Program Details

PharmD/Law

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

Designed to maximize graduates' opportunities in law careers related to pharmacy and other areas of health care, the PharmD/JD allows students the option to focus their education on legal and health care issues. Graduates of this dual degree program go on to pursue successful careers in areas such as patent law, health care organization law, private practice, government, business and non-profit organizations within the pharmacy industry.

Participating students are admitted first to the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences and begin their P1 year before applying to the Law School. A student pursuing this program should plan to take the LSAT and formally apply to Law School during the spring semester of their first professional year. While each students schedule is tailored individually in consultation with the joint degree advisor, students have the opportunity to complete the degree combination a year earlier than when the PharmD and Law degrees are completed separately . Students admitted to law school typically complete the first year of law school prior to their P4 rotations year and are able to complete law course work in place of elective course work within the pharmacy curriculum. The last two years of law school are completed after graduating with the PharmD. This joint degree program allows a student to potentially complete the degree combination one year earlier compared to completing each degree separately.


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 who have completed this combined degree program have opportunities in:

  • Patent Law (pharmaceutical industry)
  • Product Liability (pharmaceutical industry)
  • Regulatory Agencies (government)
  • Private Law Practice focusing on Healthcare Malpractice

    YEARS REQUIRED
    Typically 8 years of study


  • Click here to view the curriculum guide for PharmD students entering Fall 2018 and 2019.

    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/General Electives/Honors6 CR
    ELEC ---Drake Curriculum/Gen Elec. (WRIT AOI)/Honors3 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
    LAW 099Constitutional Law (2 cr. each) + Orientation6 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
    LAW ---Law Course3 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
    LAW ---Law Courses6 CR

    Semester Total Credit Hours

    6
    Doctor of Pharmacy 3
    FALL
    LAW ---Law Courses6 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
    LAW ---Law Course3 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
    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: 224


    Program Notes:

    A total of 211 credits are required to complete the pharmacy degree.
    Students will be expected to complete the Drake Curriculum requirements.  Drake Curriculum requirements not fulfilled through required course work:  Artistic Literacy, Engaged Citizen, Historical Foundations (2 courses), Global and Cultural Understanding, and Written Communication.

    ** Students should complete the LSAT and apply to law school during the First Professional Year - Spring Semester

    Complete remaining requirements for law program after attainment of PharmD.

    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.