You should bring the course syllabus to the Director of Graduate Studies, plus some of the exams. You may be quizzed a bit about your knowledge in the area. If it is judged that you may have sufficient knowledge in the specific area, you may be asked to see the instructor of the course, who may then grant you an exemption.
Q. How do I go about choosing a laboratory for my research project and my major faculty advisor?
A. Each incoming student will be exposed to a series of research/project presentations by faculty members, who are interested to admit new students into their laboratories. The department will arrange for you to go through two laboratory rotations of your choice. You will have time to familiarize with the personnel and the philosophy of each laboratory before you submit your faculty preferences. You are not guaranteed your choices since faculty may select other applicants to join their laboratories.
Q. When are fellowships in MS Pharmacometrics being evaluated?
A. The required interviews will take place during the first few weeks of the Fall semester.
Q. How is the MS program in Pharmacometrics program different to that of a general MS program in the department?
A. The MS program in Pharmacometrics is a specialized program requiring little or no laboratory research work, but more intensive computational training and experience. Students in Pharmacometrics do not generally carry out laboratory (bench) research. To be successful, students in the Pharmacometrics program must have a special aptitude toward numerical and computational analysis.
Q. What is the recommended curriculum for a laboratory-based MS program in the department?
A. We have a flexible curriculum. The program can be designed according to individual interests, for example, in drug delivery, in pharmacogenomics, in experimental pharmacokinetics, in analysis, in drug metabolism, etc. The Director of Graduate Studies should be consulted about the design of the curriculum.
Q. Can students in the MS program apply to transfer into the Ph.D. program?
A. Yes, but such applications are generally not considered until after completion of one full year of study in MS program. Students who have performed well in this first year are eligible to apply for a transfer, and to compete for stipend support from the Department. MS students who are planning to apply for such a transfer should take all the required courses in the Ph.D. curriculum when they are available, since some courses are only offered once every other year.
Q: As a non-matriculating student, what procedure should I follow to register for a graduate course?
A: Follow steps a - d...
a. Obtain permission to take the course from the course instructor.
b. Use the following URL: http://pharmacy.buffalo.edu/psci_adm_grad_index.shtml to apply for graduate study using the “MS Degree” option.
c. Send an email message to Linda Janos (at ljanos@buffalo.edu ) describing your intent to register for a course as a non-matriculating student.
Your application will be reviewed and processed by the Department and by the Graduate School. Typically within 1 week from the date of the application, you will be granted status as a “Non-matriculated” student (notice will be sent by email), and you will be able to register for courses.
d. Register for the course
For additional information, visit the Department's website: http://pharmacy.buffalo.edu/psci.shtml
This site is maintained by Dr. Joseph Balthasar. Click here to visit the Balthasar Laboratory.