Doctor of Philosophy (Research and Development in Pharmaceutical)

The Doctor of Philosophy Program in Research and Development in Pharmaceuticals has four types of curriculum. The curriculums without coursework are the program Type 1 (1) and Type 1 (2). The curriculums with coursework are the program Type 2 (1) and Type 2 (2).

4.1 Total number of credits of the program

• Type 1 (1): 72 credits
• Type 1 (2): 48 credits
• Type 2 (1): 72 credits
• Type 2 (2): 48 credits

4.2 Program Structure

• Type 1 (1)
• For a B.Sc. (Pharm.) graduate or equivalent degree based on the discretion of The Doctor of Philosophy in Research and Development Program Committee.
• Compulsory courses (audit) as appropriate
• Dissertation: 72 credits
• Total: 72 credits
• Type 1 (2)
• For a Master's graduate in Pharmaceutical Sciences or an equivalent degree based on the discretion of The Doctor of Philosophy in Research and Development Program Committee.
• Compulsory courses (audit) as appropriate
• Dissertation: 48 credits
• Total: 48 credits
• Type 2 (1)
• For a B.Sc. (Pharm.) graduate or equivalent degree based on the discretion of The Doctor of Philosophy in Research and Development Program Committee.
• Compulsory courses (audit): 10 credits
• Elective courses: 14 credits
• Dissertation: 48 credits
• Total: 72 credits
• Type 2 (2)
• For a Master's graduate in Pharmaceutical Sciences or an equivalent degree based on the discretion of The Doctor of Philosophy in Research and Development Program Committee.
• Compulsory courses (audit): 10 credits
• Elective courses: 2 credits
• Dissertation: 36 credits
• Total: 48 credits

There may be additional basic courses required as appropriate, without credit counted toward the programs, in order to prepare students before entering the program.

Students in both types of the curriculum are required to pass the Qualifying Examination to assess if they can proceed to arrange the dissertation topics. The Qualifying Examination also assesses the knowledge of students in Research and Development in Pharmaceuticals. Adherence to the Regulation of Khon Kaen University on Graduate Level Education, 2001, Section 7, Item 36.5 and 36.6, or the newly modified Regulations of Khon Kaen.

Compulsory Courses for Program Types 1 (1), 1 (2), 2 (1), and 2 (2)

Compulsory Courses Group 1

• 621991 Seminar 1: 1(1-0-3)
• 362992 Seminar 2: 1(1-0-3)
• 621993 Seminar 3: 1(1-0-3)
• 621996 Dissertation: 72 credits
• 621997 Dissertation: 48 credits
• 621998 Dissertation: 48 credits
• 621999 Dissertation: 36 credits

Note: Programs without coursework (Types 1 (1) and 1 (2)) take these courses without counting the credits.

Compulsory Courses Group 2

• For Programs without coursework (Types 1 (1) and 1 (2)): Coursework in this group is required without credit.
• For Programs with coursework (Types 2 (1) and 2 (2)): A total of 7 credits are required from the following subjects:
• 617811 Technical Writing and Presentation in Pharmaceutical Sciences: 1(1-0-4)
• 621811 Application of Statistics in Pharmaceutical Research: 3(2-3-2)
• 621812 Instrument Analysis: 3(2-3-6)

Elective Courses

• 621830 Advanced Medicinal Chemistry: 3(3-0-6)
• 621831 Synthesis of Organic Medicinal Agents: 3(3-0-6)
• 621832 Spectroscopy in Medicinal Chemistry: 3(3-0-6)
• 621833 Techniques in Medicinal Chemistry: 3(3-0-6)
• 627834 Drug Discovery from Natural Resources: 3(2-3-4)
• 621835 Natural Products for Health: 3(3-0-6)
• 621836 Drug and Xenobiotic Metabolism: 3(3-0-6)
• 621837 Cell Culture in Pharmaceutical Sciences: 3(2-3-6)
• 621838 Biotechnology in Pharmaceutical Sciences: 3(2-3-6)
• 621839 Biological Matrices and Trace Analysis: 3(2-3-6)
• 621840 Consideration for Pharmacy Research: 3(3-0-6)
• 621841 Selected Topics in Pharmaceutical Molecular Genetics: 3(3-0-6)
• 621842 Development of Drug Delivery System: 4(4-0-8)
• 621843 Pharmacokinetics for Drug Formulation Development: 2(2-0-6)
• 621844 Production Process Development: 3(3-0-9)
• 621845 Development of Pharmaceutical Excipients: 2(1-3-4)
• 621846 Drug Stability Influencing Formulation Development: 3(3-0-4)
• 621994 Special Problem in Research and Development in Pharmaceuticals: 3(3-0-6)

Students may also enroll in equivalent graduate-level courses from Khon Kaen University or other universities with approval from The Doctor of Philosophy in Research and Development of Pharmaceuticals Program Committee.

