Safety Training
Students are expected to comply with all mandated training required by the KU Department of Environment, Health and Safety and the Department of Medicinal Chemistry; this may take the form of research seminars, hands-on training, and/or online training. Students also must complete appropriate safety training specific to a research laboratory before they are allowed to begin laboratory work.
Foundation (Prerequisite) Courses
Students enter the medicinal chemistry Ph.D. program with a variety of undergraduate backgrounds. All graduate students must present evidence of credit in the following foundation courses. Ideally these courses will have been taken prior to entering the graduate program; if not they must be taken as early in the graduate program as practicable.
One year of organic chemistry with laboratory (equivalent to CHEM 624, 625, 626, 627) and at least one course in physical chemistry (equivalent to CHEM 640, 646) and one course in biochemistry (see note below).
Note about Biochemistry
A one-semester survey course in biochemistry is acceptable if the student received a grade of B or better in the course OR if the student scores a 70 or better on the ACS Biochemistry placement exam given to entering graduate students in the fall (one try only will be allowed). If neither of these applies, the student will take one semester of biochemistry through the Department of Medicinal Chemistry (MDCM 701).
At the end of the first semester, continuance in the program is dependent upon satisfactory academic program progress.
Ph.D. Program Requirements and Typical Scheduling
- The curriculum presented below represent the minimal programs of required courses for the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees.
- Where the student can demonstrate having had comparable coursework experience elsewhere, a waiver can be requested by the student.
- The faculty of the department has the option to waive individual requirements at its discretion.
- A terminal thesis-based M.S degree may be offered to students who complete all the required coursework for the Ph.D. degree but then elect not to complete that program.
- A Non-thesis M.S. degree is awarded automatically to students upon completion of the Oral Comprehensive Exam (see below).
Year 1
Fall - 1st Semester
Spring - 2nd Semester
Summer
Year 2
Fall - 3rd Semester
Spring - 4th Semester
Summer
Suggested Elective Courses
A minimum of 9 credit hours of electives, composed of any combination of approved elective courses is required. Listed below are the suggested elective courses for our graduate students.
Year 3
Fall - 5th Semester
Spring - 6th Semester
Summer
Year 4
Fall - 7th Semester
Spring - 8th Semester
Summer
Year 5
Fall - 9th Semester
Spring - 10th Semester
Summer
* Enrollment in Fewer Than 6 Hours
- In year 3 and beyond, the minimum enrollment requirements are reduced to 6-6-3 credits for the fall, spring, and Summers (instead of 9-9-6).
- With the consent of the mentor, after completing 18 post-comprehensive credit hours (typically by the spring of year 4), students may further reduce their enrollment to as little as 1 credit hour per semester/summer until graduation.
- For this to happen the student must request his/her faculty Mentor (major professor) to submit a written request to Jane Buttenhoff in the department office at jbuttenhoff@ku.edu.
- Please visit with the MDCM Director of Graduate Studies and/or your advisor if you have questions
- Students need not complete all five years. Mentors may suggest early Ph.D. defense and graduation in cases of exceptional research productivity.
Academic Standing
Continuance in the program is dependent upon satisfactory overall progress during the various stages of study. To be in good academic standing, in addition to satisfactory research performance (e.g. research productivity, work ethic, good citizenship etc.), a student must also maintain a minimum overall grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or higher throughout the duration of the graduate program.