Program Overview
Are you a U.S.-licensed practicing pharmacist with a bachelor’s degree in pharmacy?
Have you considered pursuing your Doctor of Pharmacy, the terminal degree for practicing
pharmacists since 2000, or considered exploring other avenues within pharmacy? Then
the Postbaccalaureate PharmD Pathway program at MCPHS Online is for you!
Our part-time, distance-learning program is designed for licensed, practicing pharmacists
to earn a PharmD degree while continuing to practice. Most of the coursework can
be completed online. An on-campus orientation is required at the start of the program
as well as one Saturday visit per semester. Students must be practicing at or have
access to a practice site with opportunities for the provision of pharmaceutical
care. All experiential work may be completed at the student’s current practice site.
A four-week clinical rotation is required at the completion of the program.
Innovative Programs
Using the latest technology to deliver high-quality content, the Postbaccalaureate
PharmD Pathway program educates practicing pharmacists to develop a wide range of
skills and abilities which include:
- Designing a pharmaceutical care plan in collaboration with other health professionals,
based on identified, patient-specific problems and literature support while giving
consideration to pathophysiologic, pharmacotherapeutic, pharmacokinetic, economic
and ethical/legal principles, and the patient’s specific needs and desired outcome
- Making reasonable assumptions and/or drawing reasonable conclusions when data is
incomplete or modifying the therapeutic plan should the initial regimen fail to
produce desired effects
- Using effective interpersonal communication to provide counseling, to patients and/or
their caregivers, relative to the purpose, proper use, and expected effects of medications
- Planning and performing ongoing patient evaluations to identify additional medication-related
problems and make changes to the pharmaceutical care plan
- Explaining dosage recommendations and associated rationale to other health care
providers
- Documenting pharmacy practice activities to facilitate communication and collaboration
among providers
- Retrieving, evaluating and managing professional information and literature
- Fostering the safe, effective and economic use of medications by providing factual
medication information to health practitioners, students, health care managers,
patients and the general public
- Interacting effectively with individuals, within group situations, and within professional
organizations and systems
- Providing written information to patients and health care professionals by effective
means in consults, newletters, informational pamphlets and literature evaluations
- Performing self-assessment to determine learning needs, and to design, implement,
and evaluate strategies to promote intellectual growth and continued professional
competence
Prerequisites
While there is no specific prerequisite coursework that must be completed prior
to admission, all applicants to this program must:
- Have a bachelor of science in pharmacy from an accredited college/university
- Have licensure to practice pharmacy in the United States
Curriculum
The Postbaccalaureate PharmD Pathway is organized into three phases.
Phase I — Fall
|
COURSE
|
TITLE
|
SEMESTER HOURS
|
|
PPB600
|
Principles of Pharmaceutical Care
|
3
|
|
PSB421
|
Pharmacoepidemiology
|
2
|
|
|
Total Semester Credit Hours
|
5
|
Phase II — Spring
|
COURSE
|
TITLE
|
SEMESTER HOURS
|
|
PPB672
|
Drug Literature Resources and Evaluation
|
3
|
|
PPB681
|
Clinical Pharmacokinetics
|
2
|
|
|
Total Semester Credit Hours
|
5
|
Phase III
Pharmacotherapeutics I, II, III (17 semester hours)
Three pharmacotherapy courses employ a problem-based approach to pharmacotherapy
that involves lectures, literature review, and faculty case discussions. Lectures
and faculty discussion are conducted online using textual and audio presentations
and interactive discussions. One on-campus meeting will occur each semester for
faculty review and student presentations.
Pharmacotherapeutics Practice I, II, III, IV (7 semester hours)
Following lectures and faculty discussion, practitioners are asked to apply the
therapeutic information to patients using patients from their worksites (~ 5 hours
per week in direct patient care activities at an approved worksite are required).
Efforts are directed at determining appropriate pharmacotherapeutic care plans and
detecting and solving patient drug-related problems through a series of evaluations
and interventions. Each student is assigned a faculty preceptor who will evaluate
and guide the student through patient care assignments and project work each semester.
Students are also expected to lead case discussions among their classmates and participate
in others presentations. Two case presentations are expected each semester. One
will be presented online and the second live at the campus-based meetings.
Project Module (3 semester hours)
Options for the Project Module include a full-time clinical rotation (two two-week
rotations or one continuous four-week rotation) conducted at a College-affiliated
site or a major project at the student’s practice site.
Phase III — Summer
|
COURSE
|
TITLE
|
SEMESTER HOURS
|
|
PPB623
|
Pharmacotherapeutics I
|
5
|
|
PPB623A
|
Pharmacotherapeutics Practice I
|
1
|
|
|
Total Semester
Credit Hours
|
6
|
Phase III — Fall
|
COURSE
|
TITLE
|
SEMESTER HOURS
|
|
PPB625
|
Pharmacotherapeutics II
|
6
|
|
PPB625A
|
Pharmacotherapeutics Practice II
|
1
|
|
|
Total Semester
Credit Hours
|
7
|
Phase III — Spring
|
COURSE
|
TITLE
|
SEMESTER HOURS
|
|
PPB633
|
Pharmacotherapeutics III
|
6
|
|
PPB633A
|
Pharmacotherapeutics Practice III
|
1
|
|
|
Total Semester Credit Hours
|
7
|
Phase III — Summer
|
COURSE
|
TITLE
|
SEMESTER HOURS
|
|
PPB668A
|
Pharmacotherapeutics Practice IV
|
4
|
|
PPB668
|
Project Module
|
3
|
|
|
Total Semester Credit Hours
|
7
|
Total semester hours to complete degree requirements: 37
Tuition & Fees
Students enrolled in this degree program at MCPHS Online during the 2012–2013
academic year will pay $850/credit hour.
