do you have to write a thesis for pharmacy school

How to Write a Compelling Pharmacy School Personal Statement

Written by Kelly Jeroski

July 12, 2022

If you’re applying to any higher education program, you’re most likely going to run into something called a “personal statement”. Pharmacy school is no exception, and learning how to write a compelling and unique personal statement is a key part in getting accepted to school. Read on to find out how to write one that stands out! 

What is a Personal Statement?

A personal statement serves as a way to highlight your skills, interests and experiences. Personal statements tend to be somewhat autobiographical, but it is not just a lengthy personal essay of your entire life story. 

Personal statements are also not a regurgitation of all the information you’ve already included in your application and cover letter. Think of your personal statement as more of a narrative, but still keep it informative. 

In writing a personal statement, you’re aiming to give the school or program you’re applying for a snapshot of who you are and why you want to be considered for whatever position. They are as much about how you write as what you write. Schools will receive hundreds of personal statements– make sure yours stands out!  

What is the Difference Between a Personal Statement and a Cover Letter? 

A cover letter generally serves as a means to sell yourself to a company or school. It introduces your resume and all your relevant school and employment history. A personal statement, however, is meant to be more creative and introduce the school to you as a person in an engaging format. 

While an application can come off as just a list of what you’ve done, a personal statement frames all your accomplishments in a way that connects your real-life influences with the dates and degrees on your application. 

What is the Best Format for a Personal Statement for Pharmacy School?

Think of your personal statement as a narrative essay outlining how you got to where you are today, as well as where you want to go next. Within this story, relate back to pharmaceuticals and medicine and healthcare fields in an organic way. You’ve chosen this path for a reason, what are the steps that got you here? 

What Questions Should I Answer in my Personal Statement? 

Some helpful questions to aim to answer throughout your personal statement are:

✅ Why do I want to be a Pharmacist?: Think through the times where you have admired pharmaceuticals or where they have most impacted you. Or, think about when you fell in love with medicine and helped people through pharmaceuticals.

✅ What different pharmaceutical paths would I be interested in pursuing?: Are you interested in nuclear pharmacy? What about private pharmaceutical production? If you have a specific niche in mind for a career path, use this space to talk about your interest.

✅ What makes me an excellent and unique candidate for this program?: Have you taken any specialized courses that make you uniquely qualified for this program? Have you had any outstanding internships or positions within the healthcare world?

✅ What are my strengths?: Where do you excel? What specific strengths could you bring to the program and the team you work with? Use this space to highlight your gifts.

✅ Are there any gaps or inadequacies in my application? How can I explain them here?: If you have anything on your application that may confuse someone not familiar with your life circumstances, try to concisely explain it here. Admissions counselors want to be able to give you the best shot possible at being accepted, and sometimes this requires you being up-front about gaps or missing pieces to your work history. 

What Should I Avoid in My Personal Statement? 

❌ Don’t just repeat what you’ve said in your application. There’s a place for a more sterile, list-based amalgamation of your achievements, but your personal statement is not this place. Admissions staff will learn a lot more about you if you’re creative with your personal statement.

❌ Don’t steal someone else’s work. Plagiarism will disqualify you from admission to pharmacy programs, and it’s also just bad practice for life in general.

❌ Avoid cliches throughout your writing. It may have been a dark and stormy night when you were born, but that is neither relevant nor original. Find fresh ways to tell your story and engage your readers.

❌ Avoid grammar and spelling mistakes. These can be avoided through several rounds of revision

What Are Admissions Counselors Looking for in a Personal Statement? 

What makes a good candidate may vary from program to program, but there are some general things that admissions counselors look for when reviewing personal statements from applicants:

• How have you grown over the years?
• Is your personal statement well-written? Does it show care, consideration and edits?
• Are you up for the challenge of Pharmacy school?
• Do you fit our program? 

What Are the Steps to Form a Compelling Personal Statement?

The creative process for a piece like this may vary form applicant to applicant, but the general steps are as follows

1. Brainstorm

This step can be messy, and is generally the most customizable of the process. To start your brainstorming process, think about all the reasons you’re considering pharmacy school and why this program should consider you. This is also a good place to start thinking about what makes you stand out from other candidates, as well as beginning to organize your education and work history. 

Since personal statements are more narrative than list-based, start to think about how pharmacists have influenced your life and family. Compelling stories from your own experiences will help admissions counselors see you have a full-bodied connection to the program and career field.  

As part of your brainstorming, look at successful personal statements. Websites like Studential and ApplyToUni can give you a good idea of what spelled success for past applicants. Or, if you know anyone who went to pharmacy school already, you can ask them for their best tips. 

2. Outline and Draft

How do you make sense of all the information you just brainstormed out? One of the best ways to sort through your thoughts is by looking for natural connections between events in your life. Be sure to highlight the aspects of your career and schooling that will make you stand out the most. 

Make sure you’re outlining your statement in a way that makes the most sense for both your story and your reader. Linear outlines with clear progressions through your life story usually work best, but that’s not to say you can’t jump around in the story a bit, especially if pharmacology has played a lot of different roles throughout your life and you’re looking to highlight its effect on you over time. 

There are different types of personal statements, generally prompted or unprompted, but they all tend to be between 400-1,000 words long. 

Check your personal statement for basic grammatical and spelling mistakes, as well as making sure your tone is both professional and friendly. Make sure your organization makes sense. A good way to ensure this is to have someone else read it and suggest edits. The more sets of eyes you can have on your personal statement, the better chance you’ll have of submitting a flawless piece. 

Running your personal statement through a program like Grammarly or Hemingway is another good way to weed out mistakes and make sure your statement is clear.

4. Final Revisions and Submission

Do some final checks of your personal statement. Try to read it as if you’re reading it for the first time, with no context as to your own story. An early start in the writing and drafting process is key for this step, so you can take a few days away from your statement before this final revision if necessary. 

If your personal statement was one with a prompt, use this check to be sure you have answered all the questions as fully and uniquely as possible. This is another great place to ask for a second set of eyes to review your statement. 

Finally, submit your personal statement with your application to pharmacy school. Be sure that you’ve submitted it before the deadline! 

How Do I Close a Personal Statement?

In closing your personal statement, include one last push for yourself and why you’re a good fit for the program. Try to naturally conclude and wrap up all that you’ve said about yourself and your story. Be sure to highlight your interest in the program specifically and give a quick “thank you” for their consideration of your application. 

What Now?  

Now that you know how to write a great personal statement for pharmacy school, you should narrow down the schools you want to apply to. If you haven’t already, consider NEOMED’s College of Pharmacy ! Our program will prepare you to make an impact on those around you for the better, whether locally or globally. Graduates from our programs boast high NAPLEX test scores, excellent network connections and a deeper understanding of the communities they serve. Apply to NEOMED ! 

Want to learn more about pharmacy school at NEOMED? Our pharmacy program guide will help you determine if pharmacy school is the right path for you, and how NEOMED can help you begin your future.

Access our eBook "Begin Your Future in Pharmacy at NEOMED" to learn more about what it takes to become a pharmacist.

About the author

Kelly jeroski.

Assistant Director of Admission

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How to get through the MPharm dissertation

The MPharm dissertation is one of the longest pieces of writing we create as pharmacy students. I remember feeling quite anxious about it all. I wasn’t too sure how I was going to write 10,000 words on a topic which at the time I had no idea about, however once I got into it, I really enjoyed writing my dissertation.

The dissertation is usually a lengthy process composed of weeks filled with intense research, several draft versions, blog entries, and supervisory meetings. I was fortunate enough to get a research project in the area of pharmacy education. My project focused on student learning in integrated pharmacy curricular. At the time of receiving my title I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I was intrigued to see what developed once I started. I began my dissertation by conducting a literature search which allowed me to access the plethora of literature available within the field of pharmacy education. I made sure my literature search was as specific as possible to ensure the papers were relevant and accurate for the research topic. I remember when I would hear or read ‘buzz words’ like ‘integrated’ or ‘curriculum’ my ears would crop up and my eyes would become fixed on the particular article. It was also ironic that during the end of my dissertation the GPhC consultation on the initial education and training standards for pharmacists began. However, the MPharm dissertation is not always plain sailing and everyone’s experience varies, here I share four-tips which helped me get through the MPharm dissertation. I hope they will be useful for MPharm students starting their dissertation.

Firstly, organisation. Dissertation deadlines may seem like a long time away, but make sure you are aware of your deadline and start planning in advance. Within a qualitative research project, you may need to conduct interviews or focus groups with participants, and therefore ethical approval is necessary before you start data collection. This process can sometimes take a couple of weeks and slightly delay data collection, so it’s important to account for this. The best way I found to organise my time was by making lists and drafting a timeline or timetable. Aim to plan each week and write down what you want to get out from that week. It’s important to have a clear and coherent plan to keep on top of things, just make sure you know what your aiming for each week. Don’t worry too much if you don’t meet your plan or something else comes in the way that’s normal, but just getting into a habit of planning is really good. You can use post-it notes, diaries or the reminders app on your phone to maintain your progress.

Secondly, don’t panic. This is sometimes easier said than done. The dissertation can sometimes be stressful so try and be enthusiastic and remain positive. Speak to your peers, supervisor or module co-ordinator if you’re feeling overwhelmed, they will be more than happy to re-assure you that everything’s ok. There are also organisations like pharmacist support who can help you if you’re feeling like you just need to speak to someone anonymously.

