The Doctor of Philosophy degree requires a minimum of 24 credit hours of approved classroom study in addition to the Master of Science degree or its equivalent. Students commonly develop both a major and minor area of program emphasis.<br><br>All doctoral candidates must complete a dissertation based on original research, demonstrating the ability to organize and carry out scientific investigation. Each graduate program has certain course, examination, and thesis requirements, but the length of time required to complete each graduate degree is tailored to meet the individual goals and interests of the students. Although the timetable for completing the Ph.D. program depends on achieving set metrics and milestones of the research problem selected, students generally complete work on a Ph.D. degree after approximately five years of full-time study beyond the baccalaureate degree. Students entering the program with an advanced degree may complete their Ph.D. work on a shorter timeline. Students interested in the College's professional degree program (Pharm.D. degree) which prepare them to practice pharmacy should click this link to request more information.