How to Get a PhD or PharmD in Pharmacy

When pharmacists were named the Best Career of 2009 by U.S. News & World Report, their contribution to the changing face of health care was clear: "With patient access to physicians getting costlier and more scarce, pharmacists are stepping into the role of caregiver." This valued career is possible with a doctoral degree in pharmacy.

Trained PharmD graduates go beyond the corner drugstore. They can be found in local hospitals, retail stores, pharmaceutical companies, academia, governmental policy departments, legal health boards, and beyond. Considering a doctoral degree in pharmacy means weighing your potential career options and goals. For most pharmacy students, the professional PharmD is the first choice.

Earning Your Doctorate Degree in Pharmacy

This terminal degree offers a professional level of training. The PharmD provides students with a strong base of knowledge required by all pharmaceutical workers. Far from a theoretical PhD degree, this professional degree provides students with a practical framework of training and research knowledge.

PharmD Coursework Requirements

Campus-based and online PharmD degrees in pharmacy generally require four years of full-time coursework, culminating in hands-on clinical study. After earning a PharmD in pharmacy studies, graduates go on to work in one of three categories:

  • Pharmaceutical Care: Clinical knowledge and skills are used to prepare graduates to create drug therapy for patients, consult with patients and families, and provide cost-effective care.
  • Health Policy & Management: Graduates conduct professional health services research, and operate as experts in health policies and processes for private and public sectors.
  • Pharmaceutical Sciences: Prepares students to conduct high-level pharmaceutical research in academia, industry, or governmental situations.

PharmD graduates become lifelong experts in the field, using their wealth of knowledge to provide patient-centered care and promote public health and wellness. As experts in their field, graduates are respected and valued in any community in which they practice.

PharmD Doctoral Degree Requirements

Prerequisites for a PharmD program include coursework in math and science, including organic chemistry and physiology. A bachelor's degree may not be required beyond pre-pharmacy requirements, though more competitive PharmD programs could require the degree. Schools with internship programs require students to obtain an intern license and pass a criminal background check.

PharmD vs a PhD in Pharmacy

While a PharmD is more likely to have a fixed curriculum, the research-based PhD is more flexible, lasting as long as the student's research needs require. Like other PhD programs, the pharmacy PhD requires a period of initial study followed by candidacy exams and years of original research culminating in a defense of a dissertation.

Some schools offer a sequential PharmD/PhD pharmacy program. The program gives students the professional training of a PharmD, followed by the research and advanced training of a pharmaceutical sciences PhD. PharmD/PhD pharmacy programs may focus on one of the following areas of emphasis:

  • Medicinal Chemistry
  • Pharmacology-Toxicology
  • Pharmaceutics

Whether you earn a combination PharmD/PhD or focus on the PhD alone, you open new doors with your terminal degree. Graduates with a PhD in pharmacy go on to the following careers:

  • Higher education teaching
  • Research in academia
  • Private industry careers

Post-Doctorate Pharmacy Programs

Many pharmacy doctoral graduates complete one to two years of fellowship or residency programs after graduation. These post-doctorate programs allow you to further specialize and deepen your knowledge. Here are a few examples of post-doctorate fellowship programs:

  • Cardiovascular Pharmacotherapy
  • Infectious Diseases and Pharmacodynamics
  • Outcomes Research & Pharmacoeconomics
  • Immunology Therapeutics/Solid Organ Transplantation
  • Pharmacy Education

Fellowships are generally limited to graduates with a PharmD or PhD and are prepared to continue their research and post-graduate practice.

Pharmacy Doctoral Degree Graduates in Government

Beyond the hospital, academic, and retail environments, government agencies value pharmacy graduates for their research and policy-making knowledge. Here are just a few governmental departments that hire and value doctoral degree graduates in pharmaceutical science:

  • Food and Drug Administration
  • Drug Enforcement Agency
  • National Institutes of Health
  • Public Health Services
  • Department of Veterans Affairs

From weighing in on pharmacy health care plans to veterans services, PharmD and PhD graduates offer needed expertise to the dialogue. If you're considering a government policy career like the ones above, a PharmD with a concentration in health policy and/or a PhD with a related dissertation are recommended.

Campus-Based and Online PharmD Pharmacy Programs

While most PharmD and PhD pharmacy programs are based on local college campuses, there are a growing number of online PharmD pharmacy programs designed to cater to working professionals.

Online doctoral programs offer the same level of instruction and require the same caliber of research as campus-based doctoral degrees, with the additional freedom from classroom attendance. Online PharmD programs may fill clinical requirements through workplace or community center practice assessments, making the online degree the perfect option for someone already working in the field.

Online PharmD pharmacy programs require a high level of self-paced study and motivated research. As with any doctoral program, students should make sure that online PharmD programs are accredited in a process that ensures the viability of the degree granted.

Choosing an Accredited Pharmacy Doctoral Program

Accreditation is the process of determining a school's academic rigor based on a number of factors. Third-party accrediting boards operate without bias, approving schools that meet their rigorous standards. The U.S. Department of Education recognizes a number of specialized health care accrediting bodies, including but not limited to:

  • The Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education
  • The Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools
  • The Council on Education for Public Health

Beyond the specialized agencies above, regional and national accrediting agencies keep a close watch on the schools they accredit. As a result, students can feel secure knowing that their education meets the same standard held by higher education nationwide.

