Doctor of Philosophy in Drug Discovery

Curriculum

The Doctor of Philosophy in Drug Discovery curriculum consists of 180-315 credits and is designed to be completed in 21 semesters. Below is the standard plan of study outlining the structured progression of coursework as you advance through the program.

Year 1, Fall

Year 1, Spring

Year 1, Summer

Year 2, Fall

Year 2, Spring

Year 2, Summer

Year 3, Fall

Year 3, Spring

Year 3, Summer

Year 4, Fall

Year 4, Spring

Year 4, Summer

Year 5, Fall

Year 5, Spring

Year 5, Summer

Year 6, Fall

Year 6, Spring

Year 6, Summer

Year 7, Fall

Year 7, Spring

Year 7, Summer

Prerequisites

While there are no prerequisites, applicants should provide evidence of research experience.

Frequently Approved Prerequisites

Before applying, it's essential to ensure that any prior coursework meets the admissions requirements. MUSC provides a helpful reference list of frequently approved prerequisite courses to guide you in understanding which classes may satisfy your program's requirements.

Application Process

The following outlines the admissions process and what applicants can expect after submitting their application.

1. Submit your GradCAS application as early as possible. All application materials, including transcripts, letters of recommendation, and program-specific requirements, must be received by the final application deadline.
2. Complete the MUSC Supplemental Application. After submitting your GradCAS application, you will receive instructions for accessing and completing the MUSC Supplemental Application. Both the GradCAS application and MUSC Supplemental Application must be submitted before your application can be reviewed.
3. Application Review. Once all required materials have been received, the Graduate Admissions Committee will begin reviewing applications.
4. Virtual Faculty Interviews. Selected applicants will participate in virtual interviews with expert faculty members.
5. Campus Visit Invitations. Following the virtual interview process, a subset of applicants may be invited to campus to meet faculty, interact with current students, tour research facilities and learn more about the graduate experience at MUSC.
6. Final Admissions Decision. Following the campus visits, the Graduate Admissions Committee will complete its review and make final admissions recommendations. Applicants will be notified directly regarding their admission status.

On-campus visits take place in January and March.

Application Requirements

All applicants must submit a GradCAS application, which includes:

• Letters of recommendation: All applicants must provide three letters of recommendation, preferably from instructors or supervisors in a scientific or health care position.
• Official transcripts from all institutions attended. Applicants are required to submit unofficial or official transcripts for each and every post-secondary institution attended even if listed as transfer credit on another transcript. In cases where we accept unofficial documents, the unofficial document must be a copy of the original. If submitting an unofficial transcript, all courses, grades, degrees awarded (if applicable), and the name of the institution must be clearly visible on the document. Some academic advising reports and degree audits do not contain all the necessary information so the document should be reviewed before submission. If offered a position, the applicant will be asked to request an official transcript from each institution listed in the Education section of their application, regardless of the number of credit hours earned. MUSC reserves the right to rescind any offer of admission if any discrepancies are found between the unofficial and official transcripts.
• Personal statement: All applicants must submit a personal statement, not to exceed 1,000 words, which explains their career goals and reasons for applying to the program.
• Resume/CV: Applicants must provide an updated resume detailing relevant academic and professional experiences.

Note: If an applicant is unable to apply online, they must petition the Office of the Dean for special accommodation explaining why they are unable to apply online. 

International Applicants

Academic records from foreign institutions must be provided in English, certified, and validated as authentic by a university or government official. The College of Graduate Studies requires that transcripts be evaluated by professional agencies and are submitted to MUSC electronically or in unopened envelopes showing the equivalency of work completed outside the U.S. The following websites are preferred agencies and are members of the National Association for Credit Evaluation Services (NACES). Their costs vary across agencies, and we encourage you to compare prices and select the best choice for you. NACES International Education Research Foundation – Credential Evaluation & Translation Services – Chartered NACES Member World Education Services: International Credential Evaluation for U.S. (wes.org) If your education was completed in the U.S., you do not need to complete a transcript credit evaluation.

If offered a position, and the applicant has only submitted an unofficial transcript evaluation, the candidate will be required to provide an official transcript and evaluation before any further consideration of that applicant will be given.

A language proficiency test is required for all applicants whose native language is not English. Scores must not be more than two years old. Exceptions can be made if a student has attended a United States institution for an extended period. An exception might also be made for students in a foreign institution that uses English as the primary language for instruction, however, these are made on a case-by-case basis.

Final consideration cannot be granted to an international student’s application for admission until these official scores are received by the Office of Enrollment Management. Accepted tests are IELTS and TOEFL. Minimal requirements are: TOEFL: 100 IELTS: 7

MUSC welcomes international applicants and offers tailored guidance to support you throughout the admission process. View details at International Applicants.

Cost of Attendance

The Cost of Attendance, or COA, estimates the total educational expenses for an enrollment period. The information below reflects the 2026-27 academic year. The COA includes direct costs, such as tuition and fees, billed by the university, as well as indirect costs you may need to plan for, including housing, food, transportation, books and other personal expenses.

For most admitted residential Ph.D. students, the COA does not reflect what you should expect to pay out of pocket. Tuition, health insurance and a stipend are generally provided as part of the student's funding package. Instead, the COA helps determine the maximum amount a student may borrow in an academic year and supports funding-related determinations, such as grants, scholarships, loans and others.

Your actual expenses may be lower than the COA, especially with careful budgeting. MUSC's Office of Student Financial Literacy can help you create a budget that supports your education, personal needs and long-term financial goals.

Scholarships & Aid

MUSC offers scholarships for which you may be eligible. Some are awarded based on academic achievement; others are awarded based on community service, for example. However, the majority of scholarships awarded at MUSC are based on financial need. This means that these scholarships are only awarded to students who need some financial assistance to cover the cost of tuition and fees. If you would like to be considered for a financial need-based scholarship, you must have an up-to-date Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) on file. Make sure you list the Medical University of South Carolina on your FAFSA form, along with MUSC's code: 003438. We encourage you to submit your FAFSA as early as possible. It is recommended to submit your FAFSA in January if you plan to enroll in the fall.

Annual Stipend

Students in the Ph.D. in Drug Discovery program at MUSC receive a $39,000 annual stipend, effective July 1, 2026. The program also covers tuition, fees and health insurance for these students.

Competencies

Upon completion of the Doctor of Philosophy in Drug Discovery program, graduates will be able to:

• Design and conduct independent experiments that address complex drug discovery questions
• Analyze biological and chemical data with rigor and scientific context
• Evaluate literature to identify knowledge gaps, research opportunities and limits of evidence
• Communicate findings through presentations, manuscripts and professional dialogue
• Apply safe, ethical and collaborative practices in residential research settings

Vision

To advance a future in which discovery scientists transform rigorous questions into safer, more effective therapeutic solutions that improve lives.

Values

At the core of our program, we are guided by a commitment to the following values that drive our mission:

• Compassion: We act with kindness, empathy and dignity.
• Collaboration: We achieve common goals through teamwork and partnerships.
• Innovation: We drive transformation by embracing new ideas, discoveries and practices.
• Integrity: We do the right thing and commit to accountability in words, actions and use of resources.
• Respect: We value everyone and their many perspectives to build trust and a sense of belonging.

Mission

To educate and mentor doctoral scholars who use basic science, translational insight and ethical inquiry to advance drug discovery.