Program Description

The mission of the Marshall University School of Pharmacy is to prepare its students to become pharmacy practitioners that excel as skilled and productive health care professionals in the provision of services, in the standards of care, and in the discovery of new knowledge that ensures optimal medication therapy outcomes. The school utilizes an integrated, interprofessional education approach combined with a team-based clinical philosophy that emphasizes inquiry-based learning, while advancing scholarship, research, and patient care, all directed toward the goal of improving the health and well-being of West Virginians, residents of the Tri-state region, and the nation.

Central to the program’s mission is the development of the key skills and abilities (termed terminal outcomes) required for competent pharmacy practice. These terminal outcomes expect all students who graduate from the Marshall University School of Pharmacy Pharm.D. program to be able to:

1. LEADER - Demonstrate responsibility for creating and achieving shared goals, regardless of position.               
2. PATIENT CAREGIVER-Provide patient-centered care as the medication expert (collect and interpret evidence, prioritize, formulate assessments and recommendations, implement, monitor and adjust plans, and document activities).                       
3. PRACTICE MANAGER - Manage patient healthcare needs using human, financial, technological, and physical resources to optimize the safety and efficacy of medication use systems and pharmacy operations.                     
4. PROMOTER - Contributes to identifying and promote solutions for public health challenges for patients and society.                           
5. PROVIDER - Describe how population-based care influences patient-centered care and influences the development of practice guidelines and evidence-based best practices.                  
6. PROBLEM SOLVER – Identify problems; explore and prioritize potential strategies; and design, implement, and evaluate a viable solution.                          
7. EDUCATOR - Educate all audiences by determining the most effective and enduring ways to impart information and assess understanding.              
8. COLLABORATOR - Actively participate and engage as a healthcare team member by demonstrating mutual respect, understanding, and values to meet patient care needs.                
9. INCLUDER - Recognize social determinants of health to diminish disparities and inequities in access to quality care                          
10. COMMUNICATOR - Effectively communicate verbally and nonverbally when interacting with an individual, group or organization                   
11. SELF-AWARE/SELF DEVELOPER - Demonstrates personal and professional development.                      
12. LEADER - Demonstrates responsibility for creating and achieving shared goals, regardless of position.                     
13. INNOVATOR -Demonstrates innovative and entrepreneurial skills in pharmacy practice.                      
14. PROFESSIONAL - Demonstrates professionalism and integrates effectively as part of the patient care team.                      

The program requires a minimum of 4 years and 9 semesters of coursework, capstone, or practicum experiences.

Accreditation Status

Marshall University’s Doctor of Pharmacy program has been granted full accreditation status by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) Board of Directors. For an explanation of the ACPE accreditation process, please contact the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education, 135 South LaSalle Street, Suite 4100, Chicago, IL 60603, 312-644-3575; FAX 312-664-4652, website www.acpe-accredit.org

Admission Requirements

Minimum Requirements for Admission

Admission to Marshall University School of Pharmacy is competitive. The school admits a maximum of 80 students per year. Applicants are directed to apply to the Marshall University School of Pharmacy through the Pharmacy College Application Service (PharmCAS, www.pharmcas.org). 

Admission to the Pharm.D. program requires the student to have:

1. Completed all required pre-pharmacy courses (note: inquiries regarding prerequisite course equivalency should be forwarded to MUSOP Student Affairs at 304-696-7354). These courses include:

   Course List

   Code	Title	Credit Hours
   English Composition (2 semesters)		6
   Calculus (1 semester)		3
   Statistics (1 semester)		3
   Biology with Lab (2 semesters)		8
   Chemistry with Lab (2 semesters)		8
   Human Anatomy (1 semester)		4
   Human Physiology (1 semester)		4
   Microbiology (1 semester)		4
   Organic Chemistry with Lab (2 semesters)		8
   Physics with Lab (1 semester)		4
   Social Science elective (1 semester)		3

2. A recommended minimum undergraduate Grade Point Average (GPA) of 2.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale for all previously completed undergraduate university work.
3. A recommended minimum GPA of 2.75 or higher on a 4.0 scale for all prerequisite courses.
4. Three (3) letters of professional recommendation requested from persons such as pharmacists, supervisors, and professors who can tell us about your academic and/or work capabilities which would enable you to succeed in the School of Pharmacy.
5. Completed an application through PharmCAS.
6. Submitted all required application fees.
7. Successfully completed an on-site interview.

Program Requirements

Academic Performance

Students are eligible for graduation upon successful completion of all academic and clinical (Professional Practice Experiences) requirements and documented competency in the P4 Annual Assessment of Competency. The student must earn a minimum of 152 semester credit hours. The expected graduation grade point average is 3.0 with the minimum grade point average of 2.5. The student is responsible for knowing and satisfying degree and graduation requirements. Students must be enrolled in the term in which they plan to graduate.

Time Limitations

If a student has not completed his/her Pharm.D. degree within six years from the end of the first course to be counted toward his/her degree, and if the student has not been enrolled in a course toward that degree for the most recent one year when that seven-year limit is reached (meaning the sixth year), then the student will be dropped from the program. To continue to work on that degree, the student must reapply for admission to that degree program through the regular graduate admission process, and pay the appropriate admission fees.

Plan of Study

The curriculum is designed to be completed over 4 years or 9 semesters. A summary of the courses composing the curriculum is found below:

Note: PHAR courses may not always coincide with the university academic calendar.