Program Details

PharmD/MPA

PROGRAM OVERVIEW
Designed to maximize graduates' opportunities in the public and non-profit sectors, the PharmD/MPA allows students the opportunity to complete MPA course work in place of elective course work within the pharmacy curriculum. Students begin at Drake in pharmacy and apply to the Zimpleman College of Business during their first professional year. The combined degree program typically takes an extra semester to complete beyond the pharmacy degree, rather than an extra two years if the two program were completed individually. Students who wish to complete both degrees during the four year professional years will complete MPA courses during the summer sessions. 
 
CPHS Pharmacy Outcomes

The purpose of the pharmacy professional program is to provide the graduate with the relevant knowledge base, skills, attitudes, ethics and values to engage in the entry-level practice of pharmacy. The curriculum is designed to provide the graduate with competence in the following areas established by the Center for the Advancement of Pharmaceutical Education (CAPE):

1.1. Learner (Learner)
2.1. Patient-centered care (Caregiver)
2.2. Medication use systems management (Manager)
2.3. Health and wellness (Promoter)
2.4. Population-based care (Provider)
3.1 Problem Solving (Problem Solver)
3.2. Educator (Educator)
3.3. patient Advocacy (Advocate)
3.4. Interprofessional Collaboration (Collaborator)
3.5. Cultural Sensitivity (Includer)
3.6. Communication (Communicator)
4.1. Self-awareness (Self-aware)
4.2. Leadership (Leader)
4.3. Innovation and Entrepreneurship (Innovator)
4.4. Professionalism (Professional)


 


OCCUPATIONS
Students with the PharmD/MPA have obtained management and administrative positions in all areas of pharmacy practice including but not limited to:

  • Hospital Practice
  • Associations
  • Academia
  • Consulting
  • Regulatory Agencies


    • Click here to view the curriculum guide for PharmD/MPA students entering Fall 2018 and 2019. Note that beginning with the 20-21 academic year, PHAR 162 - Pharmacy Law & Ethics will be offered in the spring rather than the fall semester. Students should plan their electives accordingly (e.g. complete a 3 credit Drake Curriculum/General or professional elective in the fall instead of the spring) to accommodate this change.

    Click here to view the curriculum guide for Pre-Pharmacy students entering Fall 2020 and Fall 2021. 

    Curriculum Guide for Pre-Pharmacy and PharmD Students Entering Fall 2022
    Curriculum


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    First Year
    FALL
    BIO 012/LPre-professional Biology I & Lab (LIFE AOI)4 CR
    CHEM 001/3General Chemistry I & Lab (PHSC AOI)4 CR
    ELEC ---Drake Curriculum/General Electives/Honors3 CR
    FYS First Year Seminar3 CR
    INTD 025Blueprint for Success1 CR
    PHAR 011CAPS I (Career, Academic & Professional Success)1 CR

    Semester Total Credit Hours
    16
    SPRING
    CHEM 002/4General Chemistry II & Lab4 CR
    ELEC ---Drake Curriculum/General Electives/Honors3 CR
    HSCI 141/LHuman Anatomy/Lab4 CR
    MATH 050Calculus I (QUAN AOI)3 CR
    PHAR 031CAPS II (Career, Academic & Professional Success)1 CR

    Semester Total Credit Hours
    15
    Second Year
    FALL
    BIO 095Medical Microbiology3 CR
    CHEM 097/98Org Chem/Lab I4 CR
    ELEC ---Drake Curriculum/Gen Elec. (WRIT AOI)/Honors3 CR
    ELEC ---Drake Curriculum/General Electives/Honors6 CR
    PHAR 051CAPS III (Career, Academic & Professional Success)0.5 CR

    Semester Total Credit Hours
    16.5
    SPRING
    CHEM 108/10Organic Chemistry II & Lab4 CR
    ELEC ---Drake Curriculum/General Electives/Honors6 CR
    ENG 037Public Voices (CITZ AOI)3 CR
    PHAR 071CAPS IV (Career, Academic & Professional Success)0.5 CR
    STAT 060Stats for Life Sciences (OR HSCI 060) (CRIT AOI)3 CR

    Semester Total Credit Hours
    16.5
    Doctor of Pharmacy 1
    FALL
    ELEC ---Drake Curriculum/General Electives/Honors2 CR
    PHAR 122Continuing Professional Development (CPD) I1 CR
    PHAR 125Physiology4 CR
    PHAR 130Biochemistry4 CR
    PHAR 131Intro to Pharm Science3 CR
    PHAR 144Basic Pharmacy Skills & Applications 12 CR
    PHAR 149Immunizations1 CR

    Semester Total Credit Hours
    17
    SPRING
    PHAR 123Continuing Professional Development (CPD) II1 CR
    PHAR 132Pathophysiology4 CR
    PHAR 133Principles of Drug Action I5 CR
    PHAR 138Pharmaceutical Calculations2 CR
    PHAR 140Pharmaceutics I2 CR
    PHAR 145Basic Pharmacy Skills & Applications 2 (INFO AOI)2 CR
    PHAR 171Health Care Systems and Policies3 CR