Thirdly, work hard play hard. Make sure you give yourself at least one day of the week where you don’t think about your dissertation. For me personally this was Friday. I used this time to go out and see friends and visit the new restaurants and cafes that had opened in Newcastle. This was a great way for me to catch up with all my university friends who I would rarely see during the week. This becomes more important nearer to the end of your dissertation, as you will notice your stress levels increase, and you get a lot of encouragement from your peers to keep soldiering on.

Lastly, Enjoy it! Although the dissertation can sometimes feel overwhelming, the skills you learn from the MPharm dissertation are invaluable and the process is a real learning curve. You definitely strengthen your friendship groups during this time but also build good rapport with your supervisor. Once you have your dissertation printed and bound in your hands the surge of pride and achievement is just indescribable, and you soon realise that the good times at university are coming to an end.

About the author:

Ausaf Hayat Khan, recently completed his MPharm  at Newcastle university. He will soon be pursuing his preregistration training within the hospital sector and will be presenting his dissertation at the 10th Biennial Monash Pharmacy Education Symposium 2019.

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Pharmacists may not have to write many essays in their day jobs, but many of them had to write an essay to get into pharmacy school. Like any form of writing, follow the rule of showing, not telling. Give the admissions committee examples of your abilities and past successes so that they can trust you’d make an excellent addition to their newest student cohort.

Grab the Committee’s Attention

The admissions committee has to slog through numerous essays that will probably sound alike. You have to grab the committee’s attention. Just keep in mind that there are negative ways to grab an admissions committee’s attention, and there are positive ways. On the negative end of the spectrum, you could write an essay that has spelling and grammatical errors from the get go or that makes offensive remarks. On the positive end of the spectrum, you can write an essay that leads with an interesting anecdote, a thought-provoking quote about pharmacy, or memories of what first inspired you to pursue this profession.

Show How You’ll Succeed

You have to strike a balance between showing how much you want to be in pharmacy school, and showing the pharmacy school how much they should want you. Finding this balance means making it clear that you have the right skills and ambition to contribute to the school and that the school has the right curriculum and teaching environment to contribute to your professional goals. Every relationship is better if it’s symbiotic, and the relationship between pharmacy schools and their students is no different. They’re happy to build your career if you’ll build their reputation, so convince the committee that you’ll help them succeed by succeeding yourself.

More than A Prescription-Filler

Pharmacists do more than what doctors tell them to do -- that is, they do more than prepare medication. In some respects, they often know more about different medication and healing remedies than other health care professionals. Unless someone has a medical emergency that he needs treated right away, he’ll often go to pharmacists for advice rather than book an appointment with his family doctor. In your admissions essay, demonstrate that you want to help people get well by sharing your knowledge and expertise with them.

Show Great Research Skills

To give people the best health-related advice possible, you can’t stop learning as soon as you graduate from pharmacy school. Pharmaceuticals is a fast and ever-evolving industry. You need to stay on top of the latest health news and research. Show the admissions committee that you’re a good researcher with excellent critical thinking skills and an aptitude for absorbing lots of information. They want to know that after you complete their program successfully, you’ll continue building on what you learned throughout your career.

• University of California San Francisco: School of Pharmacy Admissions Overview
• University of Michigan College of Pharmacy: The Science (and Art) of PharmD Admissions

Living in Canada, Andrew Aarons has been writing professionally since 2003. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in English literature from the University of Ottawa, where he served as a writer and editor for the university newspaper. Aarons is also a certified computer-support technician.

Defending an Undergraduate Thesis

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Thesis proposal

In Pharmacy, the MSc thesis proposal and the PhD thesis proposal are required courses (PHARM 601 and PHARM 616A/B, respectively). The objective is for students to learn how to use the literature to stimulate in-depth thinking about the basis of their thesis research project and to encourage the development of their scientific oral presentation skills, to best prepare and present their research objectives in written and oral form.

In addition to preparing a written and oral presentation of their proposed research, students must complete the following course requirements:

• Involves completing online modules as well as participation in an in-person session co-hosted by the Pharmacy Liaison Librarian and an Advisor from the Writing and Communication Center.
• Provides background on literature searching, citation and proper management of references as part of the preparation of the thesis proposal.  
• The workshop is offered once per term, as needed. 
• Students should attend in their first term, before they register in the thesis proposal course
• Workshop dates are communicated via email and/or Outlook calendar invitation.
• Attend a one-on-one appointment with the Pharmacy Liaison Librarian to discuss. research strategies and reinforce academic integrity.
• Attend two thesis proposals (or one thesis proposal and one thesis defence) by other students in Pharmacy, before their own thesis proposal examination.
• MSc students must hold the thesis proposal examination before the end of their second term.
• PhD students must hold their thesis proposal examination within their first year of the PhD program, before the end of term three.
• Any student requiring more time must request an extension, subject to the approval of the Graduate Officer.

The advisory committee appointment must be approved and the first meeting of the committee held before the proposal examination can take place.

Thesis proposal guidelines

The thesis proposal should outline the reasons for undertaking the project, concisely survey the relevant literature, present a detailed description of the methodology to be used, and outline any preliminary results.

Generally, a report of 30-40 pages is required, not including figures, legends, or references. Excess pages may be removed or disregarded.

Additional material including raw data may be included in appendices if there is a need for it to be included.

The completed thesis proposal should be double-spaced with 1-inch margins and size 12 font.  

The style of the report should follow conventions familiar to the area of research of the student.  At minimum, the written thesis proposal report should include the components indicated in the following table.

Students may wish to follow the  preparation of the thesis organization and formatting requirements, set by the Graduate Studies Office, to help prepare them for the final thesis submission.

Scheduling the thesis proposal examination

Follow the steps below when you are ready for your proposal examination:  

• Select two possible dates and times and ask your committee to save those dates until the exam is confirmed.
• Refer to "what to expect at the thesis proposal" to determine how much time you should book for your proposal (two hours is generally enough time for an examining committee with three examiners; additional time may be required for deliberation).
• If you did not sign up for the appropriate course (Pharm 601 or Pharm 616A/B) during the course enrolment period, complete and submit the Graduate Studies course drop/add form at the same time as submitting the meeting request form. 
• The grad coordinator will arrange the examination chair, prepare the proposal examination report, and set up IT support for the day of your exam (for in person and hybrid exams only).
• This is to ensure IT has the equipment/adapters necessary for the exam and not scrambling on the day of your exam.
• It will take approximately 15-30 minutes to go over everything.
• Your email request should be sent no sooner than one week prior to the test/training date.
• Submit an electronic copy of the (written) thesis proposal to each member of the examination committee and cc the grad coordinator at least 10 business days ahead of the proposal examination date.

What to expect at the thesis proposal examination

The oral examination will take approximately 2 hours and should consist of a 25-30 minute PowerPoint presentation, followed by questions from the examination committee.  Due to time limitations for the oral examination, it may not be possible to cover all aspects of the proposal in the presentation.

The question period will involve a first round of questions from the committee lasting 10-15 minutes per committee member, followed by a second round of questions in the same format but usually only 5-10 minutes each. Questions may be taken from the audience and the student's response to questions from the audience may be considered in the evaluation of the student. 

Thesis proposal examinations are not ‘public’ in the same sense that thesis defences are and are not announced throughout the Faculty of Science.  The administrative coordinator will inform pharmacy graduate students of upcoming proposal presentations so they may attend toward fulfillment of the thesis proposal course requirements.  External friends and relatives are not permitted to attend. 

Following the oral examination, the audience and students are excused so the committee can deliberate. All examiners should be present for deliberation.  After deliberation, the student is invited back into the room to hear the results of their exam. Students will receive a summary of their final grading assessment once the report has received approval. 

Assessment of the thesis proposal

Assessment of the thesis proposal is twofold:  The written proposal report and the oral presentation and discussion are each marked separately and independently by three or more committee members (the examining committee) using the thesis proposal grading sheet, following the grading scheme below. The final course grade is calculated by averaging the total scores of all examining committee members; t he assessment of whether or not the student has met the standards for the proposal and for progress in their graduate program overall, is recorded on the thesis proposal examination report . All members of the thesis proposal examination committee participate in grading and in the assessment of the student's overall progress.

Thesis proposal grading scheme

Students must complete all graduate courses with a final mark of 70% or greater, as noted in the Academic Calendar.

Thesis proposal examination report

The decision as to whether standards for the proposal and progress to date are met is made by the committee, recorded by the chair, and reported to the Faculty of Science usingthesis proposal examination report. Committee members assesses the student's position by indicating 'excellent', 'satisfactory', or 'unsatisfactory', in the following areas:

• Understanding of the material: Candidate shows adequate depth and scope of knowledge for the current stage of the project;
• Ability to handle discussion: Candidate is able to understand the pitfalls and interpretation of the project;
• Research progress: Student demonstrates a general level of progress considering the complexity of the work and practical difficulties.

Performance and standards of research concerning expectations for the degree level as well as they pertain to timely completion of the degree are indicated with a yes/no response.  Any questions, concerns, difficulties or corrective measures required by the student must be recorded in the comments sections of the report; the committee must specify an action plan outlining what the student is expected to do by a specified date. 

Pharmacy blackout dates

Pharmacy has blackout dates during which thesis proposals and PhD comprehensive exams are not be held unless special arrangements have been made and confirmed in advance by the pharmacy graduate office. Blackout dates exist to allow maximum participation in the Pharmacy program and to minimize scheduling conflicts for examination chairs and committee members. 

Blackout dates are also noted on the Pharmacy Graduate Studies Outlook calendar. 

