The Doctor of Pharmacy program offers a small class size (student/faculty ratio of about 6:1) and is based on a 3-year accelerated, year-round curriculum. The program seeks to provide students with a strong foundation in the pharmaceutical, social/administrative, and clinical sciences. The program emphasizes the provision of high quality patient-centered care and medication therapy management, the development of skills for lifelong learning, and opportunities for multi-cultural development. The faculty, through its teaching, mentoring, and scholarship, work to maximize student potential and to contribute to the advancement of the profession by preparing highly trained, culturally-competent, articulate, and caring pharmacists who are potential leaders and innovators in pharmacy practice and research.
There are two major components of the program: the didactic and the experiential components. The didactic component consists primarily of classroom and laboratory experiences in the first two professional years (SP-1 and SP-2 years). The didactic content is delivered as a modular system in which students concentrate on one content area at a time.
- The SP-1 and SP-2 years are divided into two terms, a fall term and a spring term. Each term is divided into two-week blocks; an assessment will be given on the Friday at the end of the block. A student who does not pass the assessment on the first attempt takes a reassessment the following Monday. A student, who does not pass the reassessment, may be allowed to remediate the course at the end of the term.
- The didactic material in the SP-1 year is predominantly composed of integrated basic science modules, with clinical correlates, and administrative science modules. This includes 18 sequential assessment blocks plus five courses taught throughout the term or year.
- The curricular content in the SP-2 year focuses on integrated clinical science modules with basic science correlates, and additional administrative science topics. The didactic portion of the SP-2 year consists of 18 sequential assessment blocks, and four courses taught throughout the year.
- The experiential component begins in the SP-1 year, with Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experiences (IPPEs). Students participate in community and institutional pharmacy preparatory classes throughout the fall and spring terms. At the end of each term, they have three weeks of full-time field experience. In the SP-2 year IPPEs are patient-centered where students follow specific patients and evaluate their progress. Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experiences (APPEs) start in the summer following the SP-2 year and continue throughout the SP-3 year. During APPEs students increase their professional skills as they take part in eight rotations in traditional and specialized practice settings. The Professional Seminar capstone course allows students to pull together elements of their entire educational experience through student presentations, case-studies, and a board review.