PharmD/PhD Educational Resources Online

No two pharmacy doctoral programs are alike, and it's up to you to determine what benefits you want most as a student. In the search for the best doctoral pharmacy program for your needs, online research is a valuable tool. Take a look at a few free online information sources for potential pharmacy doctoral degree candidates:

  • The American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP) maintains a list of research grants, fellowships and scholarship programs designed specifically for pharmacy doctoral students, residents, fellows, graduate students and faculty. These competitive awards are largely geared towards those interested in academic and research careers.
  • Browse U.S. News & World Report's rankings of top pharmacy programs nationwide. Rankings can be filtered by name and location and are based on the quality of faculty, research, and students. Over 1,200 schools were surveyed for the magazine's comprehensive rankings lists.
  • WorldWideLearn.com provides a listing of online doctorate programs in health and medical fields. Begin your research easily by using WorldWideLearn.com to instantly query pharmacy programs with your information.
  • The AACP additionally maintains a pharmacy school locator map, offering a listing of pharmacy degree programs around the world.

The first step of any doctoral program search is a period of thorough research of your options. Searching through scholarships, school rankings, and listings helps give you a better idea of program offerings and requirements, which, in turn, can help you determine your own goals.

Focused Pharmacy Doctoral Degree Options

After you determine a program's accreditation, you can further narrow down your potential doctorate degree programs in pharmacy. Use these categories as you consider your potential schools:

  • Faculty: Determine the research and publication practices of faculty at your potential schools. Look for faculty with current research, proving their continued relevance to the pharmacy field. Faculty members with experience in clinical and research fields can provide a helpful perspective to your own work.
  • Program: The coursework and specializations offered by a pharmacy doctoral degree program determine its applicability to your own career. Look for doctoral programs with fellowship or specialization potential that matches your goals.

  • History: Consider a program's history before you apply. A pharmacy doctoral program with a long history may easily provide proof of its success, while a newer program may lack the alumni achievements that distinguish it from other schools.

  • Alumni: Department chairs should have details on the success of the alumni within the pharmacy program. A successful alumni group speaks to the strength of a doctoral degree program, and departments should be able to speak about job placement rates in the public and private sector.
  • Admissions: Your specific degree and program will determine specific admission requirements. Some schools may not require a bachelor's degree beyond certain coursework, while others will require a graduate degree plus letters of recommendation, GPA minimums and more.

  • Community: Contact alumni groups and admissions counselors for more information on the community fostered by the doctoral pharmacy program. Some PharmD programs may have students working in the community, while others will focus on a clinical research setting. Your personal goals help determine the community you enjoy.

Considering each of the above categories should help you narrow your pharmacy doctoral degree program options into just a more manageable list. A condensed list of options means saving time and money during the application process. Additionally, you enjoy the confidence that you're choosing among programs that will truly meet your needs. Using online tools to research pharmacy doctoral programs is an essential step of the degree process, and it happens before you even hand in your application.

More Education Research Tools From WorldWideLearn.com

The free resources at WorldWideLearn.com go beyond doctoral program listings. Topics from financial aid to online schools are covered on the site, designed to help college students at every step of the process. Take a look at a sampling of what you'll find:

  • Financial Aid. Wondering how to finance your education? Check out the Financial Aid section for information about government loans and grants, where to find specialized pharmacy scholarships, and more.
  • Guide to College Majors. Considering a change of major? Discover more majors and minors with WorldWideLearn.com's Guide to College Majors page. This helpful resource offers information on pharmacy and other majors at all levels.
  • Education Resources. Looking for general knowledge? Use the Education Resources page for facts on accreditation and information on on campus-based and online PharmD programs.

Regardless of your educational or career background, the materials at WorldWideLearn.com can help you make informed decision about your future education and career. Consider the site a portal to information that can help you begin your journey towards a pharmacy doctoral degree.

Join the Professional Doctoral Pharmacy Community

Part of your responsibility as you earn your PharmD or PhD in pharmacy rests in participating in the professional pharmacy community. Whether you join professional organizations, subscribe or submit to journals, or attend and present at conferences, your work makes a contribution to the pharmacy dialogue and benefits the community at large.

  • Professional Organizations: American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education, The American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy, Board of Pharmaceutical Specialties, Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy, American Pharmacists Association
  • Pharmacy Journals: Annals of Pharmacotherapy, The Consultant Pharmacist, Pharmacy Online, Pharmacy Week, Pharmacy Times, U.S. Pharmacist, Journal Of The American Pharmaceutical Association, Healthcare Informatics, Drug Store News, Drug Metabolism & Distribution
  • Academic/Professional Conferences: Meeting the Needs of Patients - Pharmacy and Mental Health Care, Traditional Herbal Medicines Masterclass: Practical Advice on Registering a Traditional Herbal Medicinal Product (THMP), Tabletting Technology for the Pharmaceutical Industry, International Workshop on Physical Characterization of Pharmaceutical Solids

Earning a PharmD or PhD in pharmacy means making a unique and meaningful contribution to the field. Become a trusted member of the health care community with a degree that advances your skills and knowledge.

 

Sources

  • Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education
  • American Society of Health-System Pharmacists
  • The American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy
  • U.S. News & World Report