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Pharmacy School CV Examples

Looking at pharmacy school CV examples before you draft your own can help you understand what it entails and what your approach should be. Like all medical schools, most pharmacy schools also require a curriculum vitae (CV) that tells the admissions committee about your academic and professional achievements. Even though pharmacy school acceptance rates in the US and Canada are on the rise, there is still competition in the field, and it is best to have a foolproof application that stands out. Once you have done your research on pharmacy schools in the US or Canada, you can move on to creating your application.

This article highlights the importance of a pharmacy school CV, what you should include, the format you need to follow, as well as some examples.

>> Want us to help you get accepted? Schedule a free strategy call here . <<

Article Contents 9 min read

What is a pharmacy school cv and how is it different from a resume.

Before drafting your pharmacy school CV, you need to first understand what it is. A pharmacy school CV is a document that outlines a pharmacy student’s academic and professional achievements, experiences, and skills. It is similar to a resume but generally longer and more detailed and is typically used when applying to medical schools or when seeking other work-related opportunities within any professional field.

Want to know how to answer "Why Do You Want To Be A Pharmacist?" during your pharmacy school interview? Watch this video:

A resume, on the other hand, is a short synopsis of your education, work experience, skills, and accomplishments. It is typically one to two pages long and does not contain details of your past jobs, publications, research papers, or awards. A resume, being as succinct as it is, generally needs a cover letter to go along with it. You can learn more about resumes by checking out pharmacist resume examples .

The purpose of a pharmacy school CV is to provide a comprehensive overview of your qualifications, experiences, and skills to demonstrate to potential pharmacy schools that you are a strong candidate for the program. Your pharmacy school CV should be well-organized and easy to read, with clear headings and bullet points to help the reader quickly understand your qualifications and experiences. It should be tailored to the specific pharmacy school for which you are applying and include relevant information about your education and work experience, as well as any other skills or qualifications you have.

In the US, around 150 pharmacy schools use a centralized system called the Pharmacy College Application Service ( PharmCAS ) for Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) degree programs that allows candidates to easily apply to multiple PharmD programs offered by schools and colleges of pharmacy. In this system, the Experiences section is where you will list your professional experiences and extracurricular activities, gleaned from your pharmacy school CV.

While most pharmacy schools have prerequisite requirements that are part of undergraduate courses for their PharmD program, some require that applicants have a bachelor’s degree. Four-year Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy programs allow you to start practicing pharmacy and also enable you to apply for the Doctor of Pharmacy degree. Note that aspiring pharmacists can apply for PharmD programs after two years of undergraduate study, as long as they complete the required coursework.

Duquesne University School of Pharmacy, Lebanese American University, North Dakota State University, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, and South Dakota State University are some of the pharmacy schools that do not follow the PharmCAS system.

On the other hand, if you are looking for a direct route to a PharmD degree straight out of high school, there are some schools that give you the option. These are six-year programs that you can enroll in right after high school. Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences ( MCPHS ) is one such example. High school students will need to apply through the Common Application system or the MCPHS system.

For entrance to MCPHS, your official transcripts from all secondary schools need to be submitted by the guidance counselor or a school official. One letter of recommendation from a guidance counselor or teacher (math or science preferred) is also required, and it can be sent either physically or electronically. In case it is being sent physically, the recommender will have to send it directly to the school.

When exploring pharmacy schools, it will be helpful to know which schools use Common App , as this will impact how you prepare your CV and what you include in the Common App Additional Information Section . ","label":"Note","title":"Note"}]" code="tab1" template="BlogArticle">

To create a strong pharmacy school CV, you must first focus on acquiring clinical experiences, taking on the right jobs, learning the necessary skills, and engaging in the best extracurriculars for pharmacy school as soon as you can.

An easy way to acquire clinical experience is to ask to shadow a doctor , professor, someone at an affiliated medical center, or even a practicing pharmacist you know. You can speak with the medical professional and if they agree, observe them and learn. If you tell the professional that you wish to acquire early medical experience that will help you in the future, they will appreciate your efforts. They may even offer to provide you with a strong pharmacy school letter of recommendation .

Volunteering is another way to gather relevant pharmacy experience early on. In some cases, the school may be able to arrange an opportunity for you. If not, you can reach out to pharmacies and medical centers and offer to help out with whatever they might need assistance with. You can also volunteer to be a pharmacist’s assistant.

Finding paid jobs can be quite hard, especially before acquiring a degree, but paid and unpaid internships will work just as well. How to find internships for high school students can be a challenge, but if you do manage to find one, it can really boost your application. The bottom line is that regardless of whether a job is paid, it will add to your experience.

Try to join any research projects open to undergraduate students at your school. If you are part of a team that is conducting relevant research, or if you have led research, it will strengthen your CV. You may also get to publish that research in a journal, which can be another great addition to your CV and ultimately be included in a research resume . Similarly, you can also try to get pharmacy-related certifications while pursuing your undergraduate courses.

Focus on gaining significant experience by the time you apply to a PharmD program, and your CV will shine. 

Pharmacy School CV Format

While there is no fixed format for a pharmacy school CV, unless specified by the school you are applying to, there are some key points that you should consider when crafting your CV.

A CV is typically two to five pages long, but unless you have extensive relevant experience, we recommend keeping it to three pages. Now, even though there are three pages available for content, your pharmacy school CV needs to be to the point.

The aesthetics of your CV can leave a lasting impression on the reviewer and increase your chances of getting in. Thus, it should be coherent, easy to read, and neat.

Be sure to carefully proofread your CV for spelling and grammar errors. This is especially important for a pharmacy school CV, as attention to detail is an important skill for a pharmacist. "}]">

We recommend starting with your personal information to introduce yourself with an optional objective or personal statement. Then, move on to your professional experience and list the pharmacies or medical institutes you have worked at. Next comes your volunteering experience, followed by any research you conducted or were involved in. Finally, list any paper or thesis you published or presentation you made. Your awards and professional memberships should typically be the last two things you mention.

Always check the specific requirements for the schools that interest you and only proceed with the standard structure prescribed above if there are no other formal instructions. ","label":"Note","title":"Note"}]" code="tab2" template="BlogArticle">

Your pharmacy school CV should include your personal information, educational background, pharmacy-related experience, any relevant research or training, publications, honors and awards, and any relevant professional affiliations or memberships.

Personal information typically includes your name, contact information (such as your phone number and email address), and a brief personal statement or objective that summarizes your career goals and interests. Note that an objective or personal statement is optional in a pharmacy school CV.

Your educational background should include your degree program and the name and location of the institution where you received your degree. You should also include any relevant coursework or academic honors, such as a GPA of 3.5 or higher or membership in an honor society. Keep your most recent education at the top and focus on your post-secondary education.

Pharmacy-related experience may include internships, externships, and any other relevant work experience in a pharmacy setting, such as community pharmacies, hospitals, or other health care facilities. Be sure to include the name and location of the organization, as well as a brief description of your responsibilities and any notable achievements. You should also mention any volunteering positions related to the field of pharmacy, as well as any teaching or leadership experience under their independent subheadings. Try to keep the details in each subheading under five bullet points each.

Relevant research or training could include any research, such as a thesis or independent study, that you may have conducted or participated in. You can also add continuing education courses, workshops, or conferences that you have attended. Be sure to include the name and location of the event, as well as the topic or focus of the training.

Publications and presentations can also have their own sections if you were involved in any. If you have published any research papers, articles, or other scholarly works related to pharmacy, you can include these in your pharmacy school CV under a section titled “Publications.”

You can also include any conference presentations, poster presentations, or other presentations you have given related to pharmacy under a section titled “Presentations.” In these sections, you should list the title of the publication or presentation, the name of the conference or journal in which it was published or presented, and the date of publication or presentation. You may also want to include a brief summary of the content of the publication or presentation and your role in its creation.

Awards and honors come next so make sure to include them in your pharmacy school CV. These can include:

If you have received any awards or recognition for your community service, such as volunteering at a local clinic or hospital, include those on your CV as well. "}]">

Professional affiliations or memberships may include membership in professional organizations, such as the American Pharmacists Association or the National Association of Chain Drug Stores. You should also include any relevant licenses or certifications, such as a state pharmacy license or certification as a pharmacy technician. Although these will likely only apply once you are further along your academic and career path, we mention them here for candidates with previous degrees or work experience, such as mature, non-traditional medical school applicants .

