Before admission into the professional pharmacy program, each student must complete the pre-pharmacy curriculum. The pre-pharmacy curriculum for resident and transfer students must include those requirements listed above and at least the following: two semesters of general chemistry, two semesters of organic chemistry, two semesters of physics, one semester of biology or zoology, one semester of microbiology, one semester of calculus, and one semester of macroeconomics.
BIOS 101 General Zoology 3 cr CHEM 121 General Chemistry I 5 cr CHEM 122 General Chemistry II 4 cr CHEM 126 Cations and Anions 1 cr ENGL 101 English Composition 3 cr SPCH 101 Principles of Speech (Goal 2) 2 cr MATH 120 Essentials of Calculus (Goal 3) 4 cr ELECTIVES Goals 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12 6 cr IN ADDITION: Electives from the behavioral, social, or humanistic areas 4 cr TOTAL: 32 crSecond Year Pre-Pharmacy
BIOS 235 General Microbiology 4 cr CHEM g301 Organic Chemistry I 3 cr CHEM g302 Organic Chemistry II 3 cr CHEM g303 Organic Chemistry Laboratory I 1 cr CHEM g304 Organic Chemistry Laboratory II 1 cr PHYS 211-212 General Physics 6 cr ECON 201 Economic Principles and Problems (Goal 11) 3 cr ENGL 201 Critical Reading and Writing 3 cr IN ADDITION: Electives Goals 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12 6 cr AND Electives from the behavioral, social, or humanistic areas 3 cr TOTAL: 33 cr
The first academic year includes biomedical and pharmaceutical science classes. Students will complete two semesters of biochemistry and physiology, one semester of human anatomy, basic immunology and medical microbiology. Pharmaceutical sciences includes courses in pharmaceutics, pharmacology and drug information/medical terminology.
The second academic year continues the biomedical sciences with pathology. Students will continue their studies in the pharmaceutical sciences including biopharmaceutics, medicinal chemistry, pharmacology, toxicology and clinical research and design.
Students will also begin a series of two-credit case study courses that allow them to integrate their knowledge and skills attained in pharmacy courses. The case studies continue into the third professional year. The final academic year is devoted to practice-related courses including clinical pharmacokinetics, therapeutics, management, law and pharmaceutical care.
Students will also select an area of curriculum emphasis in either community pharmacy practice, institutional pharmacy practice, or basic sciences research. The chosen area of emphasis will allow the student to gain further insight and expertise in an area of pharmacy practice that s/he may have an interest in pursuing after graduation.
The last year 44 weeks, or the fourth professional year, is devoted to full-time clinical experience in various pharmacy practice or, at the student's option, research environments. Students will complete six-week rotations in pediatrics, geriatrics or psychiatry, and a four week rotation in community pharmacy practice. A ten-week rotation in medicine and six-week rotation in ambulatory patient care is also required. Students will also have the option of selecting three rotations in areas of interest including pharmaceutical sciences research.
Given the length of the final year of the Pharm.D. program, students will begin rotations in mid-May after completing their third academic year in the professional program and will continue throughout the ensuing twelve (12) months.
First Professional Year Curriculum
(Fall)
BIOS 342 Basic Immunology* 2 cr BIOS g425 Human Anatomy (w/lab) 4 cr BIOS g445 Biochemistry I 3 cr BIOS g449 Human Physiology (w/lab) 4 cr PPRA 338 Drug Information Systems and Medical Terminology** 2 cr PPRA 416 Social and Behavioral Aspects of Pharmacy Practice 3 cr TOTAL: 18 cr(Spring)
BIOS 341 Medical Microbiology*** 2 cr BIOS g447 Biochemistry II 3 cr BIOS g456 Human Physiology II (w/lab) 4 cr PSCI 423 Pharmaceutics I 3 cr PSCI 457 Clinical Chemistry 2 cr PSCI g465 Pharmacology I 4 cr TOTAL: 18 cr*Students attend classes for BIOS 342 for first ten weeks only. **5 weeks lecture three times weekly (15 classes), 45 hours lab, with students rotating fall and spring.
***Students attend classes for BIOS 341 for last 10 weeks of the semester.
Second Professional Year Curriculum
(Fall)
BIOS g463 Human Pathophysiology 4 cr PPRA 401 Current Topics in Pharmacy Practice 1 cr PSCI 401 Case Studies in Pharmacy I 2 cr PSCI 424 Pharmaceutics II 4 cr PSCI 455 Medicinal Chemistry I 3 cr PSCI g466 Pharmacology II 4 cr TOTAL: 18 cr(Spring)
PPRA 518 Clinical Research Design and Analysis 4 cr PSCI 402 Case Studies in Pharmacy II 2 cr PSCI 425 Pharmaceutics III 4 cr PSCI 456 Medicinal Chemistry II 3 cr PSCI 467 Pharmacology III 3 cr PSCI 568 Toxicology 3 cr TOTAL: 19 crThird Professional Year Curriculum
(Fall)
PPRA 418 Pharmacy Practice Management 4 cr PPRA 501 Case Studies in Pharmacy III 2 cr PPRA 505 Externship in Pharmacy Practice**** 1 cr PPRA 521 Pharmaceutical Care I 3 cr PPRA 525 Pathophysiology and Therapeutics I 5 cr PSCI 529 Clinical Pharmacokinetics 3 cr TOTAL: 18 cr (Spring)
PPRA 502 Case Studies in Pharmacy IV 2 cr PPRA 519 Pharmacy Law 3 cr PPRA 522 Pharmaceutical Care II 4 cr PPRA 526 Pathophysiology and Therapeutics II 5 cr Selective 4 cr TOTAL: 18 cr****Note: The requirement for PPRA 505 will be waived for students who provide evidence of completion of 200 hours in a licensed or public health pharmacy externship, which has been approved by a State Board of Pharmacy, and which was supervised by a licensed preceptor. This experience must have occurred since entry into the pharmacy school program, and may include extern experience from more than one practice setting.
Fourth Professional Year Curriculum
Full Calendar Year
PPRA 540 Case Studies in Pharmacy Practice 9 crTOTAL Clerkships - 44 weeks
PPRA 541 Community Pharmacy Clerkship 4 weeks PPRA 543 Ambulatory Care Clerkship 6 weeks PPRA 544 Medicine Clerkship 10 weeks (Institutional Practice and Acute Care Clinical) Special Populations Clerkship 12 weeks (Select 2 rotations from Pediatrics, Geriatrics or Psychiatry. Students who complete Ambulatory Care Clerkship in a VAMC must select Pediatrics as one Special Population) Elective Clerkships (3 Rotations, 4 weeks each) 12 weeks