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College of Pharmacy Curriculum

Philosophy

The Doctor of Pharmacy program philosophy aligns with the College mission to educate and support professionals who positively influence and impact the health outcomes of the people they serve. The didactic curriculum, co-curricular activities and a progressive experiential sequence culminates in a learning experience that is balanced, patient-focused, team-based and diverse,. Upon successful completion of the curriculum, designed to achieve the faculty approved ability-based outcomes, graduates are prepared to be responsible, lifelong learners who can practice as entry-level pharmacist practitioners in any setting.  

What Sets us Apart

  • Over 1,700 hours of field experience  
  • Integrated coursework with a heavy emphasis on active learning  
  • First and second academic year located on Ferris State University Campus in Big Rapids  
  • Third academic year located on the Medical Mile in Grand Rapids  
  • Immunization certification completed first academic year  
  • Dual degree offerings:
    • Master of Business Administration (MBA) (College of Business)
    • Master of Public Health (MPH) (College of Health Professions) 
  • Research opportunities to work one-on-one with faculty experts in drug discovery, health data analytics, practice advancement and more!
  • Unique "PharmD to PhD" track option (Collaboration with Van Andel Institute Graduate School)
  • 16 registered student organizations   
  • Direct teaching from a clinically diverse faculty group
  • Peer support infrastructure including tutoring, assistance and mentoring

The Curriculum

A complete listing of courses in the PharmD curriculum can be viewed in our course catalog. Below is a snapshot of the curriculum, giving a visual representation of when courses are taken during the 4-year program.

Year One

P1 Fall

  • Pharmacy and Healthcare Systems 1
  • Foundations of Pharmacotherapy 1
  • Dosage Forms and Biopharmaceutics
  • Pharmacy Skills and Patient Care Lab 1

P1 Spring

  • Immunization Training (January)
  • Pharmacy and Healthcare Systems 2
  • Foundations of Pharmacotherapy 2
  • Dosage Forms and Pharmacokinetics
  • Pharmacy Skills and Patient Care Lab 2
  • Over the Counter Pharmacotherapy

P1 Summer

  • Community IPPE (3 Weeks)

Year Two

P2 Fall

  • Integrated Pharmacotherapy 1
  • Integrated Pharmacotherapy 2
  • Integrated Pharmacotherapy 3
  • Pharm Practice Management 1
  • Direct Patient Care IPPE 1 (Fall or Spring)

P2 Spring

  • Integrated Pharmacotherapy 4
  • Integrated Pharmacotherapy 5
  • Integrated Pharmacotherapy 6
  • Drug Literature, Informatics, and Biostats
  • Direct Patient Care IPPE 1 (Fall or Spring)

P2 Summer

  • Health Systems IPPE (3 Weeks)

Year Three

P3 Fall

  • Integrated Pharmacotherapy 7
  • Integrated Pharmacotherapy 8
  • Integrated Pharmacotherapy 9
  • Pharm Practice Management 2
  • Direct Patient Care IPPE 2 (Fall or Spring)

P3 Spring

  • Integrated Pharmacotherapy 10
  • Integrated Pharmacotherapy 11
  • Integrated Pharmacotherapy Capstone
  • Pharmacy Law
  • Direct Patient Care IPPE 2 (Fall or Spring)

Year Four

6-Week Rotations

  • (1) Community
  • (1) Health System
  • (1) Ambulatory Care
  • (1) Internal Medicine
  • (2) Electives in Clinical Areas