[Your Name]

Contact Information:

• Phone: [Your phone number]
• Email: [Your email address]
• Address: [Your mailing address]

Education :

• Bachelor of Science in Pharmaceutical Sciences, [University Name], [Graduation Date]

Professional Experience:

• Pharmacy Intern, [Pharmacy Name], [Location], [Date Range]
• Assisted pharmacists in filling and dispensing prescriptions
• Assisted with inventory management and ordering of medications
• Assisted with patient consultations and counseling
• Participated in medication reconciliation and medication safety initiatives

Volunteer Experience:

• Volunteer Pharmacy Assistant, [Community Clinic], [Location], [Date Range]
• Assisted with medication distribution and patient consultations
• Participated in medication safety and medication error prevention initiatives

Research Experience:

Research Assistant, [Research Lab], [University], [Date Range]

• Conducted literature reviews and assisted with data collection and analysis for research projects
• Presented research findings at [Conference Name]

Publications

• [Names of people involved]. [Journal name, year]

Presentations:

• “The Use of [Medication] in the Management of [Disease]” (presenter), [Conference Name], [Year]
• “Pharmaceutical Approaches to the Treatment of [Disease]” (poster presenter), [Conference Name], [Year]

Honors and Awards

• XYZ University Dean’s List, 20XX –20XX
• ABC Scholarship, 20XX
• Honor roll (Fall 20XX)

Professional Memberships

• American Pharmacists Association
• XYZ State Pharmacy Association

[Phone number]

[Email address]

Bachelor of Science in Biology

XYZ University

City, State

Graduated: May 20XX

• Coursework: Microbiology, Genetics, Biochemistry, Cell Biology, Evolution
• Dean’s List, 20XX–20XX
• President of the XYZ University Biology Club, 20XX–20XX

Pharmacy Work Experience

Pharmacy Intern

ABC Pharmacy

June 20XX – August 20XX

• Assisted in filling and dispensing prescriptions
• Communicated with patients and health care providers to answer questions and provide information about medications
• Maintained inventory and ordered medications as needed
• Assisted in the training of new pharmacy interns

Volunteer Experience

Pharmacy Assistant

January 20XX – May 20XX

• Assisted in the preparation of medications for dispensing
• Educated patients on proper medication use, including dosage and frequency
• Organized and maintained the pharmacy inventory, including expiration dates and inventory levels
• Assisted in the ordering and restocking of medications as needed

Research Experience

The Effect of XYZ on the Efficacy of ABC

• Conducted a literature review and data analysis to investigate the potential interactions between XYZ and ABC
• Presented findings at the XYZ University Research Symposium
•  Published abstract in the Journal of Pharmacy and Therapeutics
• XYZ University Dean’s List, 20XX – 20XX
• XYZ School of Pharmacy Student of the Year Award, 20XX

Now that you know how and what to write in your pharmacy school CV, make a note of a few extra tips that can further improve your CV and thus, your application.

Action verbs have a deeper impact on the reader, so try to use them to frame your sentences. For example: write \u201cAssisted in the preparation of\u2026\u201d or \u201cPrepared medications for dispensing,\u201d rather than something like \u201cMedication preparation.\u201d "}]">

Final Thoughts

A well-structured and impactful CV will undoubtably make your pharmacy school application stand out, but first, it is essential to understand the application process and requirements. Once you have gathered the necessary information, start preparing your documents.

Because a CV typically affords you more space than a resume, feel free to include all your relevant academic and professional experience with brief descriptions of your responsibilities. Start with your educational experience and then move on to your professional experience and volunteer work.

These pharmacy school CV examples will help you understand how a CV should be drafted. Once you’ve added all the right information, proofread your CV and if possible, have a professional give it a once over.

A pharmacy school CV is typically longer and more detailed than a resume. The CV is a document that outlines a pharmacy student’s academic and professional achievements, experiences, and skills. A resume, on the other hand, is a short description of your education, work experience, skills, and accomplishments.

There is no fixed length for a pharmacy school CV, but a concise one will be easier for the admissions committee to go through. However, don’t leave out any relevant pharmacy experience to save space or finish under a certain number of pages. 

That’s fine! It’s not necessary to have published something before getting into pharmacy school. Note that even partial contributions to publications can be mentioned in your CV, provided you specify your role.

Yes, there are several schools that do not use the PharmCAS system, including Duquesne University School of Pharmacy, Lebanese American University, North Dakota State University, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, South Dakota State University, and more.

Your pharmacy school CV can include academic scholarships, leadership positions, research awards, professional awards, and community service awards.

You can include any relevant coursework or academic honors, such as a GPA of 3.5 or higher, or membership in a pharmacy honor society. The more relevant the information the better, and keep in mind that a CV develops over time and should be frequently updated.

Your pharmacy school CV should be updated as soon as there is something new to add. As soon as you gather relevant experience or skills, make sure to add them to your CV. This way, you always have an up-to-date CV ready to submit.

While there is tough competition in the field of pharmacy, acceptance rates are climbing in Canada and the US, and you can certainly consider some of the easiest pharmacy schools to get into when sending out applications.

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Frequently asked questions

Who typically writes a thesis.

A thesis is typically written by students finishing up a bachelor’s or Master’s degree. Some educational institutions, particularly in the liberal arts, have mandatory theses, but they are often not mandatory to graduate from bachelor’s degrees. It is more common for a thesis to be a graduation requirement from a Master’s degree.

Even if not mandatory, you may want to consider writing a thesis if you:

• Plan to attend graduate school soon
• Have a particular topic you’d like to study more in-depth
• Are considering a career in research
• Would like a capstone experience to tie up your academic experience

Frequently asked questions: Dissertation

Dissertation word counts vary widely across different fields, institutions, and levels of education:

• An undergraduate dissertation is typically 8,000–15,000 words
• A master’s dissertation is typically 12,000–50,000 words
• A PhD thesis is typically book-length: 70,000–100,000 words

However, none of these are strict guidelines – your word count may be lower or higher than the numbers stated here. Always check the guidelines provided by your university to determine how long your own dissertation should be.

A dissertation prospectus or proposal describes what or who you plan to research for your dissertation. It delves into why, when, where, and how you will do your research, as well as helps you choose a type of research to pursue. You should also determine whether you plan to pursue qualitative or quantitative methods and what your research design will look like.

It should outline all of the decisions you have taken about your project, from your dissertation topic to your hypotheses and research objectives , ready to be approved by your supervisor or committee.

Note that some departments require a defense component, where you present your prospectus to your committee orally.

The conclusion of your thesis or dissertation should include the following:

• A restatement of your research question
• A summary of your key arguments and/or results
• A short discussion of the implications of your research

The conclusion of your thesis or dissertation shouldn’t take up more than 5–7% of your overall word count.

For a stronger dissertation conclusion , avoid including:

• Important evidence or analysis that wasn’t mentioned in the discussion section and results section
• Generic concluding phrases (e.g. “In conclusion …”)
• Weak statements that undermine your argument (e.g., “There are good points on both sides of this issue.”)

Your conclusion should leave the reader with a strong, decisive impression of your work.

While it may be tempting to present new arguments or evidence in your thesis or disseration conclusion , especially if you have a particularly striking argument you’d like to finish your analysis with, you shouldn’t. Theses and dissertations follow a more formal structure than this.

All your findings and arguments should be presented in the body of the text (more specifically in the discussion section and results section .) The conclusion is meant to summarize and reflect on the evidence and arguments you have already presented, not introduce new ones.

A theoretical framework can sometimes be integrated into a  literature review chapter , but it can also be included as its own chapter or section in your dissertation . As a rule of thumb, if your research involves dealing with a lot of complex theories, it’s a good idea to include a separate theoretical framework chapter.

A literature review and a theoretical framework are not the same thing and cannot be used interchangeably. While a theoretical framework describes the theoretical underpinnings of your work, a literature review critically evaluates existing research relating to your topic. You’ll likely need both in your dissertation .

While a theoretical framework describes the theoretical underpinnings of your work based on existing research, a conceptual framework allows you to draw your own conclusions, mapping out the variables you may use in your study and the interplay between them.

A thesis or dissertation outline is one of the most critical first steps in your writing process. It helps you to lay out and organize your ideas and can provide you with a roadmap for deciding what kind of research you’d like to undertake.

Generally, an outline contains information on the different sections included in your thesis or dissertation , such as:

• Your anticipated title
• Your abstract
• Your chapters (sometimes subdivided into further topics like literature review , research methods , avenues for future research, etc.)

When you mention different chapters within your text, it’s considered best to use Roman numerals for most citation styles. However, the most important thing here is to remain consistent whenever using numbers in your dissertation .

In most styles, the title page is used purely to provide information and doesn’t include any images. Ask your supervisor if you are allowed to include an image on the title page before doing so. If you do decide to include one, make sure to check whether you need permission from the creator of the image.

Include a note directly beneath the image acknowledging where it comes from, beginning with the word “ Note .” (italicized and followed by a period). Include a citation and copyright attribution . Don’t title, number, or label the image as a figure , since it doesn’t appear in your main text.

Definitional terms often fall into the category of common knowledge , meaning that they don’t necessarily have to be cited. This guidance can apply to your thesis or dissertation glossary as well.

However, if you’d prefer to cite your sources , you can follow guidance for citing dictionary entries in MLA or APA style for your glossary.

A glossary is a collection of words pertaining to a specific topic. In your thesis or dissertation, it’s a list of all terms you used that may not immediately be obvious to your reader. In contrast, an index is a list of the contents of your work organized by page number.

The title page of your thesis or dissertation goes first, before all other content or lists that you may choose to include.

The title page of your thesis or dissertation should include your name, department, institution, degree program, and submission date.

Glossaries are not mandatory, but if you use a lot of technical or field-specific terms, it may improve readability to add one to your thesis or dissertation. Your educational institution may also require them, so be sure to check their specific guidelines.

A glossary or “glossary of terms” is a collection of words pertaining to a specific topic. In your thesis or dissertation, it’s a list of all terms you used that may not immediately be obvious to your reader. Your glossary only needs to include terms that your reader may not be familiar with, and is intended to enhance their understanding of your work.

A glossary is a collection of words pertaining to a specific topic. In your thesis or dissertation, it’s a list of all terms you used that may not immediately be obvious to your reader. In contrast, dictionaries are more general collections of words.

An abbreviation is a shortened version of an existing word, such as Dr. for Doctor. In contrast, an acronym uses the first letter of each word to create a wholly new word, such as UNESCO (an acronym for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization).

