Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD)| Programs | Health Professions Mission

Program Profile: Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD)

Program Description

Name of program: Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD)

Program Overview:The College of Pharmacy at Idaho State University offers the only program in Idaho that leads to licensure as a registered pharmacist. The Doctor of Pharmacy is a professional doctorate that focuses on improving clinical outcomes and patients� quality of life through clinically-appropriate and cost-effective drug therapy. Specifically, the College educates pharmacists to provide quality patient-focused care, be a valuable member of a multi-disciplinary health-care team, promote public health, and meet the health-care challenges of the future. Pharmacists are now called upon more than ever before to develop patient-focused knowledge and skills as they assume new and expanding roles in the provision of medication therapy management to optimize patient outcomes. Graduates of the Idaho State University College of Pharmacy possess the knowledge and skills to succeed throughout their careers and hold true the values of professionalism, ethics, critical thinking, and life-long learning. ISU's Pharm.D. graduates are highly sought after for various career opportunities. New graduates report employment in the following areas (in order of majority of positions accepted): community pharmacy practice, clinics and hospital practice, long-term care, and home health care.

Accreditation

Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE)

ACPE is the sole accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education to accredit professional degree programs in pharmacy. The Doctor of Pharmacy program at Idaho State University was last fully accredited during the 2004-2005 academic year and will be reviewed for continuation during the 2010-2011 academic year.

Program Highlights

Often cited as one of the top pharmacy colleges in the United States, students consistently place extremely well in national competitions and student examination scores for pharmacist licensure are consistently above the national average. Smaller class size, access to instructors, and an individualized and student-focused approach to education are also included among the strengths of the pharmacy program. During its 90 year history, the College has produced leaders in the pharmaceutical industry, community pharmacy, health-system pharmacy, and academia. In addition to the four-year professional program, the College is affiliated with several post-graduate residency programs accredited by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) in which further training is provided in rendering clinical services and conducting clinical research. Such residency training is becoming increasingly important for pharmacists seeking to practice in advanced clinical settings. The College also enjoys a very supportive alumni base.

About the Profession

The pharmacy profession is dynamic and multi-faceted. Pharmacists practice in a number of settings including the community, hospitals, clinics, industry, and academia. Community pharmacy practice options are many and varied and include independent and corporate (chain) pharmacies, neighborhood health clinics, home health care, and consulting for nursing homes. Collaborative practice pharmacists work with other health professionals in clinic and hospital settings to select and manage drug therapy to optimize clinical outcomes. Managed-care pharmacists provide clinical services and participate in formulary management and other decisions that affect large numbers of patients within Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs) or state Medicaid programs. Pharmacists in hospital settings are considered valued members of the health-care team and may be involved in drug-therapy management, pharmacokinetics, education, drug-use evaluation, clinical studies, and administration. In industry, pharmacists are involved in pharmaceutical manufacturing, marketing, sales, research, regulatory affairs, education, and administration. Pharmacists also have public-service practice options including practice in federal agencies such as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the US military (Air Force, Army, Navy), the Public Health Service, and the Department of Veterans Affairs. With additional training, Doctor of Pharmacy graduates may also opt for careers in academia where they will teach, conduct research, and model pharmaceutical care to prepare the next generation of pharmacists.

Potential Salary: $80,000 - $170,000

The College of Pharmacy serves the State of Idaho. Historically, students have completed their first and second year of the professional program on the Pocatello campus. However, beginning in the Fall of 2009, students will have the opportunity to complete their first, second, and third years on either the Pocatello or Meridian campus. Students may then complete their fourth year at one of our clinical sites in Idaho (Boise, Pocatello, Coeur d�Alene) or at our site in Reno, Nevada.

Faculty

47 full time faculty, 257 affiliate faculty members and more than 100 clinical sites.

There are 257 affiliate clinical faculty members practicing at many locations in Idaho, the surrounding states and nationally. They offer a wide range of practice opportunities and any area of interest can be accommodated.

Class Size

Fixed Seats: Yes

Number of students in entering class: 60 (70 starting in Fall 2009)

Total number of students enrolled in program: 240

Length of Program

Number of academic years needed to complete the program: 4

Locations

Locations offered:Pocatello and the Treasure Valley (Boise, Meridian) with additional fourth-year experiential sites in Reno, Nevada, and Coeur d�Alene, Idaho. There are also affiliation agreements in place with sites in Utah, Washington, and Alaska.

Program offered fully online? No

Program delivered through distance presentation? Yes

Prerequisites

Required Degree: None

Other Prerequisites: Pre-pharmacy requirements may be completed at any accredited two- or four-year college. These courses provide the foundation necessary for successful completion of the Doctor of Pharmacy program. In addition to ISU�s general education requirements and elective credits, the following pre-pharmacy requirements must be completed before admission: General Biology, General Chemistry, Brief Calculus or Calculus I, General Physics I, Organic Chemistry, General Microbiology, Economics, Anatomy and Physiology, English Composition, Public Speaking, Humanities & Social Sciences. Students are required to have completed a minimum of 72 college/university semester credits before actually beginning the Doctor of Pharmacy program at ISU. For more detailed pre-pharmacy requirements, look here. Actual pharmacy experience is strongly recommended prior to applying for admissions to the Doctor of Pharmacy program.

Costs

Tuition: $2200 per semester for Idaho resident

Professional fees: $3183 per semester for Idaho resident

Books: ~$1500

Scholarships and Financial Aid

Scholarship Deadline: April 30, 2009

Financial Aid Deadline: Contact the Office of Financial Aid for more information.

Other Information: The College of Pharmacy has scholarships and financial aid available for the students in the professional program (PharmD). Students in the professional program qualify for Federally backed loans at the graduate/professional rate.

How to Apply

Application Deadline: February 1

Program Start Date: Fall semester

Other Information: Application