Curriculum
Our unique Pharm.D. program develops practice-ready pharmacists for diverse healthcare environments. This is done through intensive coursework in biomedical, pharmaceutical, and clinical sciences utilizing active learning in newly constructed studio classrooms and laboratories. The ideals of professionalism, leadership, critical thinking, lifelong learning, and ethical behavior are incorporated into the classroom as well as rotation experiences. Our health science campus allows us to provide unique interprofessional activities with students in medicine, nursing, physical therapy, and physician assistant programs during the first year. As a result, our graduating students are experienced with a variety of rotation sites and prepared to make immediate and lasting impacts in healthcare.
Beginning with the Class of 2025, we incorporated a hybrid model in which therapeutics courses are taught in blocks of 4-7 weeks and coordinated with skills labs. This format allows students to become fully immersed in each disease state encompassing the backbone of pharmacy education. We believe that teamwork is essential for healthcare and continually reinforce this in the classroom with group activities. Therapeutics blocks are taught by teams of experts who present diseases and treatments from multiple angles in a self-reinforcing manner. This integration of content, skills, and experience with teamwork provides MUSOP graduates with foundations for building rewarding careers.
Skills Acquired
P1 Year
- Foundational knowledge of the science that underlies disease states and drug function, elimination and toxicity.
- Appropriate methodologies for medication delivery (i.e. vaccine certification, intravenous medications, compounded medications, etc.) and patient interactions.
- Ability to effectively utilize drug and medical information resources including scientific literature and national databases.
- Ability to succeed in community pharmacy practice through hands-on, real world experience.
P2 Year
- Expertise in providing Precision Medicine, the tailoring of prescription and non-prescription therapies based on the specific biological characteristics of the specific disease process in individuals
- Business acumen for running successful pharmacies
- Ability to evaluate current scientific literature to provide up-to-date treatment guidance to your patients.
P3 Year
- Expertise in providing Precision Medicine for complex, multifactorial diseases
- Understanding of the laws governing the practice of pharmaceutical care
- Specialized pharmacy topics such as geriatrics, palliative care, toxicology, pediatrics, cystic fibrosis, along with others.
P4 Year
- Advanced rotation experiences at a variety of sites (view a map of sites here). Required rotations include ambulatory care, hospital inpatient care, community pharmacy, diverse populations, geriatrics. Two elective rotations are the student’s choice.
- Preparation for the NAPLEX and Law exams
Courses
P1 Year
- Biopharmaceutics
- Drug Information and Communication
- Immunology and Microbiology
- Introduction to Pharmacogenomics
- Pharmacokinetics
- Introduction to Pharmacy
- IPPE courses: Community, Institutional
- Pharmaceutical Chemistry
- Pharmacy Skills Labs
- Principles of Disease and Drug Action
- Professional Development
P2 Year
- Therapeutics modules
- Over-The-Counter Medications
- Cardiology and Respiratory disorders
- Kidney, Liver and Gastrointestinal disorders
- Endocrine disorders
- IPPE courses: Community, Inpatient Clinical Skills
- Patient Safety
- Pharmacy Skills Labs
- Professional Development
- Research Methods and Statistics
P3 Year
- Therapeutics modules
- Infectious Diseases
- Hematology and Oncology
- Neurologic and Psychiatric Diseases
- Skin and Musculoskeletal Disorders
- Special Populations
- IPPE courses: Management, Outpatient Clinical Skills
- Pharmacy Law and Ethics
- Pharmacy Skills Labs
- Electives
P4 Year
- APPE courses
- General Medicine
- Ambulatory Care, Primary Care
- Community Pharmacy
- Institutional Settings
- Transitions of Care
- Diverse Populations
- Electives
- Capstone