As a rule of thumb, write the explanation in full the first time you use an acronym or abbreviation. You can then proceed with the shortened version. However, if the abbreviation is very common (like PC, USA, or DNA), then you can use the abbreviated version from the get-go.

Be sure to add each abbreviation in your list of abbreviations !

If you only used a few abbreviations in your thesis or dissertation , you don’t necessarily need to include a list of abbreviations .

If your abbreviations are numerous, or if you think they won’t be known to your audience, it’s never a bad idea to add one. They can also improve readability, minimizing confusion about abbreviations unfamiliar to your reader.

A list of abbreviations is a list of all the abbreviations that you used in your thesis or dissertation. It should appear at the beginning of your document, with items in alphabetical order, just after your table of contents .

Your list of tables and figures should go directly after your table of contents in your thesis or dissertation.

Lists of figures and tables are often not required, and aren’t particularly common. They specifically aren’t required for APA-Style, though you should be careful to follow their other guidelines for figures and tables .

If you have many figures and tables in your thesis or dissertation, include one may help you stay organized. Your educational institution may require them, so be sure to check their guidelines.

A list of figures and tables compiles all of the figures and tables that you used in your thesis or dissertation and displays them with the page number where they can be found.

The table of contents in a thesis or dissertation always goes between your abstract and your introduction .

You may acknowledge God in your dissertation acknowledgements , but be sure to follow academic convention by also thanking the members of academia, as well as family, colleagues, and friends who helped you.

A literature review is a survey of credible sources on a topic, often used in dissertations , theses, and research papers . Literature reviews give an overview of knowledge on a subject, helping you identify relevant theories and methods, as well as gaps in existing research. Literature reviews are set up similarly to other  academic texts , with an introduction , a main body, and a conclusion .

An  annotated bibliography is a list of  source references that has a short description (called an annotation ) for each of the sources. It is often assigned as part of the research process for a  paper .  

In a thesis or dissertation, the discussion is an in-depth exploration of the results, going into detail about the meaning of your findings and citing relevant sources to put them in context.

The conclusion is more shorter and more general: it concisely answers your main research question and makes recommendations based on your overall findings.

In the discussion , you explore the meaning and relevance of your research results , explaining how they fit with existing research and theory. Discuss:

• Your  interpretations : what do the results tell us?
• The  implications : why do the results matter?
• The  limitation s : what can’t the results tell us?

The results chapter or section simply and objectively reports what you found, without speculating on why you found these results. The discussion interprets the meaning of the results, puts them in context, and explains why they matter.

In qualitative research , results and discussion are sometimes combined. But in quantitative research , it’s considered important to separate the objective results from your interpretation of them.

Results are usually written in the past tense , because they are describing the outcome of completed actions.

The results chapter of a thesis or dissertation presents your research results concisely and objectively.

In quantitative research , for each question or hypothesis , state:

• The type of analysis used
• Relevant results in the form of descriptive and inferential statistics
• Whether or not the alternative hypothesis was supported

In qualitative research , for each question or theme, describe:

• Recurring patterns
• Significant or representative individual responses
• Relevant quotations from the data

Don’t interpret or speculate in the results chapter.

To automatically insert a table of contents in Microsoft Word, follow these steps:

• Apply heading styles throughout the document.
• In the references section in the ribbon, locate the Table of Contents group.
• Click the arrow next to the Table of Contents icon and select Custom Table of Contents.
• Select which levels of headings you would like to include in the table of contents.

Make sure to update your table of contents if you move text or change headings. To update, simply right click and select Update Field.

All level 1 and 2 headings should be included in your table of contents . That means the titles of your chapters and the main sections within them.

The contents should also include all appendices and the lists of tables and figures, if applicable, as well as your reference list .

Do not include the acknowledgements or abstract in the table of contents.

The abstract appears on its own page in the thesis or dissertation , after the title page and acknowledgements but before the table of contents .

An abstract for a thesis or dissertation is usually around 200–300 words. There’s often a strict word limit, so make sure to check your university’s requirements.

In a thesis or dissertation, the acknowledgements should usually be no longer than one page. There is no minimum length.

The acknowledgements are generally included at the very beginning of your thesis , directly after the title page and before the abstract .

Yes, it’s important to thank your supervisor(s) in the acknowledgements section of your thesis or dissertation .

Even if you feel your supervisor did not contribute greatly to the final product, you must acknowledge them, if only for a very brief thank you. If you do not include your supervisor, it may be seen as a snub.

In the acknowledgements of your thesis or dissertation, you should first thank those who helped you academically or professionally, such as your supervisor, funders, and other academics.

Then you can include personal thanks to friends, family members, or anyone else who supported you during the process.

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The Scribbr Citation Generator is developed using the open-source Citation Style Language (CSL) project and Frank Bennett’s citeproc-js . It’s the same technology used by dozens of other popular citation tools, including Mendeley and Zotero.

You can find all the citation styles and locales used in the Scribbr Citation Generator in our publicly accessible repository on Github .

Pharmacy Guide: Resources for Writing a Thesis

• Getting Started
• Use the Library This link opens in a new window
• Begin my Assignment This link opens in a new window
• Search for Resources This link opens in a new window
• Evaluate What I Find This link opens in a new window
• Avoid Plagiarism This link opens in a new window
• Search Smarter
• Articles, Books & More
• Drugs, Medications and Alternative Medicine
• Websites - Dosage calcs, compounding and chemistry
• Websites - Evidence based practice
• Websites - Patient Information and Travel Medicine
• Websites - Phytopharmacy, Pharmacokinetics and Toxicology
• Websites - Professional Organisations and History
• Referencing
• Measuring Research Impact This link opens in a new window
• Publishing Academic Research This link opens in a new window
• Resources for Working With Data
• Resources for Writing a Thesis
• Literature Reviews
• Finding Statistics
• Using Reference Materials
• Quality journals - Peer Review
• Scholarly vs. Popular
• Reliable Websites

Writing a thesis

• Staying Up to Date: Alerting & Current Awareness Services Guide
• Thesis Formatting Guide
• Guidelines for Submitting a JCU Digital Thesis to ResearchOnline@JCU

Keeping up with the literature

@jcu thesis search.

The library holds all PhD and Masters by Research theses completed at JCU, as well as some Honours theses. Use the link below to limit your results to our thesis collection.

• Find JCU, Australian and International theses

Books @ JCU Library

Here is a small selection of books available in JCU Library.

Thesis collections

• JCU Theses Collection This link takes you to a box on the One Search Guide to show you how to find JCU theses in our catalogue
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• Last Updated: Feb 13, 2024 11:16 AM
• URL: https://libguides.jcu.edu.au/pharmacy

Why Pharmacy Students Should Master Their Writing Skills

Pharmacy students are taught the importance of communication skills throughout their education.

Pharmacy students are taught the importance of communication skills throughout their education. When students are visualizing a career as a pharmacist, it’s easy to understand why communication matters: Whether pharmacists are counseling patients in a retail pharmacy, working with other health care providers in a hospital, or presenting a business plan in a corporate setting, it’s important that they effectively share messaging with others.

But there’s another form of communication that’s just as important for pharmacy students to master: writing. While writing may be less popular than math and science among those who often pursue pharmacy careers, it is an essential skill for success in any field of pharmacy. It is crucial that pharmacy schools focus on the development of writing skills when cultivating future pharmacists.

An Essential Practice

College students in any field of study often have assignment grievances along the lines of “I’m never going to need to know this in real life” or “I’ll never actually do this in my career.” Pharmacy students may share these sentiments about writing assignments. This is a huge misjudgment, and such thinking could be detrimental to professional success. According to The Pharmacy Student Survival Guide, Third Edition , “writing is the vehicle that drives pharmacy practice, regardless of practice type or setting.” 1 The book goes on to list 3 reasons why writing is essential in the practice of pharmacy.

First, writing is often the catalyst for action in health care. 1 Pharmacists are frequently identified and reimbursed for activities initiated by written documents; such activities include updating patient records, communicating with insurers, and answering drug information questions. Second, writing provides much stronger legal standing than verbal communication. 1 Quality written records can ensure long-term success for pharmacists, especially when it comes to compliance and liability issues. Third, writing is increasingly important as new technologies continue to emerge in health care. 1 With health care communication existing largely in electronic medical records and through digital platforms, it is essential that pharmacists write clearly and effectively.

Works by Pharmacists

What types of documents are pharmacists writing? In the article “Improving and Assessing Writing Skills and Practices of Pharmacy Students,” Suleiman I. Sharif and Rana Ibrahim suggest a variety of such documents. “Pharmacists have many duties that include writing, such as writing annual reports assessments, letters to editors in journals, letters of recommendations, articles to be published, or proposals for new clinical services,” they explain. 2

Additional examples include care plans, progress notes, treatment guidelines, pharmacy and therapeutics formulary reviews, drug information reviews, newsletters, patient education handouts, and pharmacy legislation reviews. When students consider such examples, they quickly realize that good writing skills are an essential job function for any pharmacist, in any area of practice.

Benefits Beyond Writing

Pharmacists who exhibit exemplary writing skills benefit in other ways. Developing writing skills improves critical thinking, another key skill for pharmacists in any role. The process of writing lets students evaluate information from a variety of sources to produce tangible evidence of their knowledge, as well as to refine ideas, prioritize information, understand opposing viewpoints, and explain complex topics. By honing their writing skills, pharmacy students develop a host of secondary skills required for their practice.