    Semester Total Credit Hours
    19
    SUMMER (OPTIONAL)
    MPA 2--** See MPA Course List6 CR

    Semester Total Credit Hours
    6
    Doctor of Pharmacy 2
    FALL
    PHAR 134Principles of Drug Action II5 CR
    PHAR 141Pharmaceutics II3 CR
    PHAR 142Kinetics3 CR
    PHAR 154Intermediate Pharmacy Skills & Applications I2 CR
    PHAR 167Continuing Professional Development (CPD) III1.5 CR
    PHAR 172Literature Evaluation Methods3 CR

    Semester Total Credit Hours
    17.5
    SPRING
    MPA 2--** See MPA Course List3 CR
    PHAR 135Principles of Drug Action III4 CR
    PHAR 143Therapeutic Drug Monitoring2 CR
    PHAR 155Intermediate Pharmacy Skills & Applications II2 CR
    PHAR 168Continuing Professional Development (CPD) IV1.5 CR
    PHAR 169Self-Care and Non-Prescription Products3 CR
    PHAR 190Therapeutics I3 CR

    Semester Total Credit Hours
    18.5
    SUMMER (OPTIONAL)
    MPA 2--** See MPA Course List6 CR

    Semester Total Credit Hours
    6
    Doctor of Pharmacy 3
    FALL
    MPA 2--** See MPA Course List6 CR
    PHAR 174Management in Pharmacy3 CR
    PHAR 175Continuing Professional Development (CPD) V2 CR
    PHAR 184Advanced Pharmacy Skills & Applications I (EI AOI)2 CR
    PHAR 191Therapeutics II5 CR

    Semester Total Credit Hours
    18
    SPRING
    MPA 2--** See MPA Course List3 CR
    PHAR 162Pharmacy Law & Ethics (VE AOI)3 CR
    PHAR 173Applied Social and Administrative Pharmacy3 CR
    PHAR 176Continuing Professional Development (CPD) VI2 CR
    PHAR 185Advanced Pharmacy Skills & Applications II2 CR
    PHAR 192Therapeutics III5 CR

    Semester Total Credit Hours
    18
    SUMMER (OPTIONAL)
    MPA 2--** See MPA Course List3 CR

    Semester Total Credit Hours
    3
    Doctor of Pharmacy 4 (12 months/May through May)
    FALL
    PHAR 285Rotations22 CR

    Semester Total Credit Hours
    22
    SPRING
    PHAR 285Rotations18 CR

    Semester Total Credit Hours
    18
    Total Program Hours: 227


    Program Notes:

    OPTIONAL SUMMER COURSE WORK: Students who wish to complete both degrees in the four professional years will need to plan to complete MPA courses during the summer sessions.

    A total of 211 credits are required to complete the pharmacy degree.

    Students will be expected to complete the Drake Curriculum requirements if they do not meet the General Education Articulation Agreement. Drake Curriculum requirements not fulfilled through required course work: Artistic Literacy, Historical Foundations (2 courses), Global and Cultural Understanding, and Written Communication.

    Professional electives (5 cr.) are satisfied by MPA coursework (6 cr. for P1 students entering Fall 2019 and prior).

    Students may enroll in additional summer coursework or complete final MPA courses after PharmD completion. If the dual curriculum requires more than 18 credit hours in the fall or spring semesters, a credit fee waiver will be requested on the student’s behalf. If students wish to take beyond the required credit hours for the semester, they will need to request an “Over 18 Hours Request Form," which can be found in the Forms Library, and the additional course work will not qualify for an overload fee waiver.

    ** MPA Course List
    (also may be completed during summers or after obtaining PharmD)

    *MPA 215 – Changing Environment and Management of Public and Nonprofit Organizations
    *MPA 216 – Managing Human Resources as Assets
    *MPA 217 - Applying Information, Research and Analysis in Nonprofit and Public Environments
    *MPA 220 - Public Budget and Financial Management
    *MPA 221 - Public Organizations and Leadership
    *MPA 226 - Public Policy Decision Making and Analysis
    *MPA 260 – Applying Innovative Solutions to Current Problems (Capstone)
                                           

    Students in the combined program also complete two electives of 3 credits each.

    Students who wish to complete an MPA area of emphasis should visit with a MPA advisor, as this requires additional coursework.


     Professional Electives Policy: Core curricula of CPHS degree programs may require professional elective courses that permit exploration of and/or advanced study in areas of professional interest within the student’s primary degree. Professional electives provide the student with an opportunity to not only pursue areas of intellectual interest, but also to develop an individual “brand” that may benefit them in their professional or academic future. Students who desire to have a non-approved electives count toward professional elective credit should apply for an exception to program policy prior to taking the course whenever possible. Professional electives must be taken for a grade unless the course is designed as credit/no credit. Students should refer to their degree audit for determination of the total number of required professional electives. Students should review the student handbook for the complete professional elective policy and details specific to their degree program.