Dissertation Requirements

• Type 1 (1): For BSc. (Pharm.) graduates or equivalent
• 611996 Dissertation: 72 credits
• Type 1 (2): For Master's graduates in Pharmaceutical Sciences or equivalent
• 611997 Dissertation: 48 credits
• Type 2 (1): For BSc. (Pharm.) graduates or equivalent
• 611998 Dissertation: 48 credits
• Type 2 (2): For Master's graduates in Pharmaceutical Sciences or equivalent
• 611999 Dissertation: 36 credits

The dissertation may involve research collaborations between Khon Kaen University and international universities, including partnerships with the national research development network (CRN), the MUA-PED collaborative Ph.D. in Pharmacy Program, or international partnerships such as the US-Thai Consortium for the Development of Pharmacy Education in Thailand.

Program without Coursework (Type 1)

Year 1, Semester 1

• 621991 - Seminar 1 (Credits not counted)

• 621996 - Dissertation (9 credits)

• 621997 - Dissertation (Type 1(2)) (9 credits)

• Total: 9 credits

• Cumulative Total: 9 credits

Year 1, Semester 2

• 621992 - Seminar II (Credits not counted)

• 621996 - Dissertation (9 credits)

• 621997 - Dissertation (Type 1(2)) (9 credits)

• Total: 9 credits

• Cumulative Total: 18 credits

Program with Coursework (Type 2)

Year 1, Semester 1

• 617811 - Technical Writing and Presentation in Pharmaceutical Sciences (1 credit)

• 621811 - Application of Statistics in Pharmaceutical Research (3 credits)

• 621812 - Instrument Analysis (3 credits)

• 621XXX - Electives (3 credits)

• Total: 10 credits

• Cumulative Total: 10 credits

Year 1, Semester 2

• 621991 - Seminar 1 (1 credit)

• 621XXX - Electives (9 credits)

• Total: 10 credits (Type 2(1)) / 1 credit (Type 2(2))

• Cumulative Total: 20 credits (Type 2(1)) / 19 credits (Type 2(2))

Program without Coursework (Type 1)

Year 2, Semester 1

• 621993 - Seminar III (Credits not counted)

• 621996 - Dissertation (9 credits)

• 621997 - Dissertation (Type 1(2)) (9 credits)

• Total: 9 credits

• Cumulative Total: 27 credits

Year 2, Semester 2

• 621996 - Dissertation (9 credits)

• 621997 - Dissertation (Type 1(2)) (9 credits)

• Total: 9 credits

• Cumulative Total: 36 credits

Program with Coursework (Type 2)

Year 2, Semester 1

• 621992 - Seminar II (1 credit)

• 621XXX - Electives (3 credits)

• 621998 - Dissertation (6 credits)

• 621999 - Dissertation (Type 2(2)) (8 credits)

• Total: 10 credits (Type 2(1)) / 9 credits (Type 2(2))

• Cumulative Total: 30 credits (Type 2(1)) / 28 credits (Type 2(2))

Year 2, Semester 2

• 621993 - Seminar III (1 credit)

• 621998 - Dissertation (8 credits)

• 621999 - Dissertation (Type 2(2)) (8 credits)

• Total: 9 credits

• Cumulative Total: 39 credits (Type 2(1)) / 37 credits (Type 2(2))

Program without Coursework (Type 1)

Year 3, Semester 1

• 621996 - Dissertation (9 credits)

• 621997 - Dissertation (Type 1(2)) (6 credits)

• Total: 9 credits (Type 1(1)) / 6 credits (Type 1(2))

• Cumulative Total: 45 credits (Type 1(1)) / 42 credits (Type 1(2))

Year 3, Semester 2

• 621996 - Dissertation (9 credits)

• 621997 - Dissertation (Type 1(2)) (6 credits)

• Total: 9 credits (Type 1(1)) / 6 credits (Type 1(2))

• Cumulative Total: 54 credits (Type 1(1)) / 48 credits (Type 1(2))

Program with Coursework (Type 2)

Year 3, Semester 1

• 621998 - Dissertation (9 credits)

• 621999 - Dissertation (Type 2(2)) (6 credits)

• Total: 9 credits

• Cumulative Total: 48 credits (Type 2(1)) / 43 credits (Type 2(2))

Year 3, Semester 2

• 621998 - Dissertation (9 credits)

• 621999 - Dissertation (Type 2(2)) (6 credits)

• Total: 9 credits

• Cumulative Total: 57 credits (Type 2(1)) / 49 credits (Type 2(2))

Program without Coursework (Type 1)

Year 4, Semester 1

• 621996 - Dissertation (9 credits)

• Total: 9 credits

• Cumulative Total: 63 credits (Type 1(1)) / 48 credits (Type 1(2))

Year 4, Semester 2

• 621996 - Dissertation (9 credits)

• Total: 9 credits

• Cumulative Total: 72 credits (Type 1(1)) / 48 credits (Type 1(2))

Program with Coursework (Type 2)

Year 4, Semester 1

• 621998 - Dissertation (8 credits)

• Total: 8 credits

• Cumulative Total: 65 credits (Type 2(1)) / 49 credits (Type 2(2))

Year 4, Semester 2

• 621998 - Dissertation (8 credits)

• Total: 8 credits

• Cumulative Total: 73 credits (Type 2(1)) / 49 credits (Type 2(2))