Additionally, professionals in any field are often evaluated through written contributions and publications, and pharmacy is no exception. Writing and publishing allow pharmacists to share their newly discovered insights and details on professional advancements with their peers.

Lastly, when pharmacists have strong writing skills, patients benefit. Many of the documents by pharmacists listed above are direct pieces of patient care. Consequently, good writing contributes directly to positive patient outcomes, the ultimate goal of any health care professional.

With these benefits in mind, it’s easy to understand why writing is so important for pharmacy students. Pharmacy schools aiming to prepare future pharmacists for practice should focus on developing not only verbal communication skills but written ones as well.

Kristin O’Donovan is a 2018 PharmD candidate at the Butler University College of Pharmacy & Health Services in Indianapolis, Indiana .

• Assa-Eley M, Ward T, Hobson E. Communication: an overview. In: Nemire R, Kier K, Assa-Eley M, eds. The Pharmacy Student Survival Guide, Third Edition . New York, NY: McGraw-Hill, 2014. accesspharmacy.mhmedical.com.ezproxy.butler.edu/content.aspx?bookid=1593§ionid=99823778.
• Sharif S, Ibrahim R. Improving and assessing writing skills and practices of pharmacy students. J Pharma Care Health Sys. 2014;1:e105. doi: 10.4172/jpchs.1000e105 .

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Dissertations and Theses

The dissertation is the hallmark of the research expertise demonstrated by a doctoral student. It is a scholarly contribution to knowledge in the student’s area of specialization. By researching and writing a dissertation, the student is expected to demonstrate a high level of knowledge and the capability to function as an independent scholar. 

A thesis is a hallmark of some master’s programs. It is a piece of original research, generally less comprehensive than a dissertation, and is meant to show the student’s knowledge of an area of specialization.  

Document Preparation

PhD and master’s students are responsible for meeting all requirements for preparing theses and dissertations. They are expected to confer with their advisors about disciplinary and program expectations and to follow Graduate School procedure requirements.

The Graduate School’s format review is in place to help the document submission process go smoothly for the student. Format reviews for PhD dissertations and master’s theses can be done remotely or in-person. The format review is required at or before the two-week notice of the final defense. 

Access and Distribution

Ohio State has agreements with two organizations— OhioLINK   and   ProQuest/UMI Dissertation Publishing —that store and provide access to Ohio State theses and dissertations.  

Examinations

Graduate degree examinations are a major milestone in all graduate students’ pursuit of their graduate degree. Much hinges on the successful completion of these examinations, including the ability to continue in a graduate program. 

The rules and processes set by the Graduate School ensure the integrity of these examinations for graduate students, the graduate faculty, and for Ohio State. 

Final Semester

During your final semester as a graduate student there are many activities that lead up to commencement and receiving your degree. Complete the final semester checklist and learn more about commencement activities.

Graduation Calendar

Select your expected graduation term below to see specific dates concerning when to apply for graduation, complete your examinations and reports, submit approved thesis and dissertation, commencement, and the end-of semester deadline.

Applications to Graduate Due 1  : January 26, 2024

Examinations and Reports completed by 2  : April 12, 2024

Approved thesis and dissertation submitted and accepted by 3  : April 19, 2024

Commencement 4  : May 5, 2024

End of Semester Deadline 5  : May 6, 2024

Applications to Graduate Due 1  : May 24, 2024

Examinations and Reports completed by 2  : July 12, 2024

Approved thesis and dissertation submitted and accepted by 3  : July 19, 2024

Commencement 4  : August 4, 2024

End of Semester Deadline 5  : August 19, 2024

Applications to Graduate Due 1  : September 6, 2024

Examinations and Reports completed by 2  : November 22, 2024

Approved thesis and dissertation submitted and accepted by 3  : November 27, 2024

Commencement 4  : December 15, 2024

End of Semester Deadline 5  : January 3, 2025

Applications to Graduate Due 1  : January 24, 2025

Examinations and Reports completed by 2  : April 11, 2025

Approved thesis and dissertation submitted and accepted by 3  : April 18, 2025

Commencement 4  : May 4, 2025

End of Semester Deadline 5  : May 5, 2025

1  Applications to graduate include current semester or End-of-Semester deadline. Applications must be received by close of business.

2 Format reviews may occur electronically or in person at the Graduate School during announced business hours.  Both options require submitting a digital version of the dissertation or DMA document draft in a PDF format to  [email protected] .  

3  Approved documents must be submitted via OhioLINK and accepted by the Graduate School by the close of business before the Report on Final Document will be processed.

4  Students not attending commencement must complete the commencement section on the Application to Graduate to indicate how their diploma should be disbursed.

5  A degree applicant who does not meet published graduation deadlines but who does complete all degree requirements by the last business day prior to the first day of classes for the following semester or summer term will graduate the following semester or summer term without registering or paying fees

Still Have Questions?

Dissertations & Theses 614-292-6031 [email protected]

Doctoral Exams, Master's Examination, Graduation Requirements 614-292-6031 [email protected]

Thesis and Dissertation Preparation

As you prepare your thesis/dissertation, you should refer to the Thesis and Dissertation Format Manual . Using this manual and the templates provided, prepare your thesis/dissertation. During your final semester, complete steps 1-3 in the End Game sequence (e.g., submit an application for a degree, complete the diploma application, and set up a final oral examination). After you submit an application for a degree, please see instructions (step 4) on how to complete an electronic thesis and dissertation, as well as a link to the ETD Rights, Permission and Contact Form.

If you are a doctoral degree candidate, you will also need to complete step 5, which is to complete the Survey of Earned Doctorates (PhD only).

You are then ready to take the final steps (steps 6-11) toward completing your thesis or dissertation, which are as follows.

The following formatting requirements are imposed by the Graduate School to be consistent with guidelines for publishing electronic theses and dissertations through ProQuest/UMI.  The following formatting requirements supersede any formatting guides described in the above style guides.

Most 12-point nonitalicized, serif fonts are acceptable for text and 10-point font for footnotes and subscripts. Fonts less than 10 point are not recommended even for superscripts and subscripts. Generally, “Times New Roman” font in 12 point is an appropriate choice. A consistent font must be used throughout the manuscript.

Spacing: All standard manuscript copy must be double-spaced. Use a 0.5 inch standard indention for the first line of all paragraphs. Text within a chapter must be continuous. Add extra space following a section or subsection title, but add no more than one extra line of space between paragraphs. (See also the paragraph below about the placement of figures and tables and the spacing around these elements.)

Single spacing may be used for long tables, block quotations, subheadings and chapter titles, figure legends, footnotes or notes, appendix material and all bibliographic entries.

Top, right and bottom margins must be 1 inch. For an electronic thesis or dissertation, the left margin should also be 1 inch for all pages beyond the preliminary pages. The preliminary pages should have a 2-inch top margin.

The first page of each chapter, including the first chapter, should have a 2-inch top margin. All other text pages, including those with figures or legends, should have a 1-inch top margin.

Page Numbers

Page numbers must be centered and should be between 0.5 to 0.75 inches from the bottom of the page.

Every page in the manuscript must be numbered except for two: the title page and the copyright page (which does not count as a page). The title page is counted as Roman numeral page “i.” However, for reasons of appearance, the title page must not show this numeral. Due to this consideration, the first page number to appear on the manuscript will be the lowercase Roman numeral “ii” on the first page of the abstract.

LOWERCASE ROMAN NUMERALS (ii, iii, iv, v) must be used to number the preliminary pages.

ARABIC NUMBERS (1, 2, 3, 4, 5) must be used to number the text through the references. The first page of text must be numbered “1.” The remaining pages will be numbered sequentially using Arabic numbers.

Page Breaks

Start a new chapter or major section on a fresh page. Do not divide words at the bottom of a page and carry them over to the next page. A sentence ending a paragraph should not end as a partial line at the top of the next page.

Running Heads

Do not use running heads.

Click for an example of the preliminary page .

Templates can be found on our form page .

If you paste work already completed into the template, it is critical that you paste your text using a format that does not replace the existing format in

Right click in the location of the exact text you will replace your text. Select the option that appears in the red circle below to ensure that you do not override the template formatting.

Complete Your Thesis/Dissertation Document and Complete the Final Examination

This is the hard part. Refer to the Thesis and Dissertation Format Manual .  Note that schedules and events get very congested toward the end of semesters, so try to plan in advance to complete your document and have your final oral examination before things really pile up. And be aware that you may have to make some revisions to your document after the examination.  By policy, final oral examinations must occur before the week set aside for final exams in courses.

The supervisor of graduate records will review your thesis or dissertation for basic formatting requirements. However, the Graduate School cannot serve as an editor or writing coach. You may find assistance with writing at the Writing Center , and there are also professional editors who will provide assistance for a fee. However, the fundamental assumption is that a candidate for an advanced degree must be able to write a coherent document in the style of the discipline.

Report of the Final Oral Examination

After you successfully complete the final oral examination, make sure your adviser submits the Report of a Final Oral/Written Examination Form to the Graduate School. Also, by this time you should have discussed the option on the ETD Rights, Permissions and Contact Form . You should decide, with advice from your adviser, whether to submit your ETD as Traditional versus Open Access publishing, whether you want to embargo viewing access for a period of time and whether you wish to pay a fee to register copyright for your document with ProQuest/UMI .

