School of Pharmacy PharmD Degree Requirements

The program leading to the Doctor of Pharmacy degree requires 6 years of academic study. The two-year prepharmacy portion may be taken at any accredited two- or four-year college.

The curriculum is outlined on the last page of this brochure. The prepharmacy requirements of about 68 credit hours include a year each of English, general chemistry, and organic chemistry; courses in physics (a grade of B in high school physics is sufficient), calculus, interpersonal communications, biology, microbiology, human anatomy, physiology, and at least 9 hours of general studies in the humanities or social sciences. The total general studies requirement is 30 hours. The courses in English, calculus, interpersonal communications, humanities, and social sciences, and other electives comprise these 30 hours. In general, most college-level courses may be counted as part of the general studies requirements for the degree. A few exceptions are listed below. In addition to the specific exceptions, students should not expect credit for survey-type courses that cross traditional disciplinary boundaries, remedial courses, or multiple courses from one specific area of study.

Students will be expected to have or to develop a basic level of competence with personal computers, i.e., word processing and database software. These skills will be necessary for some class assignments as well as future work assignments.

The maximum number of hours accepted for advanced standing or transfer is 75 hours.

The following courses may not be counted:

Activity courses in physical education or the arts (music, theater; etc.) may not be counted toward the degree.
Courses in a foreign language may not be counted as part of the humanities and social sciences requirements; however, they do count as general studies up to a maximum of 6 credit hours.
A maximum of 6 hours in military science may be counted toward the degree requirements.
Courses in other professional schools (e.g. engineering, education) may not be counted toward the degree, unless the student can show that such courses are directly relevant to pharmacy. (For example, a course in business law taken in the business school would count).

The Professional Requirements

The Doctor of Pharmacy degree requires completion of all the required prepharmacy and professional courses for a total of 200 credit hours with an overall grade point average of 2.25, as well as a 2.25 grade point average in professional courses.

The curriculum includes instruction in the three basic sciences; medicinal chemistry, pharmaceutical chemistry and pharmacology & toxicology, as well as in the various aspects of pharmacy practice to include the healthcare system, law and the emerging roles for pharmacy practitioners. The structure of the curriculum is such that students will be able to take advantage of course material integrated among departments. Elements within the curriculum include assignments that foster development of independent learning, communication skills, problem solving and professional motivation and development.

The final year of the curriculum consists of nine 4-week clerkship/externship rotations with faculty preceptors at practice sites throughout the state of Kansas. These sites include, but are not limited to: K.U. Medical Center in Kansas City and Wichita, and other sites in Lawrence, Topeka, Kansas City, Salina, Hays, and Garden City. Students must have their own transportation to reach their assigned sites.

At the conclusion of the program, students are certified to The Kansas State Board of Pharmacy as having completed the entire externship requirement (1,500 hours) and are therefore eligible to take the complete Kansas licensure examination.