There are no fees for MCPHS Online students in the 2012–2013 academic year.
Financial Aid
An education is an investment. And we don’t think you’ll find a better return on
your investment than by earning your degree from MCPHS. Our Office of Student Financial
Services (SFS) is available to guide students through the process of securing funding
to cover education costs. A dedicated staff member will help you apply for financial
aid, review all sources of funding available to you and assist you with completing
the paperwork necessary for disbursement.
For more information, contact Student Financial Services at 603.314.1729.
Next Steps
If you are applying for admission to MCPHS Online for 2012, complete the Free Application
for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online at
www.fafsa.ed.gov. The MCPHS college code for the FAFSA is 002165. You do
not need to be accepted at the College in order to apply.
Admission
Once your application is received, the Admission Office will notify you of any missing
items that we require for your application to be considered complete. We review
all files on a "rolling basis" and will make a decision once all application materials
are received.
Priority Filing Date
The priority filing date for this program is June 1 each year for a fall semester
start. We continue to review applications until all available seats in the program
have been filled. MCPHS Online is now accepting applications for a fall 2012 start.
Additional Links
Questions?
Feel free to call 617.879.5022 or e-mail
us with any questions you have about the application process.
Technical, Non-Academic Standards
In conjunction with the applicable academic and accreditation standards, the faculty
in each of the programs at MCPHS has established certain abilities and characteristics
defined as technical standards. Candidates for enrollment in programs at Massachusetts
College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences must meet these technical standards, which
may include but are not limited to observation, communication, sensory and motor
coordination and function, intellectual, conceptual, integrative and quantitative
abilities, and behavioral and social attributes. These standards may be met with
or without reasonable accommodations. Please carefully review the technical standards
for the program to which you have applied. The standards can be found in the MCPHS
College Catalog on the MCPHS website. If you have questions regarding technical
standards, please contact the Office of Admission immediately.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is this program for?
This program is for licensed, practicing pharmacists to earn a PharmD degree while
continuing to practice.
Back to top
Must I have a pharmacy license in order to participate in the program?
Yes, you must be a licensed pharmacist. You also must practice pharmacy at or have
access to a practice site that allows for the provision of pharmaceutical care.
Back to top
When does the program begin?
Coursework for entering students begins in the fall semester. However there is a
three-day orientation during the month of August prior to coursework.
Back to top
How long is the program?
The program can be completed within two years if all courses are taken consecutively.
The didactic courses must be completed within three years and all experiential requirements
must be completed within four years.
Back to top
Do I have to listen to course lectures at a specific time?
The audio PowerPoint files for lectures are posted on a course site on the Internet
and students have a period of time, usually weeks, to listen to the lecture and
run the slides. You do not need to be online at a specific time to view lectures.
Back to top
How often will I have to come to campus?
With the exception of the three-day orientation at the onset of the program, there
is only a one-day (Saturday) campus requirement each semester. Students will be
notified of the campus meeting date 4–6 months in advance.
Back to top
Can I take time off between courses?
Courses are taken consecutively and are only offered within given semesters. You
are able to take time off but will need to wait until your course is offered again
(one year). All didactic coursework must be completed within three years and all
experiential requirements must be completed within four years.
Back to top
How will I be tested?
Tests are administered online, usually open-book essay and short-answer.
Back to top
Will I get a chance to meet my peers and the faculty?
There is a three-day orientation program at the Boston campus at the start of the
program. In addition, students and faculty get together once a semester. There are
online discussion boards for the program and for each course where students and
faculty can interact.
Back to top
How is my work evaluated?
Students are assigned a faculty advisor to work with throughout the program.
Back to top
Must I work directly with patients or patient information?
You must have access to patients or patient information to complete experiential
requirements. If you currently work in a position that does not allow for this,
you may need to locate a site part-time, or as a volunteer, to complete these experiential
requirements. You may contact us
with any questions.
Back to top
Can I complete all clinical rotations at my current work site?
Most experiential work can be fulfilled through the student’s current work site.
Students are assigned to a required 4-week (or two 2-week) rotation at the end of
the program.
Back to top
Can I get financial aid?
Students may apply through our Financial Aid Office and a minimum of five credits
per semester is required for eligibility.
Back to top
I am a foreign pharmacist, so can I take the Postbaccalaureate PharmD Pathway program
to receive my licensure in the United States?
Unfortunately, this program will not give you the license to practice pharmacy in
the United States. In order to be eligible for the Postbaccalaureate PharmD Pathway
program at MCPHS Online, you must already hold U.S. licensure. If you are a foreign
pharmacist and wish to receive licensure to practice pharmacy in the United States,
you need to contact The National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP) to see
if you qualify. Please visit www.nabp.net
for more information.
Back to top