Final Visit to the Graduate School

After you have completed the final oral examination and have put the final touches on your thesis or dissertation, visit the Graduate School and bring the following documents:

• ETD Rights, Permissions and Contact Form
• For doctoral students, confirmation that you have completed the Survey of Earned Doctorates (PhD only)
• Signed Report of Final Exam (see committee chair)

If you completed the SED online, you should have had an email notification sent to gschool@olemiss.edu ; otherwise, bring some verification that you have completed the SED. Also, if your adviser or department has not submitted the Report of a Final Oral/Written Examination, make sure that the Graduate School receives a copy. The supervisor of graduate records will then give you information on how to electronically upload your thesis or dissertation. You may wish to view the ProQuest/UMI tutorial before submitting your document. You should view Preparing your Manuscript Guide  from ProQuest and the Thesis and Dissertation Format Manual .

There are a few special tips for preparing your thesis or dissertation for submission to ProQuest/UMI. You can either convert the document to a PDF before submitting, or you can use a conversion tool at the ProQuest/UMI site. You should carefully check the PDF version to make sure that the formatting has been converted correctly. All fonts must be embedded in the document before PDF conversion, and you should not use compression or password protection in the PDF conversion. The signature page should not be included in the ETD. In fact, you should not include signatures anywhere in your document (e.g., do not include signed IRB forms), to prevent someone’s signature from being electronically captured. Also, you should use 1 inch margins for an ETD, as opposed to the wider left margin for a bound document.

If your thesis or dissertation contains links to multimedia files or some special formatting, check the instructions at the ProQuest/UMI website. A number of multimedia files can be included in your document.

Electronically Submit Your Thesis/Dissertation

Once your document is ready and you have an account, go to the ProQuest/UMI website, log in, and follow the steps to submit your document. You will then be given the following options.

Select Publishing, Copyright and Binding Options: Select among the following publishing options: Traditional Publishing:  This means that the thesis or dissertation title and author (citation information) will be listed on the ProQuest/UMI online database.  The full content will be viewable by authorized PQ users by paid subscription and by University of Mississippi students, faculty and staff (via the UM Library’s PQ license). Others will have viewing access only to the title page, abstract and first few pages. Others may purchase full access by paying a royalty to the student author. Traditional Publishing with an Embargo Period:  This means that the thesis or dissertation title and author will be listed on the ProQuest/UMI online database. However, further viewing access to the thesis or dissertation is blocked for the embargo period, which may be selected to be six months, one year or two years. Select this option if your work includes patentable and/or proprietary information or if you are in one of a few disciplines where publication of a thesis/dissertation may deter acceptance of a manuscript by a journal. Confer with your adviser if you are uncertain. You will be given an option to embargo your document for six months, one  year or two years. Open Access Publishing: This means that the full text of the document is immediately made viewable (published) by ProQuest/UMI. The consequence is that your scholarship is more widely disseminated and becomes searchable by Internet search engines. It also means that you are unlikely to earn royalties from the sale of your document by ProQuest/UMI, and you will be charged an open access fee by ProQuest/UMI. Copyright Registration Option:  You will be given an option to register copyright on your thesis or dissertation for a fee. As soon as your thesis or dissertation is published by ProQuest/UMI, you will own copyright to your ETD, according to copyright law, regardless of whether you purchase the additional copyright registration. Consult your adviser as to whether to purchase this copyright registration. Binding: The Graduate School and University Libraries no longer require that you submit a bound version of your thesis or dissertation. However, you may still wish to purchase bound copies through ProQuest/UMI for a fee. You may also have your thesis or dissertation bound locally by University Printing Services.

Pay ProQuest/UMI Fees

Depending on the options selected (such as open access publishing vs. traditional, and the option to copyright your work), you will have to pay, via a credit card, the fees charged by ProQuest/UMI. Should you choose the open access publishing option, the fee is $95. Students who choose to copyright their work will pay a fee of $55. Should you have any questions regarding the benefits of publishing with UMI, feel free to refer to the authors’ page : http://www.proquest.com/go/authorservices

Review by the Supervisor of Graduate Records

By the above steps, you have submitted your thesis or dissertation. But it is not published yet. The supervisor of graduate records will review your document for formatting and completeness. If any revisions are needed, you will be contacted. This is why we need your current contact information on the electronic permission form . Once the supervisor of graduate records approves your document, it will be published by ProQuest/UMI.

Congratulations!

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School of Visual Arts MFA Thesis Exhibitions Feature Work by 61 Artists

Emily Taylor Rice (CFA’21,’24) (foreground) and Delaney Burns (CFA’24), both grad students in the College of Fine Arts Print Media & Photography program, working on their respective thesis projects ahead of the School of Visual Arts graduate thesis exhibitions.

Five shows by graduating students in painting, graphic design, sculpture, print media and photography, and visual narrative on view on and off campus through April 20

Sophie yarin, cydney scott.

As the academic year draws to a close and commencement season approaches, there’s no shortage of reasons to celebrate at the College of Fine Arts. Not only does 2024 mark the school’s 70th birthday— CFA was founded as the School of Fine and Applied Arts in 1954 —but it’s also a year of exciting firsts for the School of Visual Arts and its five Master of Fine Arts programs: painting, sculpture, print media and photography, visual narrative, and graphic design. 

This year marks the first that the print media and photography and the visual narrative MFA programs, both launched in 2022, will graduate a class. The 2024 exhibitions also mark the largest cohort to date—61 graduating MFA students—in the school’s history. And for the first time, this year’s shows include an off-campus venue: the sculpture exhibition is being shown at 1270 Commonwealth Ave., where what was once a CVS pharmacy has been transformed into a pop-up art gallery. 

All of the exhibitions, on view through April 20, are free and open to the public. Collectively, they offer a sense of the breadth and depth of work being done by MFA students across a range of mediums. For those who cannot make it to all five of this year’s shows, we’ve pulled together some works from each program for your viewing pleasure. But remember: there’s plenty more to see in person.

The visual arts are often compared to a written language, notes Josephine Halvorson , a CFA professor of art, painting, and chair of graduate studies in painting, in the 2024 painting thesis exhibition catalog. “Reading, literacy, and lexicons are terms we frequently cite in critique,” she writes. “Students [have turned] to language, either materially or analogically, to help them navigate meaning in their work.”

James Gold, Mosaic Excavation with Carpets . Egg tempera, India ink, acrylic gouache, and pigmented gesso on panel.

Abbi Kenny, Atlantic Cranberry Sauce (courtesy of Weight Watchers) . Acrylic, molding paste, acrylic gouache, black pepper, glitter, glass beads, muscovite mica, glass flakes, and yupo collage on canvas.

Some works in this year’s exhibition speak plainly, relying on a strong instinct toward realism and representation. James Gold (CFA’24) imbues his canvases with a photographer’s sense of discovery: his subjects—ancient tapestries, mosaics, and scrolls—are rendered so as to capture every detail and texture.

Paintings by Abigail Kenny (CFA’24) share Gold’s photorealistic sensibility, but her concerns are more outlandish, less rarefied. Vivid-hued reproductions of illustrated recipe cards, from Kenny’s own family collection, comment on Andy Warhol’s iconic soup cans from the early 1960s.

Ellen Weitkamp, Remembering 75 East Cove Lane . Oil on panel.

Cody Bluett, Where Are the Sleeping Fish . Oil and spray paint on canvas, wood carving on frame.

Yingxue Daisy Li, Tunnel. Oil and charcoal on canvas.

Ellen Weitkamp (CFA’24) and Cody Bluett (CFA’24) suffuse their paintings with a more surreal and symbolic language, more poetry than prose. Weitkamp’s works suggest the haziness of recalled memories, depicting domestic scenes through the glass of a storefront or the gauze of a curtain. Bluett is also concerned with memory; drawing from his background in working-class Pennsylvania, his scenes are nostalgic for the bucolic landscapes enjoyed by what he describes as “the proletariat during moments of respite, repetition, and reminiscence.”

Visual language dissolves into whispers and murmurs in paintings by Yinxue Daisy Li (CFA’24). Her abstract landscape works hover on the outer edges of representation, the result of a process of erasing and redrawing that transforms an idyllic outdoor scene into gesture, space, light, and shadow.

The MFA Painting Thesis Exhibition is at the Faye G., Jo, and James Stone Gallery, 855 Commonwealth Ave., through Saturday, April 20. Hours: Tuesday to Saturday, 11 am to 5 pm.

Graphic Design

The theme for this year’s graphic design thesis show, Side B , refers to the flip side of a record, and “a willingness to defy expectations, explore uncommon tools, and present a multifaceted expression of craft,” write thesis advisors Christopher Sleboda , a CFA associate professor of graphic design, and Kristen Coogan , a CFA associate professor of graphic design and chair of the MFA graphic design program, in the catalog for the show. 

For her thesis project, Between Waves , Bella Tuo (CFA’24) literally crowdsourced a new font. Over the course of a day, she encouraged strangers to contribute a hand-drawn line, curve, or serif until each letter of the alphabet was complete .

Bella Tuo, Between Waves project feat. Rainbow Hui. Digital media.

Arjun Lakshmanan, The Grand Tour-50 Iterations. Digital media.

Arjun Lakshmanan (CFA’24) was inspired by a NASA mock travel poster that imagined interplanetary tourism. With the same retro futuristic style, he produced a series of 50 similar postcards that emphasized three-dimensionality and warped perception. 

Lindsay Towle (CFA’24), whose design sensibility is informed by the graphic imprint of basketball and other facets of urban street culture, devised new aesthetic associations that make room for visual subcultures within the dominant narrative. A poster of her thesis concept, Backcourt , mixes graffiti lettering, a hallmark of elements of street culture, with classic typography and handwritten elements.

Lindsay Towle, The Backcourt . Digital media.

Carolina Izsák, Masking Tape Proportionality . Belgian linen.

Dhwani Garg, Firki typeface. Digital media.

“The relationships between structure and emotion, constraints and freedom, and a set of parts and pieces to create a whole have always been part of my practice as a designer,” Carolina Izsák (CFA’24) writes. Bursting with color and built to foster interaction and joy, Izsák’s thesis project—which includes prints she has laid onto fabric and wooden blocks—emphasizes playfulness and versatility.

Firki , a typeface created by Dhwani Garg (CFA’24), considers the scalability of typography in a new way. The font uses negative space to construct each figure, an inversion of the simple and expected formula used since the dawn of typesetting. 

The MFA Graphic Design Thesis Exhibition is at the 808 Gallery, 808 Commonwealth Ave., through Saturday, April 20. Hours: Tuesday to Saturday, 11 am to 5 pm.

Visual Narrative

The first graduating class of the MFA visual narrative program has created a collection of work that runs the storytelling gamut, crafting work that’s “humorous, poignant, and thought-provoking,” writes Joel Christian Gill , a CFA associate professor of art and chair of the visual narrative program. 

Sadie Saunders (CFA’24) and Ella Scheuerell (CFA’24) both opted to create graphic memoirs, and although their methodologies differ (Saunders uses digital drawing while Scheuerell relies on collage and mixed media), their stories are grounded in their experiences as young artists coming of age in the pandemic era. Scheuerell introduces readers to her uncle, whose art she discovered among his effects after his death by suicide. As she comes to terms with his loss, the drawings and his invisible presence keep her company. Saunders’ work reads more like a memoir-slash-sitcom, a self-deprecating tour of her barista job and the cast of characters who challenge her to find her voice. 

Sadie Saunders, pages from Spilled Milk and Other Reasons to Cry at Work . Digital drawing.

Ella Scheurell, Heavy Shoes , Colored pencil, watercolor sharpie on paper.

Avanji Vaze, page from Vrindavan House . Digital drawing.

Works by Avanji Vaze (CFA’24), Sandeep Badal (CFA’24), and Ariel Cheng Kohane (COM’22, CFA’24) have created stories that revel in invented universes and complex plotlines. Vaze’s graphic novel combines a Utopian fairytale (where Earth is run by a species of benevolent mushrooms) and MTV’s The Real World , centering a lovable-but-dysfunctional crew of artist roommates as her main cast. Badal’s thesis work is a comic within a comic; his protagonist, a graphic novelist, shares the stage with his own invented character, a trans-femme superhero who begins to feel like the world is treating her like a villain. And Cheng Kohane’s world is a reimagination of classic Western flicks, but populated by a cast of Asian and Jewish characters to match her own blended heritage.

Ariel Kohane, page from Hai Noon . Digital drawing.

Sandeep Badal, two-page spread from Phantom in a Jar . Digital drawing.

Lafleche Giasson, two-page spread from New Leaves on the Tree: How Intergenerational Trauma Affects Inheritable Gene Expression . Digital drawing.

For her thesis, Lafleche Giasson (CFA’24) chose an unconventional narrative, opting to blend her research on complex post-traumatic stress disorder with digital illustrations to create a comprehensive visual guide to the diagnosis.

The MFA Visual Narrative Thesis Exhibition is at the Commonwealth Gallery, 855 Commonwealth Ave., through Saturday, April 20. Hours: Tuesday to Saturday, 11 am to 5 pm. Students will present their thesis work on Wednesday, April 10, and Friday, April 12, from 3 to 5 pm at the Howard Thurman Center, 808 Commonwealth Ave.

Print Media & Photography

This year’s graduates of the print media and photography MFA program have created work that “disrupt[s] the viewer’s sense of the familiar and, in turn, prompt[s] more questions than answers,” write thesis advisors Lynne Allen , a CFA professor of art, printmaking, Toni Pepe , a CFA assistant professor of art and chair of photography, and Deborah Cornell , a CFA professor of art and chair of printmaking, in the show’s catalog. The four graduates whose work is in the thesis show have subverted the expected with their thesis work, in the process highlighting a core principle of printmaking: that it’s a medium of endless possibilities.

The photographs of Sofia Barroso (CFA’24) have been processed to the point of distortion, incorporating fabric, paper, thread, paint, and processes like cyanotype and silkscreen printing.

Sofia Barroso, Exploration of Possibilities . Cyanotype on fabric.

Julianne Dao, Walking Shadows . Collagraph, Chiné-colle archival inkjet print.

Julianne Dao (CFA’24) creates prints that play with negative space; each of her prints began with an object from nature, which she then processed through woodcut, embossing, and other techniques to create a bold design full of light and shadow.

Emily Taylor Rice (CFA’21,’24) and Delaney Burns (CFA’24) injected messages of social activism into their works: Rice creates prints that reflect the emotional turmoil of substance use disorders, using found textiles and colored pigments to reflect the chaos of alcohol dependence and utilizing embossing techniques to replicate emotional scars and ripped-and-torn sections to represent a process of deconstruction and rebirth. 

Emily Taylor Rice, Standing Smack in the Middle of the Truth About Myself . Silkscreen on found fabric.

Delaney Burns, One In Four. Screenprint on tea bags with peacock flower seeds and birth control pamphlets.

Burns incorporates items from all aspects of her life—plants from her mother’s garden; diary entries, notes, and cards written by women in her family; birth control pamphlets; and used teabags—to draw attention to what she says are the unseen, misunderstood, and taken-for-granted experiences of women. Techniques such as bookbinding and wood carving mirror domestic tasks, imbuing her process with a metaphysical interaction with traditional gender roles.

The MFA Print Media & Photography Thesis Exhibition is at the 808 Gallery, 808 Comm Ave., through Saturday, April 20. Hours: Tuesday to Saturday, 11 am to 5 pm.

The pieces in the MFA sculpture exhibition may have little in common visually, writes David Snyder , a CFA assistant professor of sculpture and chair of graduate studies in sculpture, “but what they have built together is…a conversation, a culture, a language, a heart.”

The works by the five students included in this year’s show respond to one another, playing on unconventional uses of space.

Yolanda He Yang, section of Sand Floor and Two Holes to the Basement and Happenings on the Wall. Piano strings, sand, LED spotlight and motor, glass, projector, wood, plastic sheet, mylar, telephone wires, marble.

Helena Abdelnasser, I think it’s dying. Wood, hinges, screws, white paint, soil, grass seeds, plastic bag, water, unfired clay, baby monitor.

In one area, a section of a piece by Yolanda He Yang (MET’21, CFA’24) shares room with a pillar constructed by Helena Abdelnasser (CFA’24). Yang’s sprawling narrative installations include materials that evoke personal significance, and the artist has painstakingly cataloged the origins of each object. The result: an annotated roadmap of a memory. Looming nearby is one of Abdelnasser’s sculptures: an obelisk made of whitewashed picket fences planted in a patch of earth—an untouchable idealization. In one corner of the work, blurred by decay and dirt, is a reproduction of a dead bird—a gruesome reality.

Alyssa Grey (CFA’24) is fascinated by the relationship between art and its modes of display—walk past one of her entries and a motion-sensing camera will project you onto a small television mounted on a plywood pedestal. Mae-Chu Lin O’Connell (CFA’24) injects a self-deprecating, almost paranoiac sensibility in each of her works, making liberal use of claustrophobia, clutter, sensory discomfort, and haphazardness in her installations and videos. Boxmaker , a scattered assemblage of objects in the shadow of an assembled piece of box furniture, brims with frustration, while her videos create an eerie sound collage out of the banal act of eating.

Alyssa Grey, HomeVideos . Wood, roof sealant, plywood, TV, electrical cords, camouflage duct tape, DC motor, camera.

Mae-Chu Lin O’Connell , Boxmaker (How to build a 36-drawer Wunderkabinett in a week) . Plywood, brass knobs, casters, wood screws, wood glue, epoxy, screws, nails, wood putty, and various objects.

Liam Coughlin, r/decks . OSB, dimensional lumber, towels, salvaged floor boards, adhesives and fasteners, plastic bags, garbage bags, Gatorade bottle full of spit, PEZ dispenser, sawhorses, sawdust.

Meanwhile, Liam Coughlin’s work addresses the sociopolitical landscape of the suburbs. Coughlin (CFA’24) encases trash—plastic bags and bottles, Halloween pumpkins, fast food cups—in plywood prisons to replicate “growing up in a homogenized, hermetically sealed, village-like culture of a small New England town.” 

The MFA Sculpture Thesis Exhibition is at 1270 Commonwealth Ave., through Saturday, April 20. Hours: Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, 11 am to 5 pm, and Mondays and Thursdays by appointment.

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Associate Editor, BU Today; Managing Editor Bostonia

Sophie Yarin is a BU Today associate editor and Bostonia managing editor. She graduated from Emerson College's journalism program and has experience in digital and print publications as a hybrid writer/editor. A lifelong fan of local art and music, she's constantly on the hunt for stories that shine light on Boston's unique creative communities. She lives in Jamaica Plain with her partner and their cats, Ringo and Xerxes, but she’s usually out getting iced coffee. Profile

Photojournalist

Cydney Scott has been a professional photographer since graduating from the Ohio University VisCom program in 1998. She spent 10 years shooting for newspapers, first in upstate New York, then Palm Beach County, Fla., before moving back to her home city of Boston and joining BU Photography. Profile

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